Sec. 3.5. (a) Until the system described in subsection (e) is implemented, each county shall maintain a state certified computer system that has the capacity to:

(1) process and maintain assessment records;

(2) process and maintain standardized property tax forms;

(3) process and maintain standardized property assessment notices;

(4) maintain complete and accurate assessment records for the county; and

(5) process and compute complete and accurate assessments in accordance with Indiana law.

The county assessor shall select the computer system.

     (b) All information on a computer system referred to in subsection (a) shall be readily accessible to:

(1) the department of local government finance; and

(2) assessing officials.

     (c) The certified system referred to in subsection (a) used by the counties must be:

(1) compatible with the data export and transmission requirements in a standard format prescribed by the office of technology established by IC 4-13.1-2-1 and approved by the legislative services agency; and

(2) maintained in a manner that ensures prompt and accurate transfer of data to the department of local government finance.

     (d) All standardized property forms and notices on the certified computer system referred to in subsection (a) shall be maintained by the county assessor in an accessible location and in a format that is easily understandable for use by persons of the county.

     (e) The department shall adopt rules before July 1, 2006, for the establishment of:

(1) a uniform and common property tax management system for all counties that:

(A) includes a combined mass appraisal and county auditor system integrated with a county treasurer system; and

(B) replaces the computer system referred to in subsection (a); and

(2) a schedule for implementation of the system referred to in subdivision (1) structured to result in the implementation of the system in all counties with respect to an assessment date:

(A) determined by the department; and

(B) specified in the rule.

     (f) The department shall appoint an advisory committee to assist the department in the formulation of the rules referred to in subsection (e). The department shall determine the number of members of the committee. The committee:

(1) must include at least:

(A) one (1) township assessor;

(B) one (1) county assessor;

(C) one (1) county auditor; and

(D) one (1) county treasurer; and

(2) shall meet at times and locations determined by the department.

     (g) Each member of the committee appointed under subsection (f) who is not a state employee is not entitled to the minimum salary per diem provided by IC 4-10-11-2.1(b). The member is entitled to reimbursement for traveling expenses as provided under IC 4-13-1-4 and other expenses actually incurred in connection with the member’s duties as provided in the state policies and procedures established by the Indiana department of administration and approved by the budget agency.

     (h) Each member of the committee appointed under subsection (f) who is a state employee is entitled to reimbursement for traveling expenses as provided under IC 4-13-1-4 and other expenses actually incurred in connection with the member’s duties as provided in the state policies and procedures established by the Indiana department of administration and approved by the budget agency.

     (i) The department shall report to the budget committee in writing the department’s estimate of the cost of implementation of the system referred to in subsection (e).

As added by P.L.198-2001, SEC.80. Amended by P.L.88-2005, SEC.11; P.L.177-2005, SEC.28; P.L.228-2005, SEC.26; P.L.146-2008, SEC.273; P.L.159-2020, SEC.49.