CHAPTER 1. AUDITOR OF STATE
IC 4-7
ARTICLE 7. AUDITOR OF STATE
IC 4-7-1
Chapter 1. Auditor of State
IC 4-7-1-1
Commencement of term; bond
Sec. 1. (a) The individual elected as auditor of state shall take
office on January 1 following the individual's election.
(b) The auditor of state, before entering upon the duties of office
shall execute an official bond, for the sum of ten thousand dollars
($10,000), to be approved by the governor.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.7, s.1.) As amended by P.L.8-1995,
SEC.68.
IC 4-7-1-2
Powers and duties
Sec. 2. The auditor of state shall do the following:
(1) Keep and state all accounts between the state of Indiana and
the United States, any state or territory, or any individual or
public officer of this state indebted to the state or entrusted with
the collection, disbursement, or management of any money,
funds, or interest arising therefrom, belonging to the state, of
every character and description whatsoever, when the money,
funds, or interest is derivable from or payable into the state
treasury.
(2) Examine and liquidate the accounts of all county treasurers
and other collectors and receivers of all state revenues, taxes,
tolls, and incomes, levied or collected by any act of the general
assembly and payable into the state treasury, and certify the
amount or balance to the treasurer of state.
(3) Keep fair, clear, distinct, and separate accounts of all the
revenues and incomes of the state and all expenditures,
disbursements, and investments of the state, showing the
particulars of every expenditure, disbursement, and investment.
(4) Examine, adjust, and settle the accounts of all public debtors
for debts due the state treasury and require all public debtors or
their legal representatives who may be indebted to the state for
money received or otherwise and who have not accounted for
a debt to settle their accounts.
(5) Examine and liquidate the claims of all persons against the
state in cases where provisions for the payment have not been
made by law. When no such provisions or an insufficient one
has been made, examine the claim and report the facts, with an
opinion, to the general assembly. No allowance shall be made
to refund money from the treasury without the statement of the
auditor of state either for or against the justice of the claim.
(6) Institute and prosecute, in the name of the state, all proper
suits for the recovery of any debts, money, or property of the
state or for the ascertainment of any right or liability concerning
the debts, money, or property.
(7) Direct and superintend the collection of all money due to the
state and employ counsel to prosecute suits, instituted at the
auditor's instance, on behalf of the state.
(8) Draw warrants on the treasurer of state or authorize
disbursement through electronic funds transfer in conformity
with IC 4-8.1-2-7 for all money directed by law to be paid out
of the treasury to public officers or for any other object
whatsoever as the warrants become payable. Every warrant or
authorization for electronic funds transfer shall be properly
numbered.
(9) Furnish to the governor, on requisition, information in
writing upon any subject relating to the duties of the office of
the auditor of state.
(10) Superintend the fiscal concerns of the state and their
management in the manner required by law and furnish the
proper forms to assessors, treasurers, collectors, and auditors of
counties.
(11) Keep and preserve all public books, records, papers,
documents, vouchers, and all conveyances, leases, mortgages,
bonds, and all securities for debts, money, or property, and
accounts and property, of any description, belonging or
appertaining to the office of the auditor of state and also to the
state, where no other provision is made by law for the
safekeeping of the accounts and property.
(12) Suggest plans for the improvement and management of the
public revenues, funds, and incomes.
(13) Report and exhibit to the general assembly, at its meeting
in each odd-numbered year, a complete statement of the
revenues, taxables, funds, resources, incomes, and property of
the state, known to the office of the auditor of state and of the
public revenues and expenditures of the two (2) preceding fiscal
years, with a detailed estimate of the expenditures to be
defrayed from the treasury for the ensuing two (2) years,
specifying each object of expenditure and distinguishing
between each object of expenditure and between such as are
provided for by permanent or temporary appropriations, and
such as require to be provided for by law, and showing also the
sources and means from which all such expenditures are to be
defrayed. The report must be in an electronic format under
IC 5-14-6.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.7, s.2.) As amended by P.L.1-1991,
SEC.8; P.L.32-1995, SEC.1; P.L.28-2004, SEC.31.
IC 4-7-1-3
Powers and duties; statement of property, money, security, or
funds of state
Sec. 3. He shall, from time to time, require all persons receiving
moneys or securities, or having the management of any property,
money, securities, or funds of the state, of which an account is kept
in his office, to render statements thereof to him; and all such
officers or persons shall render such statements, at such time and in
such form, as shall be required.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.7, s.3.)
IC 4-7-1-4
Oath; adjustment or settlement of claim
Sec. 4. He shall have power to administer oaths in the adjustment
or settlement of all claims for or against the state.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.7, s.4.)
IC 4-7-1-4.1
Approval of forms
Sec. 4.1. All forms and reports that are used by the auditor of state
to enter information into the auditor of state's accounting system are
subject to the approval of the auditor of state.
(b) The auditor of state shall approve forms and reports used by
the auditor of state in a paper form, as a facsimile, or in an electronic
form. This section may not be implemented in a manner that
interferes with the duties and powers of:
(1) the state board of accounts under IC 5-11-1-2; or
(2) the oversight committee on public records or the
commission on public records under IC 5-15-5.1-5.
(c) The auditor of state may require that a form or report
submitted to the auditor of state for processing must be submitted in
paper form, as a facsimile, or electronically if the requirement:
(1) is approved by the state board of accounts; and
(2) does not create a hardship for a person that submits the form
or report to the auditor of state.
As added by P.L.6-1996, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.19-1997, SEC.1.
IC 4-7-1-5
Duties of auditor upon issuing warrants or authorizing electronic
funds transfer
Sec. 5. Whenever any person is entitled to draw money from the
state treasury, the auditor may draw a warrant in his favor on the
treasurer of state or authorize an electronic funds transfer in
conformity with IC 4-8.1-2-7. The auditor of state shall:
(1) enter in a proper book provided for that purpose every
warrant or electronic funds transfer he draws on the treasury:
(A) in the order he issues the same;
(B) in such manner as to show the date thereof;
(C) in whose favor drawn;
(D) the nature of the claim upon which it is founded; and
(E) with a reference to the law under which it is drawn;
(2) carry such entries into a book of general accounts, under
separate and distinct heads; and
(3) number and file, in his office, all papers and vouchers upon
which he shall issue any warrant or electronic funds transfer for
the payment of money.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.7, s.5.) As amended by P.L.32-1995,
SEC.2.
IC 4-7-1-6
Failure to render accounts to auditor; damages; interest
Sec. 6. Whenever any officer or other person has received moneys
belonging to the state, or has been entrusted with the collection,
management or disbursement of any moneys, funds or interest
accruing therefrom, belonging to or held in trust by the state, and
shall fail to render an account thereof to, and make settlement with,
the auditor, within the time prescribed by law, or where no particular
time is prescribed, shall fail to render such account and make
settlement, upon being required so to do by the auditor, within ten
(10) days after such requisition, the auditor shall state an account
against such officer or person, charging ten per cent (10%) damages,
and interest at the rate of six per cent (6%) per annum from the time
of failing to render an account and settle as aforesaid.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.7, s.6.)
IC 4-7-1-7
Failure to pay accounts; suit for recovery
Sec. 7. Whenever any officer or other person shall render an
account to, and make settlement with the auditor, as in this chapter
required, and shall fail to pay over to the treasurer of state the
amount to be paid by such officer or person into the state treasury, or
to such person as shall be entitled by law to receive the same, within
the time prescribed by law, or if no time is prescribed by law, then
within the time specified by such auditor, the auditor, upon being
notified by said treasurer, or otherwise, of such failure, shall institute
suit for the recovery of the amount due and unpaid.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.7, s.7.) As amended by P.L.5-1984,
SEC.29.
IC 4-7-1-8
Suits to recover on accounts; evidence
Sec. 8. A copy of the account, in such case made out and certified
by the auditor, shall be sufficient evidence to support an action for
the amount stated therein to be due, without proof of the signature or
official character of such auditor, subject, however, to the right of the
defendant to plead and give in evidence, as in other actions, all such
matters as shall be legal and proper for his defense.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.7, s.8.)
IC 4-7-1-9
Suits to recover on accounts; costs
Sec. 9. The party so sued shall be subject to the costs and charges
of suit, except in cases in which he shall have rendered a true
account, and shall also have paid the amount to the proper person
authorized to receive the same, before the commencement of such
suit, or unless suit is brought against the representative of the
original party.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.7, s.9.)
IC 4-7-1-10
Suits to recover on accounts; evidence existing before adjustment
and settlement; costs
Sec. 10. If any defendant in any such suit, upon the trial, gives any
evidence which existed prior to the time of such adjustment and
settlement, and which was not produced to such auditor at the time
of said settlement, such defendant shall be subject to the costs and
charges of such suit.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.7, s.10.)
IC 4-7-1-11
Suits to recover on accounts; remedies
Sec. 11. Nothing contained in the provisions of this chapter shall
be so construed as to affect any legal remedy which might be used if
such provisions were not in force for the recovery of any claim in
favor of the state.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.7, s.11.) As amended by P.L.5-1984,
SEC.30.
IC 4-7-1-12
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.4-1988, SEC.4.)
IC 4-7-1-13
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.17-1986, SEC.15.)
IC 4-7-1-14
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.17-1986, SEC.15.)
IC 4-7-1-15
Inspection of office
Sec. 15. All the books, papers, letters and transactions pertaining
to the office of auditor shall be open to the inspection of a committee
of the general assembly, or either branch thereof, and also to the
inspection of the governor.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.7, s.16.)
IC 4-7-1-16
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.17-1986, SEC.15.)
IC 4-7-1-17
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.176-1999, SEC.133 and P.L.202-1999, SEC.27.)