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.

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Terms Used In Indiana Code 5-14-4-10

  • Attorney: includes a counselor or other person authorized to appear and represent a party in an action or special proceeding. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • counselor: refers to the public access counselor appointed under section 6 of this chapter. See Indiana Code 5-14-4-1
  • in writing: include printing, lithographing, or other mode of representing words and letters. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
  • Lawsuit: A legal action started by a plaintiff against a defendant based on a complaint that the defendant failed to perform a legal duty, resulting in harm to the plaintiff.
  • office: refers to the office of the public access counselor established under section 5 of this chapter. See Indiana Code 5-14-4-2
  • public access laws: refers to :

    Indiana Code 5-14-4-3

  • public agency: has the meaning set forth in:

    Indiana Code 5-14-4-4

(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.

As added by P.L.70-1999, SEC.4 and P.L.191-1999, SEC.4.

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