§ 5-11-14-1 — Conferences; expense allowance

(a) As used in this section, "official" includes
the following:
(1) An elected official who is entitled to attend a conference
under this section.
(2) An individual elected to an office who is entitled to attend a
conference under this section.
(3) A deputy or an assistant to an elected official who is entitled
to attend a conference under this section.
(b) The state board of accounts shall annually call a conference of
each of the following:
(1) County auditors and auditors elect.
(2) County treasurers and treasurers elect.
(3) Circuit court clerks and circuit court clerks elect.
(4) City and town controllers and clerk-treasurers, newly
appointed city and town controllers, and city and town
clerk-treasurers elect.
(5) Township trustees and township trustees elect.
(c) Each of the conferences called under subsection (b):
(1) must be held at a time and place fixed by the state examiner;
(2) may be held statewide or by district; and
(3) may not continue for longer than three (3) days in any one (1)
year.
(d) The following training must be provided at each conference
called under subsection (b):
(1) The proper use of forms prescribed by the state board of
accounts.
(2) The keeping of the records of the respective offices.
(3) At the conference for county treasurers and treasurers elect,
investment training by the following:
(A) The treasurer of state.
(B) The board for depositories.
(C) Any other person the state examiner considers to be
competent in providing investment training.
(4) Any other training that, in the judgment of the state examiner,
will result in the better conduct of the public business.
(e) The state examiner may hold other conferences for:
(1) the officials described in subsection (b); or
(2) other county, city, or township officers;
whenever in the judgment of the state examiner conferences are
necessary.
(f) Whenever a conference is called by the state board of accounts
under this section, an elected official, at the direction of the state
examiner, may require the attendance of:
(1) each of the elected official's appointed and acting chief
deputies or chief assistants; and
(2) if the number of deputies or assistants employed:
(A) does not exceed three (3), one (1) of the elected official's
appointed and acting deputies or assistants; or
(B) exceeds three (3), two (2) of the elected official's duly
appointed and acting deputies or assistants.
(g) Each official representing a unit and attending any conference
under this section shall be allowed the following:
(1) A sum for mileage at a rate determined by the fiscal body of
the unit the official represents for each mile necessarily traveled
in going to and returning from the conference by the most
expeditious route. Regardless of the duration of the conference,
only one (1) mileage reimbursement shall be allowed to the
official furnishing the conveyance even if the official transports
more than one (1) person.
(2) An allowance for lodging for each night preceding conference
attendance in an amount equal to the single room rate. However,
lodging expense, in the case of a one (1) day conference, shall
only be allowed for persons who reside fifty (50) miles or farther
from the conference location.
(3) Reimbursement of an official, in an amount determined by the
fiscal body of the unit the official represents, for meals purchased
while attending a conference called under this section.
(h) The state board of accounts shall certify the number of days of
attendance and the mileage for each conference to each official
attending any conference under this section.
(i) All payments of mileage and lodging shall be made by the proper
disbursing officer in the manner provided by law on a duly verified
claim or voucher to which shall be attached the certificate of the state
board of accounts showing the number of days attended and the
number of miles traveled. All payments shall be made from the general
fund from any money not otherwise appropriated and without any
previous appropriation being made therefor.
(j) A claim for reimbursement under this section may not be denied
by the body responsible for the approval of claims if the claim complies
with IC 5-11-10-1.6 and this section.
(k) The state board of accounts shall keep attendance of elected
officials at each conference called by the state board of accounts and
publish the attendance on the state board of accounts' website.
(l) Elected officials must attend the applicable annual conference
called by the state board of accounts a minimum of once every two (2)
years.
Formerly: Acts 1943, c.116, s.1; Acts 1949, c.89, s.1; Acts
1967, c.67, s.1; Acts 1972, P.L.39, SEC.1; Acts 1975, P.L.15, SEC.5.
As amended by Acts 1977, P.L.55, SEC.1; Acts 1981, P.L.53, SEC.1;
P.L.72-1995, SEC.1; P.L.10-1997, SEC.5; P.L.35-1999, SEC.3;
P.L.98-2000, SEC.3; P.L.169-2006, SEC.6; P.L.58-2023,
SEC.2.