§ 5-15-1-1 — Copying of records by electronic or other process; destruction of original records; copies to be received as evidence

(a) Any officer, office, court, commission,
board, institution, department, agent, or employee of the state, county,
or any political subdivision being charged with the duty or authorized
or required by law to record, preserve, keep, maintain, or file any
record, document, plat, paper or instrument-in-writing, may, whenever
any such officer, office, court, commission, board, institution,
department, agent, or employee of the state, county, or any political
subdivision shall deem it necessary, for the purpose of recording or
copying same, preserving and protecting same, reducing space required
for storage or filing of same, or any similar purpose, have or cause to
have any or all such records recorded, copied, or reproduced by any
photostatic, photographic, micrographic, electronic, or other process
which correctly and accurately copies or reproduces, recreates, or
forms a medium of copying or reproducing the original record,
document, plat, paper, or instrument-in-writing. Any officer, office,
court, commission, board, institution, department, agent, or employee
of the state may have or cause to have records recorded, copied, or
reproduced under this subsection by any optical imaging process that
correctly and accurately copies or reproduces, recreates, or forms a
medium of copying or reproducing the original record, document, plat,
paper, or instrument-in-writing.
(b) The original filing record may be destroyed if:
(1) the record has been copied or is capable of being reproduced
or recreated under subsection (a); and
(2) an approved retention schedule allows for the destruction.
(c) Copies, recreations, or reproductions made under subsection (a):
(1) shall have the same force and effect at law as the original
record destroyed under subsection (b); and
(2) shall be received as evidence in any court where the original
record could have been so introduced;
if the recreations, copies, or reproductions are properly certified as to
authenticity and accuracy by a duly constituted official custodian of
such records.
(d) All micrographics and imaging processes done under this
chapter shall comply with the quality standards developed under IC 5-15-5.1-8.
(e) This section does not apply to the office of judicial
administration of the supreme court or the office of a county coroner.
Formerly: Acts 1947, c.195, s.1. As amended by Acts 1979,
P.L.40, SEC.16; P.L.50-1991, SEC.2; P.L.79-1995, SEC.1;
P.L.171-2015, SEC.7; P.L.161-2018, SEC.15; P.L.73-2023,
SEC.1.