Sec. 5. (a) The inspector general shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 establishing a code of ethics for the conduct of state business. The code of ethics must be consistent with Indiana law.

(b) The code of ethics must, except as provided in subsection (c), prohibit the following:

(1) A state officer, an employee, or a special state appointee from using state materials, funds, property, personnel, facilities, or equipment for a political purpose.

(2) Adoption of policies or regulations that authorize a state officer, an employee, or a special state appointee to use state materials, funds, property, personnel, facilities, or equipment for a political purpose.

For purposes of this section, "political purpose" does not include the handling or disposing of unsolicited political communications.

(c) A state officer or an individual designated by the state officer may use state materials, funds, property, personnel, facilities, or equipment for the following:

(1) To coordinate the state officer's official, personal, and political calendars.

(2) To provide transportation and security for:

(A) the state officer; and

(B) any employee or special state appointee who accompanies the state officer.

(3) Incidental or de minimus political communications or activity involving the state officer.

(d) If the inspector general investigates and determines that there is specific and credible evidence that a current or former employee, a current or former state officer, a current or former special state appointee, or a person who has or had a business relationship with an agency has violated the code of ethics, the inspector general may:

(1) file a complaint with the ethics commission and represent the state in a public proceeding before the ethics commission as prescribed in IC 4-2-6-4; or

(2) file a complaint with the ethics commission and negotiate an agreed settlement for approval by the ethics commission according to its rules.

As added by P.L.222-2005, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.123-2015, SEC.27.