Ind. Code § 5-14-4-1 "Counselor" defined
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "counselor" refers to the public access counselor appointed under section 6 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.70-1999, SEC.4 and P.L.191-1999, SEC.4.
Ind. Code ch. 5-14-4
Ind. Code ch. 5-14-4
in effectInd. Code § 5-14-4-1.2 "Data scraping" defined
Sec. 1.2. As used in this chapter, "data scraping" has the meaning set forth in IC 5-14-3-2.
As added by P.L.97-2026, SEC.10.
Ind. Code § 5-14-4-2 "Office" defined
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "office" refers to the office of the public access counselor established under section 5 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.70-1999, SEC.4 and P.L.191-1999, SEC.4.
Ind. Code § 5-14-4-2.5 "Phishing" defined
Sec. 2.5. As used in this chapter, "phishing" has the meaning set forth in IC 5-14-3-2.
As added by P.L.97-2026, SEC.11.
Ind. Code § 5-14-4-3 "Public access laws" defined
Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "public access laws" refers to:
(1) IC 5-14-1.5;
(2) IC 5-14-3; or
(3) any other state statute or rule governing access to public meetings or public records.
As added by P.L.70-1999, SEC.4 and P.L.191-1999, SEC.4.
Ind. Code § 5-14-4-4 "Public agency" defined
Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "public agency" has the meaning set forth in:
(1) IC 5-14-1.5-2 for purposes of matters concerning public meetings; and
(2) IC 5-14-3-2 for purposes of matters concerning public records.
As added by P.L.70-1999, SEC.4 and P.L.191-1999, SEC.4.
Ind. Code § 5-14-4-5 Establishment of office
Sec. 5. The office of the public access counselor is established. The office shall be administered by the public access counselor appointed under section 6 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.70-1999, SEC.4 and P.L.191-1999, SEC.4.
Ind. Code § 5-14-4-6 Appointment
Sec. 6. The governor shall appoint a public access counselor at a salary to be fixed by the governor. The public access counselor shall serve at the pleasure of the governor.
As added by P.L.70-1999, SEC.4 and P.L.191-1999, SEC.4. Amended by P.L.171-2024, SEC.3.
Ind. Code § 5-14-4-7 Repealed
As added by P.L.70-1999, SEC.4 and P.L.191-1999, SEC.4. Repealed by P.L.171-2024, SEC.4.
Ind. Code § 5-14-4-8 Vacancies in office
Sec. 8. If a vacancy occurs in the office, the governor shall appoint an individual to serve for the remainder of the counselor's unexpired term.
As added by P.L.70-1999, SEC.4 and P.L.191-1999, SEC.4.
Ind. Code § 5-14-4-9 Requirements for position
Sec. 9. (a) The counselor must be a practicing attorney.
(b) The counselor shall apply the counselor's full efforts to the duties of the office and may not be actively engaged in any other occupation, practice, profession, or business.
As added by P.L.70-1999, SEC.4 and P.L.191-1999, SEC.4.
Ind. Code § 5-14-4-10 Powers and duties
Sec. 10. The counselor has the following powers and duties:
(1) To establish and administer a program to train public officials and educate the public on the rights of the public and the responsibilities of public agencies under the public access laws. The counselor may contract with a person or a public or private entity to fulfill the counselor's responsibility under this subdivision.
(2) To conduct research.
(3) To prepare interpretive and educational materials and programs in cooperation with the office of the attorney general.
(4) To distribute to newly elected or appointed public officials the public access laws and educational materials concerning the public access laws.
(5) To respond to informal inquiries made by the public and public agencies by telephone, in writing, in person, by facsimile, or by electronic mail concerning the public access laws.
(6) To issue advisory opinions to interpret the public access laws upon the request of a person or a public agency. However, the counselor may not issue an advisory opinion concerning a specific matter with respect to which a lawsuit has been filed under IC 5-14-1.5 or IC 5-14-3.
(7) To make recommendations to the general assembly concerning ways to improve public access.
(8) To coordinate with public agencies to:
(A) track the volume and nature of public records requests received by public agencies; and
(B) identify patterns or sources of excessive, automated, phishing related, or data scraping based public records requests.
(9) To establish a standardized mechanism by which public agencies can report suspect public records requests under IC 5-14-3-11.
As added by P.L.70-1999, SEC.4 and P.L.191-1999, SEC.4. Amended by P.L.97-2026, SEC.12.
Ind. Code § 5-14-4-10.5 Advisory opinions; considerations
Sec. 10.5. When issuing an advisory opinion, the public access counselor shall consider only:
(1) the public access laws, as plainly written; and
(2) valid opinions of Indiana courts.
As added by P.L.171-2024, SEC.5.
Ind. Code § 5-14-4-11 Additional personnel
Sec. 11. The counselor may employ additional personnel necessary to carry out the functions of the office subject to the approval of the budget agency.
As added by P.L.70-1999, SEC.4 and P.L.191-1999, SEC.4.
Ind. Code § 5-14-4-12 Annual report by counselor
Sec. 12. The counselor shall submit a report in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6 not later than June 30 of each year to the legislative services agency concerning the activities of the counselor for the previous year. The report must include the following information:
(1) Summary information regarding:
(A) the volume and nature of public records requests received by public agencies; and
(B) public records requests reported to the counselor by public agencies under IC 5-14-3-11.
(2) The total number of inquiries and complaints received.
(3) The number of inquiries and complaints received each from the public, the media, and government agencies.
(4) The number of inquiries and complaints that were resolved.
(5) The number of complaints received about each of the following:
(A) State agencies.
(B) County agencies.
(C) City agencies.
(D) Town agencies.
(E) Township agencies.
(F) School corporations.
(G) Other local agencies.
(6) The number of complaints received concerning each of the following:
(A) Public records.
(B) Public meetings.
(7) The total number of written advisory opinions issued and pending.
(8) Recommendations to the general assembly regarding statutory or administrative remedies to public records requests described in section 10(8)(B) of this chapter.
As added by P.L.70-1999, SEC.4 and P.L.191-1999, SEC.4. Amended by P.L.28-2004, SEC.58; P.L.97-2026, SEC.13.
Ind. Code § 5-14-4-13 Statute of limitations
Sec. 13. An informal inquiry or other request for assistance under this chapter does not delay the running of a statute of limitation that applies to a lawsuit under IC 5-14-1.5 or IC 5-14-3 concerning the subject matter of the inquiry or other request.
As added by P.L.70-1999, SEC.4 and P.L.191-1999, SEC.4.
Ind. Code § 5-14-4-14 Education fund
Sec. 14. (a) An education fund is established to provide funds for the program established under section 10(1) of this chapter.
(b) The fund consists of the following:
(1) Civil penalties collected under IC 5-14-1.5-7.5 and IC 5-14-3-9.5.
(2) Money appropriated by the general assembly.
(3) Grants, gifts, contributions, and money received from any other source.
(c) The treasurer of state shall administer the fund. The following may be paid from money in the fund:
(1) Expenses of administering the fund.
(2) Nonrecurring administrative expenses incurred to carry out the purposes of this section.
(d) Money in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does not revert to the state general fund.
(e) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same manner as other public funds may be invested. Interest that accrues from these investments shall be deposited in the fund.
As added by P.L.134-2012, SEC.21.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/5Fetched: 10/17/2026