Ind. Code ch. 4-23-7.2

Ind. Code ch. 4-23-7.2
in effect

Ind. Code § 4-23-7.2-1 Definitions

Note: This version of section effective until 7-1-2027. See also following version of this section, effective 7-1-2027. Sec. 1. The following definitions apply throughout this chapter: (1) "Agency" means any state administration, agency, authority, board, bureau, commission, committee, council, department, division, institution, office, service, or other similar body of state government. (2) "Board" means the Indiana library and historical board established by IC 4-23-7-2. (3) "Department" means the Indiana library and historical department established by IC 4-23-7-1. (4) "Deputy director" means the deputy director of the Indiana historical bureau. (5) "Director" means director of the library. (6) "Historical bureau" means the Indiana historical bureau established by section 2 of this chapter. (7) "Library" means the Indiana state library established by IC 4-23-7-3. As added by Acts 1981, P.L.40, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.42-2018, SEC.17.

Ind. Code § 4-23-7.2-1 Definitions

Note: This version of section effective 7-1-2027. See also preceding version of this section, effective until 7-1-2027. Sec. 1. The following definitions apply throughout this chapter: (1) "Agency" means any state administration, agency, authority, board, bureau, commission, committee, council, department, division, institution, office, service, or other similar body of state government. (2) "Board" means the Indiana library board established by IC 4-23-7-2. (3) "Department" means the Indiana library and historical department established by IC 4-23-7-1. (4) "Deputy director" means the deputy director of the Indiana historical bureau. (5) "Director" means director of the library. (6) "Historical bureau" means the Indiana historical bureau established by section 2 of this chapter. (7) "Library" means the Indiana state library established by IC 4-23-7-3. As added by Acts 1981, P.L.40, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.42-2018, SEC.17; P.L.152-2026, SEC.26.

Ind. Code § 4-23-7.2-2 Division; duties and functions

Sec. 2. (a) The Indiana historical bureau is established as a division of the library. (b) It is the duty of the historical bureau to edit and publish documentary and other material relating to the history of the state of Indiana and to promote the study of Indiana history. (c) As appropriate, the historical bureau shall work with the Indiana historical society, the county historical societies, and any other person, agency, or organization concerned with Indiana history. As added by Acts 1981, P.L.40, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.25-1990, SEC.2; P.L.42-2018, SEC.18.

Ind. Code § 4-23-7.2-3 Statistical or informational materials; publication; expenses

Sec. 3. The historical bureau may compile and publish digests, reports and bulletins of purely informational or statistical character on any question which the board may deem to be of interest or value to the people of the state. Any expenses which may be incurred in the publication of any such digest, report or bulletin shall be defrayed out of the funds which may be appropriated for the use of the department. As added by Acts 1981, P.L.40, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.42-2018, SEC.19.

Ind. Code § 4-23-7.2-4 Cooperation with educational or other institutions, organizations, or individuals

Sec. 4. The historical bureau may cooperate with any of the educational institutions of the state or other institutions, organizations or individuals for the purpose of meeting its responsibilities in any manner and to any extent which may be approved by the board. As added by Acts 1981, P.L.40, SEC.8.

Ind. Code § 4-23-7.2-5 Payment of bureau expenses incurred in publication of source and other historical material

Sec. 5. All expenses incurred in the preparation, compilation, printing, binding, and publication of the volumes of source and other historical material issued by the historical bureau shall be defrayed out of funds at the disposal of the library which may be appropriated by law for that purpose, under the terms of any contract which the state may have executed and entered into for public printing, and under the direction and supervision of the library. As added by Acts 1981, P.L.40, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.171-2015, SEC.5; P.L.42-2018, SEC.20.

Ind. Code § 4-23-7.2-6 Copies of publications; furnishing to public libraries and others free; sale

Sec. 6. One (1) copy of each publication issued by the historical bureau shall be furnished to each public library in the state, and the board may furnish copies free of charge to such other persons, institutions or departments as in its judgment may be entitled thereto. The copies so remaining shall be sold by the bureau at a price which shall be fixed by the board. As added by Acts 1981, P.L.40, SEC.8.

Ind. Code § 4-23-7.2-7 Publications and educational fund; establishment; use; deposits

Sec. 7. (a) The historical bureau publications and educational fund is established as a dedicated fund to be administered by the library for the historical bureau. The monies in the fund may be expended by the director exclusively for the publication of historical documents and other material to promote the study of Indiana history, and to inform the people of Indiana concerning the history of their state. (b) The proceeds from the sale of items, from gifts of money or the proceeds from the sale of gifts donated to the fund, and from investment earnings from any portion of the fund, shall be deposited in the historical bureau publications fund. (c) All monies accruing to the historical bureau publications fund are hereby appropriated continuously for the purposes specified in this section. (d) No portion of the fund shall revert to the general fund of the state at the end of a fiscal year. However, if the fund is abolished, its contents shall revert to the general fund of the state. As added by Acts 1981, P.L.40, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.42-2018, SEC.21.

Ind. Code § 4-23-7.2-8 Repealed

As added by Acts 1981, P.L.40, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.31-1997, SEC.1. Repealed by P.L.69-2009, SEC.12.

Ind. Code § 4-23-7.2-11 Indiana historical marker program; advisory committee; state highways

Sec. 11. (a) The historical bureau shall establish the Indiana historical marker program for marking historical sites in Indiana. As a part of this program, the historical bureau shall fix a state format for historical markers. No person may erect an historical marker in the state format without the approval of the historical bureau. All historical markers in the state format shall be provided by the historical bureau using appropriated funds, local matching funds, donations, grants, or any other funds provided for that purpose according to the guidelines and rules of the historical marker program. (b) The board may appoint a historical marker advisory committee to serve without compensation. The committee may advise the board and the director concerning the following: (1) Guidelines and rules for the historical marker program. (2) Appropriate sites to be marked. (3) Other matters concerning the historical marker program as requested by the board or the director. (c) Historical markers approved under this section, including state format markers installed after 1945 and markers installed by the Indiana Civil War centennial commission, are the property of the state. Maintenance of state historical markers is part of the historical marker program. The historical bureau may cooperate with individuals, local and state agencies, and private institutions and organizations for the maintenance of the historical markers. Funds made available to the historical marker program, as approved by the board, may be used for necessary maintenance. (d) No historical marker may be erected on a highway of the state highway system without the approval of the historical bureau as to its historical accuracy. This provision is in addition to any other requirement of law. As added by Acts 1981, P.L.40, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.38-1989, SEC.1; P.L.31-1997, SEC.2; P.L.84-2012, SEC.14.

Ind. Code § 4-23-7.2-12 George Rogers Clark Day

Sec. 12. The historical bureau shall commemorate George Rogers Clark in a manner fitting each occasion of George Rogers Clark Day, every twenty-fifth day of February, established by IC 1-1-13-1. As added by Acts 1981, P.L.40, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.84-2012, SEC.15.

Ind. Code § 4-23-7.2-13 Public officers; duty to supply requested information

Sec. 13. Each state, county, township, city, town, judicial, or other public officer having in the officer's charge or custody or capable of supplying, or required to collect and compile the information which may be required by the historical bureau, shall supply the information promptly at the request of the historical bureau, whether the request is oral or by letter or circular or by the filling out of blank forms provided for that purpose by the historical bureau. As added by Acts 1981, P.L.40, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.215-2016, SEC.97.

Ind. Code § 4-23-7.2-14 Rules; promulgation

Sec. 14. The board may promulgate rules, under IC 4-22-2, to carry out the provisions and purpose of this chapter. As added by Acts 1981, P.L.40, SEC.8.

Ind. Code § 4-23-7.2-15 Organization of bureau; supplemental duties

Sec. 15. The historical bureau shall be organized in such manner as determined by the director with the approval of the board. The duties of the historical bureau established by law may be supplemented by the board according to its discretion. As added by Acts 1981, P.L.40, SEC.8.

Ind. Code § 4-23-7.2-16 Deputy director; appointment; qualifications

Sec. 16. (a) The director shall appoint a deputy director to be the chief administrative officer of the historical bureau. (b) To qualify for the position of deputy director, a person must: (1) be a graduate of a college or university of recognized standing; (2) have had special training in the nature, relative value, and use of historical source material; (3) have had special training in the editing of historical publications; and (4) possess such other qualifications as the board, in its discretion, may deem necessary. (c) The deputy director reports to the director. As added by Acts 1981, P.L.40, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.100-2012, SEC.10; P.L.42-2018, SEC.22.

Ind. Code § 4-23-7.2-18 Advisory committee; appointment

Sec. 18. The board may appoint an advisory committee of not to exceed nine (9) members, who shall consult and advise with the director and the deputy director of the historical bureau concerning the publication of historical material, the promotion of the interest of the historical societies of Indiana, and in the conduct of the historical work of the state generally. The committee shall serve without compensation. As added by Acts 1981, P.L.40, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.42-2018, SEC.23.

Ind. Code § 4-23-7.2-19 Publications of select committee on centennial history of general assembly; deposit of proceeds

Sec. 19. The proceeds from the sale of all publications of the select committee on the centennial history of the Indiana general assembly, alone or in cooperation with the Indiana historical bureau, shall be deposited in the historical bureau publications and educational fund. As added by P.L.37-1987, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 4-23-7.2-20 Oral history of the general assembly

Sec. 20. (a) The historical bureau shall establish and maintain an oral history of the general assembly. The director shall employ a qualified historian to conduct and preserve interviews of members of the general assembly about topics of public and historical interest. (b) At the request of the legislative services agency, the historical bureau shall share information obtained through the establishment of the oral history with the legislative services agency for the legislative services agency's use in maintaining a data base of biographical information for each member of the general assembly. (c) The historical bureau shall submit a report to the legislative council in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6 on the status of the oral history of the general assembly before July 1, 2018, and upon request thereafter. As added by P.L.77-2017, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 4-23-7.2-21 Repealed

As added by P.L.77-2017, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.161-2025, SEC.4. Repealed by P.L.152-2026, SEC.27.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/4Fetched: 10/17/2026