1. (a) This section applies only to a township if the township's township assistance property tax rate (as defined in IC 6-1.1-20.3-6.7 (a)) for property taxes first due and payable in 2013 or any year thereafter is more than the result of:

   1. (1) the statewide average township assistance property tax rate (as determined by the department of local government finance) for property taxes first due and payable in the preceding year; multiplied by
   2. (2) twelve (12).

2. (b) Notwithstanding any other law, beginning with property taxes first due and payable in the year following the year in which this section first applies to the township, as provided in subsection (a), the department of local government finance shall do the following in the case of a township subject to this section:

   1. (1) Remove the township assistance property tax levy from the maximum permissible ad valorem property tax levy for the township's general fund.

   2. (2) Require the township to separate its township assistance property tax levy into the following two (2) property tax levies:

      1. (A) A township assistance benefits property tax levy.
      2. (B) A township assistance administration property tax levy.
   3. (3) Calculate a separate maximum permissible ad valorem property tax levy under IC 6-1.1-18.5 for each of the township's property tax levies described in subdivision (2).
3. (c) The department of local government finance shall, for property taxes first due and payable in the year following the year in which this section first applies to the township, as provided in subsection (a), determine the initial maximum permissible ad valorem property tax levy under IC 6-1.1-18.5 for a township's township assistance administration property tax levy.

4. (d) The initial maximum permissible ad valorem property tax levy under IC 6-1.1-18.5 for a township's township assistance benefits property tax levy for property taxes first due and payable in the year following the year in which this section first applies to the township, as provided in subsection (a), is equal to the amount determined in the following STEPS:

   1. (A) the township's township assistance property tax levy for property taxes first due and payable in the year in which this section first applies to the township, as provided in subsection (a); minus

   2. (B) the result determined by the department of local government finance for the township under subsection (c).

      STEP TWO: Multiply the STEP ONE result by the maximum levy growth quotient under IC 6-1.1-18.5-2 that is applicable to the township for property taxes first due and payable in the year following the year in which this section first applies to the township, as provided in subsection (a).

   STEP ONE: Determine the result of:

5. (e) The maximum permissible ad valorem property tax levy for the township's general fund shall be adjusted as determined in the following STEPS:

   1. (A) the township's township assistance property tax levy for property taxes first due and payable in the year in which this section first applies to the township, as provided in subsection (a); by

   2. (B) the maximum levy growth quotient under IC 6-1.1-18.5-2 that is applicable to the township for property taxes first due and payable in the year following the year in which this section first applies to the township, as provided in subsection (a).

      STEP TWO: Subtract the STEP ONE result from the maximum permissible ad valorem property tax levy that would otherwise apply for the township's general fund.

      The adjustment under this subsection applies beginning with property taxes first due and payable in the year following the year in which this section first applies to the township, as provided in subsection (a).

   STEP ONE: Multiply:

6. (f) The property taxes collected from a township's township assistance administration property tax levy:

   1. (1) shall be deposited into a separate fund;
   2. (2) shall be used only for the administration of township assistance within the township; and
   3. (3) shall not be used to pay township assistance to any person.

7. (g) The property taxes collected from a township's township assistance benefits property tax levy:

   1. (1) shall be deposited into a separate fund;
   2. (2) shall be used only for the purpose of paying township assistance to eligible recipients; and
   3. (3) shall not be used to pay for the administration of township assistance within the township.
8. (h) Except as provided in this section, references in the Indiana Code to a township assistance property tax levy shall, in the case of a township subject to this section, be considered a reference to the township's township assistance benefits property tax levy and the township's township assistance administration property tax levy.

As added by P.L.234-2013, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.249-2015, SEC.24; P.L.159-2020, SEC.56.