CHAPTER 19. PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL SURPLUS FOOD PROGRAMS

IC 12-20-19
     Chapter 19. Participation in Federal Surplus Food Programs

IC 12-20-19-1
Authorization
    
Sec. 1. (a) A township trustee, as administrator of township assistance, may participate in and cooperate with the establishment and use of federal surplus commodities food, cotton, or other stamp plans created by a governmental agency of the United States in the purchase of food, clothing, or other township assistance supplies.
    (b) If a township trustee's cooperation and participation in federal surplus commodities or stamp programs can be more efficiently and expeditiously handled in a larger unit than a single township, a group of township trustees, as administrators of township assistance, may do the following:
        (1) Establish a single stamp issuing agency.
        (2) Appoint and designate an issuing agent to issue stamps to recipients entitled to participate in the programs.
        (3) Pay each township's pro rata share of all administrative and other costs incident to the maintenance and operation of the issuing office.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.73-2005, SEC.87.

IC 12-20-19-2
Revolving fund
    
Sec. 2. To establish a revolving fund necessary for a township trustee's participation or administration, the township trustees, as administrators of township assistance, may make claims in the same manner as other township assistance claims are paid by the township.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.51-1996, SEC.68; P.L.73-2005, SEC.88.

IC 12-20-19-3
Issuing officer; oath of office; bond
    
Sec. 3. (a) The issuing officer employed by a township trustee must take an oath for the faithful performance of the duties of the issuing officer's office.
    (b) The issuing officer must furnish a bond:
        (1) payable to the state; and
        (2) conditioned upon the faithful performance of the issuing officer's duties and accurate accounting of all money in the issuing officer's possession.
    (c) The bond required by subsection (b) must be in a penal sum of not less than the total amount of the revolving money coming into the issuing officer's possession from all trustees.
    (d) The cost of the bond required by subsection (b) shall be paid by county warrant and charged by the county auditor pro rata against the township assistance accounts of the townships participating in the establishment of the revolving or other fund for the purposes set forth in this chapter. As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.51-1996, SEC.69; P.L.73-2005, SEC.89.

IC 12-20-19-4
Orders or stamps for food and clothing; issuance
    
Sec. 4. (a) The trustees participating in or cooperating with programs under this chapter may issue to eligible recipients orders or stamps for food, clothing, or other items covered under the federal plan.
    (b) An order issued under this section must set forth the quantities and prices of each item ordered and the total amount of the order or stamps.
    (c) A recipient who receives an order or stamps under this section may present the order or stamps to the issuing officer and is entitled to have issued to the recipient food, cotton, or other vouchers for use in the purchase of township assistance supplies.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.51-1996, SEC.70; P.L.73-2005, SEC.90.

IC 12-20-19-5
Higher education award; effect upon eligibility for federal surplus food program assistance
    
Sec. 5. If an individual receives a state or federal higher education award that is paid directly to an approved postsecondary educational institution for the individual's benefit:
        (1) the individual is not required to report the award as income or as a resource of the individual when applying for assistance through federal surplus food programs; and
        (2) the award may not be considered as income or a resource of the individual in determining eligibility for assistance through federal surplus food programs.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.2-2007, SEC.162.