1. (a) A county executive:

   1. (1) shall designate and may:

      1. (A) appoint a county service officer for a four (4) year term; or
      2. (B) employ a county service officer; and

   2. (2) may employ service officer assistants;

      to serve the veterans of the county.

2. (b) The mayor of a city may employ a service officer and may employ service officer assistants to serve the veterans of the city.

3. (c) If the remuneration and expenses of a county or city service officer are paid from the funds of the county or city employing the service officer, the service officer shall:

   1. (1) have the same qualifications and be subject to the same rules as the director, assistant director, and state service officers of the Indiana department of veterans' affairs; and

   2. (2) serve under the supervision of the director of veterans' affairs.

      A service officer assistant must have the same qualifications as an employee described in section 11(b) of this chapter. A rule contrary to this subsection is void.

4. (d) County and city fiscal bodies may appropriate funds necessary for the purposes described in this section.

   [Pre-2003 Recodification Citation: 10-5-1-11.]

As added by P.L.2-2003, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.144-2007, SEC.9; P.L.105-2014, SEC.1; P.L.108-2016, SEC.2.