Sec. 3. (a) The township trustee may, in cases of necessity, authorize the payment from township assistance money for essential utility services, including the following:

(1) Water services.

(2) Gas services.

(3) Electric services.

(4) Fuel oil services for fuel oil used for heating or cooking.

(5) Coal, wood, or liquid propane used for heating or cooking.

(b) The township trustee may authorize the payment of delinquent bills for the services listed in subsection (a)(1) through (a)(5) when necessary to prevent the termination of the services or to restore terminated service if the delinquency has lasted not longer than twenty-four (24) months. The township trustee has no obligation to pay a delinquent bill for the services or materials listed in subsection (a)(1) through (a)(5) if the delinquency has lasted longer than twenty-four (24) months.

(c) The township trustee is not required to pay for any utility service:

(1) that is not properly charged to:

(A) an adult member of a household;

(B) an emancipated minor who is head of the household; or

(C) a landlord or former member of the household if the applicant proves that the applicant:

(i) received the services as a tenant residing at the service address at the time the cost was incurred; and

(ii) is responsible for payment of the bill;

(2) received as a result of a fraudulent act by any adult member of a household requesting township assistance; or

(3) that includes the use of township assistance funds for the payment of:

(A) a security deposit; or

(B) damages caused by a township assistance applicant to utility company property.

(d) The amount paid by the township trustee, as administrator of township assistance, and the amount charged for water services may not exceed the minimum rate charged for the service as fixed by the Indiana utility regulatory commission.

(e) This subsection applies only during the part of each year when applications for heating assistance are accepted by the lieutenant governor under IC 4-4-33. A township trustee may not provide assistance to make any part of a payment for heating fuel or electric services for more than thirty (30) days unless the individual files an application with the township trustee that includes the following:

(1) Evidence of application for assistance for heating fuel or electric services from the lieutenant governor.

(2) The amount of assistance received or the reason for denial of assistance.

The township trustee shall inform an applicant for assistance for heating fuel or electric services that assistance for heating fuel and electric services may be available from the lieutenant governor under IC 4-4-33 and that the township trustee may not provide assistance to make any part of a payment for those services for more than thirty (30) days unless the individual files an application for assistance for heating fuel or electric services under IC 4-4-33. However, if the applicant household is eligible under criteria established by the lieutenant governor for energy assistance under IC 4-4-33, the trustee may certify the applicant as eligible for that assistance by completing an application form prescribed by the state board of accounts and forwarding the eligibility certificate to the lieutenant governor within the period established for the acceptance of applications. If the trustee follows this certification procedure, no other application is required for assistance under IC 4-4-33.

(f) If an individual or a member of an individual's household has received assistance under subsection (b), the individual must, before the individual or the member of the individual's household may receive further assistance under subsection (b), certify whether the individual's or household's income, resources, or household size has changed since the individual filed the most recent application for township assistance. If the individual or a member of the individual's household certifies that the income, resources, or household size has changed, the township trustee shall review the individual's or household's eligibility and may make any necessary adjustments in the level of assistance provided to the individual or to a member of the individual's household.

[Pre-1992 Revision Citations: subsection (a) formerly 12-2-1-6(b); subsection (b) formerly 12-2-9-1 part; subsection (c) formerly 12-2-9-1 part; subsection (d) formerly 12-2-9-1 part; subsection (e) formerly 12-2-1-6(c); subsection (f) formerly 12-2-1-6(e).]

As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.51-1996, SEC.55; P.L.259-2001, SEC.7; P.L.73-2005, SEC.71; P.L.141-2006, SEC.60; P.L.181-2006, SEC.55; P.L.1-2007, SEC.125.