Sec. 9. (a) Subject to subsection (h), a county executive shall employ a service officer and may employ service officer assistants to serve the veterans of the county. However, with the approval of the commission, two (2) or more counties may enter into an agreement to employ a service officer if each county demonstrates to the commission that the workload does not justify each county employing a separate county service officer. (b) Subject to subsection (h), the mayor of a city may employ a service officer and may employ service officer assistants to serve the veterans of the city. (c) The service officer shall: (1) be: (A) a veteran who received a discharge from military service under conditions other than conditions set forth in IC 10-17-12-7.5 (2) and who has at least six (6) months of active service in the armed forces of the United States; or (B) a service officer assistant with not less than two (2) years of experience; and (2) be a resident of Indiana or become a resident of Indiana not more than six (6) months after the service officer's start date. (d) A service officer assistant must be a resident of Indiana or become a resident of Indiana not later than six (6) months after the service officer assistant's start date and: (1) satisfy the requirements specified in subsection (c)(1); or (2) be the spouse, surviving spouse, parent, or child of a person who satisfies the requirements specified in subsection (c)(1). (e) A rule contrary to subsection (c) or (d) is void. (f) County and city fiscal bodies may appropriate funds necessary for the purposes described in this section. (g) Every county or city official and department of the county or city shall cooperate with the service officer and shall provide the service officer with information necessary in connection with the performance of the service officer's duties. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require a county or city to share information that is otherwise considered confidential in accordance with law. (h) After June 30, 2026, a service officer must be accredited by the department in order to provide service to veterans on behalf of the county or city. [Pre-2003 Recodification Citation: 10-5-1-11.]
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