Sec. 10. (a) Within thirty (30) days of their appointment, new county, or city service officers must attend a new service officer orientation presented by the Indiana department of veterans’ affairs and, according to the standards established under section 4(4) of this chapter, become certified to assist veterans and their dependents and survivors. The curriculum for the new service officer orientation presented under this subsection shall be determined by the director.

     (b) Within one (1) year of appointment, new service officers must attend a course presented by a national organization and become accredited to represent veterans.

     (c) An individual employed as a state, county, or city service officer under this chapter is required to become accredited by a national veterans service organization through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Office of General Counsel not later than one (1) year from the date of the individual’s employment, in order to represent veterans.

     (d) Annually, all state, county, or city service officers shall undergo a course of training to adequately address problems of discharged veterans in the service officer’s county, or city, including a thorough familiarization with laws, rules, and regulations of the federal government and the state that affect benefits to which the veterans and dependents of the veterans are entitled. After a service officer has undergone this sustainment training and successfully passed a written test, the service officer shall be recertified by the director to assist veterans for the following year.

[Pre-2003 Recodification Citation: 10-5-1-12.]

As added by P.L.2-2003, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.169-2013, SEC.3; P.L.99-2016, SEC.5; P.L.42-2020, SEC.5.