Bill > SB0433

This bill modifies the roles and responsibilities of veteran service officers and the Indiana Department of Veterans' Affairs. The bill requires the department's commission to establish state accreditation standards for service officers by January 1, 2026, and mandates that after June 30, 2026, county and city service officers must maintain these accreditation standards to continue providing services to veterans. Counties are now required to employ a service officer, with the option to share a service officer with other counties if the workload does not justify a separate officer. The bill expands the duties of the department's director to include conducting biannual meetings with county executives and overseeing the administrative functions of accreditation. The accreditation standards will include specific requirements such as obtaining a federal personal identification verification card, tracking performance metrics like the number of veterans assisted and benefit claim success rates, establishing minimum training and testing requirements, and creating reporting protocols. Additionally, the bill requires all county and city officials to cooperate with service officers and provide necessary information, while also giving the commission the power to revoke a service officer's accreditation for non-compliance with established standards.

Military Affairs and Security

https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2025/bills/senate/433/details