Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that places a referendum on the ballot that would allow voters in a township to transfer government control to the county and amends provisions in the Indiana Code relating to the outcome of the referendum.

Highlights:

• Requires various changes to state and local ballot requirements upon the approval of the transfer of government control from the township to the county (Sec. 1-3).

• Requires counties to establish a township assistance fund for every township that elects to transfer local control, and specifies that such funds shall be raised by annual levies on all of the township's taxable property (Sec. 9).

• Specifies that after December 31, 2011, if a township has transferred local control to the county, then the county has all the rights, duties, and responsibilities of the township and an appointed administrator for township assistance has all the rights, duties, and responsibilities of a township trustee (Sec. 17).

• Specifies that townships that transfer local control to the county pay 40 percent of administration fees to the clerk of the circuit court in order to fund operations of the small claims court, to be deposited in the county general fund and credited to the township small claims court account (Sec. 34, 35).

• Prohibits townships that transfer local control to the county from entering into contracts that extend beyond December 31, 2011 unless the contract has county approval (Sec. 37).

• Requires a public question to be placed on the November 2010 General Election ballot that allows every township to vote on whether to continue having a township form of government or to dissolve the township government and "transfer the powers and duties to the county" (Sec. 39).

Full Bill Text