Sec. 31. (a) The department of local government finance shall periodically check the conduct of:

(1) a reassessment of a group of parcels under a county’s reassessment plan prepared under section 4.2 of this chapter;

(2) work required to be performed by local officials under 50 IAC 21; and

(3) other property assessment activities in the county, as determined by the department.

The department of local government finance may inform township assessors (if any), county assessors, and the presidents of county councils in writing if its check reveals that the reassessment of a group of parcels under a county’s reassessment plan prepared under section 4.2 of this chapter, or other property assessment activities are not being properly conducted, work required to be performed by local officials under 50 IAC 21 is not being properly conducted, or property assessments are not being properly made.

     (b) The failure of the department of local government finance to inform local officials under subsection (a) shall not be construed as an indication by the department that:

(1) a reassessment of a group of parcels under a county’s reassessment plan prepared under section 4.2 of this chapter or other property assessment activities are being properly conducted;

(2) work required to be performed by local officials under 50 IAC 21 is being properly conducted; or

(3) property assessments are being properly made.

     (c) If the department of local government finance:

(1) determines under subsection (a) that a reassessment of a group of parcels under a county’s reassessment plan prepared under section 4.2 of this chapter or other assessment activities are not being properly conducted; and

(2) informs:

(A) the township assessor (if any) of each affected township;

(B) the county assessor; and

(C) the president of the county council;

in writing under subsection (a);

the department may order a state conducted assessment or reassessment under section 31.5 of this chapter to begin not less than sixty (60) days after the date of the notice under subdivision (2).

     (d) If the department of local government finance:

(1) determines under subsection (a) that work required to be performed by local officials under 50 IAC 21 is not being properly conducted; and

(2) informs:

(A) the township assessor of each affected township (if any);

(B) the county assessor; and

(C) the president of the county council;

in writing under subsection (a);

the department may conduct the work or contract to have the work conducted to begin not less than sixty (60) days after the date of the notice under subdivision (2). If the department determines during the period between the date of the notice under subdivision (2) and the proposed date for beginning the work or having the work conducted that work required to be performed by local officials under 50 IAC 21 is being properly conducted, the department may rescind the order.

     (e) If the department of local government finance contracts to have work conducted under subsection (d), the department shall forward the bill for the services to the county and the county shall pay the bill under the same procedures that apply to county payments of bills for assessment or reassessment services under section 31.5 of this chapter.

     (f) A county council president who is informed by the department of local government finance under subsection (a) shall provide the information to the board of county commissioners. A board of county commissioners that receives information under this subsection may adopt an ordinance to do either or both of the following:

(1) Determine that:

(A) the information indicates that the county assessor has failed to perform adequately the duties of county assessor; and

(B) by that failure the county assessor forfeits the office of county assessor and is subject to removal from office by an information filed under IC 34-17-2-1(b).

(2) Determine that:

(A) the information indicates that one (1) or more township assessors in the county have failed to perform adequately the duties of township assessor; and

(B) by that failure the township assessor or township assessors forfeit the office of township assessor and are subject to removal from office by an information filed under IC 34-17-2-1(b).

     (g) A city-county council that is informed by the department of local government finance under subsection (a) may adopt an ordinance making the determination or determinations referred to in subsection (f).

As added by P.L.14-1983, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.90-2002, SEC.44; P.L.228-2005, SEC.11; P.L.146-2008, SEC.81; P.L.113-2010, SEC.17; P.L.112-2012, SEC.21; P.L.86-2018, SEC.36.