§ 4-2-6-15.5 — Social media; use of state funds; official duties

Indiana § 4-2-6-15.5

• Jurisdiction: Indiana
• Art. 2: STATE OFFICERS GENERALLY
• Ch. 6: Ethics and Conflicts of Interest

Text

5. (a) The following definitions apply
throughout this section:
(1) "Social media" means an Internet web page or any other form
of electronic communication through which users create or use
online communities to share information.
(2) "State funds" means funds derived, in whole or in part, from:
(A) appropriations made by the general assembly;
(B) money from the securities division enforcement account
established by IC 23-19-6-1(f); or
(C) appropriations from the state general fund made under IC 23-19-6-1(f).
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c), a state officer may use
state funds to create, develop, and post information on social media if
the information relates to the official duties of the state officer.
Notwithstanding section 15(e) of this chapter, information posted on
social media may include the name and likeness of the state officer.
(c) A state officer may not use state funds to:
(1) post information on social media if the social media service
provider requires payment for the posting, without approval from
the budget committee established by IC 4-12-1-3, consistent with
the requirements set forth in section 15(a)(2) of this section; or
(2) pay a nongovernmental entity to create, develop, or post
information on social media;
if the post includes the name or likeness of the state officer. However,
this subsection does not prohibit the state officer from using state funds
to pay a nongovernmental entity that is not the social media service
provider for ancillary or de minimis expenses incurred in posting
information on social media, such as the costs of transmitting data by
means of the Internet or a cellular telephone network to the social
media service provider.

Legislative History

As added by P.L.108-2019, SEC.42.