Sec. 12.2. (a) The definitions in IC 1-1-3.5 and IC 3-5-2 apply throughout this section.

     (b) As used in this section, “council” refers to the legislative council established by section 1 of this chapter.

     (c) As used in this section, “GIS” refers to the geographic information system that the office is required to establish and maintain under subsection (f)(7).

     (d) As used in this section, “office” refers to the office of census data established by subsection (e).

     (e) The office of census data is established within the legislative services agency. Appointment of staff members of the office is subject to the approval of the legislative council.

     (f) The office shall do the following:

(1) Advise and assist the Bureau of the Census in defining the boundaries of census blocks in Indiana.

(2) Work with other state and federal agencies to assist in the Census Bureau’s local review program conducted in Indiana.

(3) Participate in national associations of state governments to obtain information regarding census count activities conducted by other states.

(4) Work with political subdivisions following each decennial census to provide information and assistance concerning special censuses, special tabulations, and corrected population counts.

(5) Work with the election division, state agencies, and political subdivisions to maintain accurate information concerning the boundaries of precincts and political subdivisions.

(6) Provide technical assistance to counties, the election commission, and the election division to comply with Indiana law concerning establishing a precinct (as defined in IC 3-11-1.5-1).

(7) Establish and maintain a geographic information system that contains the boundaries of all precincts, legislative districts, and congressional districts. The geographic information system may contain other boundaries and information as determined by the executive director of the legislative services agency or as required by the council.

(8) Perform other census and mapping research as determined by the executive director of the legislative services agency or as required by the council.

     (g) The office shall provide the election division a network connection to the GIS. The network connection must do the following:

(1) Provide the election division with read access to the GIS.

(2) Enable the election division to download any information, including maps, contained in the GIS.

     (h) The election division is the agency through which public access to information contained in the GIS shall be provided.

As added by P.L.1-2002, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.53-2014, SEC.2.