Legislation

PTSD Service Dogs

Origination of bill: Senator Sorvaag, Ronald

• Provide $50,000 to ND Department of Veterans Affairs for training service dogs to assist ND Veterans with PTSD
• Payment made by NDDVA only after completion of service dog's training
• Payment may not exceed $12,500 per service dog
• Legislative management shall consider studying statutory changes to benefit ND veterans; state income taxes, property taxes, veteran-focused incentives, assistance obtaining benefits, assistance obtaining life enhancing services, and current state and federal benefits available to ND veterans.
• NDDVA shall provide a report to legislative management during interim: status of service dog training program, benefits to veterans, number applicants, and number of service dogs provided.
• Appropriations: $50,000

Veterans' Home Budget

Origination of bill: NDDVA, Veterans' Home

Appropriations for ND DVA and Veterans Home Budgets.

Adds one time funding for discharge project and website for NDDVA.

• Creates and enacts a new section to NDCC 37-15 by creating a Melvin Norgard Memorial Fund which all monies donated to home will be deposited in this fund, the Governing board of the Veterans Home will recommend projects and programs to be funded by this fund and appropriations shall consider the recommendations.
• Adds studies to determine the options for the old Veterans Home and to study the delivery of services to Veterans. (These studies were not selected by the Legislative Management Committee to move forward during the interim.)
• Used mineral rights donated monies to fund
  • Re-grading of Oxbow, sprinkler system, and landscaping: $126,500
  • Move gazebo: $75,000
  • Architect fees - shop: $10,000

Property Tax

Origination of Bill: Tax Commissioner

Changes Property Tax exemption for Disabled Veterans from the first "One hundred twenty thousand dollars of true and full value" to "Five thousand four hundred dollars of taxable value". This calculates out to the same amount of tax savings. The change keeps the assessed value of the property the same for reporting and statistical purposes.

Honor and Remember Flag

The official state honor and remember flag is the national honor and remember flag for fallen members of the armed forces. The governor by proclamation may require the display of the state honor and remember flag on state property at certain times and places to honor and remember the lives of all members of the United States armed forces who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Women Veterans Month

Origination: NDDVA, Rep. Grande

March of each year is Women Veterans' Month. Each year the governor shall issue a proclamation on March first in honor and remembrance of surviving and departed women veterans who have served honorably and with courage on behalf of the United States of America since the American Revolutionary War.

Remember Veterans Number Plates

Origination: Sen. Delmore

Creating a "Veterans Remembered License Plate". Proceeds going to Veterans Cemetery. (The plates may be issued as non-profit plates in the future)

Veterans Affairs Stand Down Event Appropriation

Origination: NDDVA, Representative Grande

Provide $20,000 to the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist in holding Stand Down events in communities around North Dakota. Provides maximum of $5,000 per event - must have matching funds.

Military Retired Pay Tax Exemption

Origination: NDDVA, ACOVA

Reduced by the amount received by the taxpayer as retired military personnel pay for service in the United States army, navy, air force, coast guard, or marine corps, or reserve components of the United States army, navy, air force, coast guard, or marine corps, to the extent that retired military personnel pay is included in North Dakota taxable income of the tax payer.

Veterans Indicator on Drivers License

Upon request and with adequate documentation, the director shall place an indicator on the face of an operator's license of a veteran. The veteran may make the request through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

• To have this on a license you must bring DD214 to CVSO for verification and form.

Disabled Veteran Benefits and Tax Treatment

Origination: NDDVA, ACOVA

Adds: Individual unemployability as qualifying as 100% or Total Disabled to benefits for property tax exemption (effective for tax years after Dec. 31, 2010), free tuition, vehicle plates, and vehicle excise tax

Adds: un-remarried surviving spouse in receipt of DIC will receive 100% of the property tax exemption and continue veterans vehicle excise tax exemption after death.

Child of Military Family - Educational Transfer

If the child of a military family transfers into this state, the superintendent of the receiving school district, whenever discretion or judgment is possible, shall apply the provisions of title 15.1 and any rules adopted to implement title 15.1 in a manner that is the least restrictive and the most conductive to facilitating the student's educational advancement, as well as the student's participation in all extracurricular academic, athletic, and social activities.

Korean War Dates Corrected

Origination: ACOVA

Corrects NDCC dates of Korean War to match Federal VA dates (for use in applying for North Dakota Honorary High School diploma).

Property Tax Exemption

Removed the 50% or greater. So any % would get that % of tax exemption on first $120,000 of property value.

Assistance Relief Application Appeal

Appeals to ACOVA subcommittee of Loan and Grant program would be closed to public, upon the request of the applicant, to protect the medical and financial information of the applicant.

National Guard Group Life Insurance

Origination: Rep. DeKrey

Pay for first $250,000 of National Guard Members group life insurance premiums. Changed to an interim study of the benefits of ND and other state guard members.

Administrative Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACOVA) Membership and Compensation

Origination: Rep. Grande, Sen. Dever

A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact sections 37-18.1-01, 37-18.1-02, and 37-18.1-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the administrative committee on veterans' affairs; and to repeal section 37-18.1-04 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to compensation for the administrative committee on veterans' affairs. 

This bill would...

• Reduce ACOVA from 15 to 3 voting members and 3 non-voting ex-officio members
  • Three voting members:
    • Director of Department of Human Services
    • Secretary of State
      • Secretary of the Committee
    • State Treasurer
      • Chairman of the Committee
  • Three Ex-officio non-voting members
    • Veterans Administration director
    • Job Service Director
    • ND National Guard Adjutant General
  • **NOTE: No veterans on ACOVA
• Commissioner appointed by Governor
• Commissioner may appoint an advisory committee for recommendations

HOUSE AMENDMENTS AND ACTIONS

• Removed language of original bill
• Governance of Veterans Home changes;
  • Removes ACOVA from general supervision and government
  • Places Veterans Home Governing Board as general supervision and goverment
  • 7 member Governing Board
    • Appointed by Governor
    • 5 members must meet qualification as a veteran under NDCC 37-01-40
    • Members to receive compensation of $135 per day
  • Veterans Home Administrator appointed and serves at the pleasure of the Governor
• Governance of Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Governor Appoints Commissioner
    • Commissioner must meet qualification as a Veteran under NDCC 37-01-40
    • Works at the pleasure of the Governor
  • ACOVA
    • Removes current language of ACOVA
    • Creates 9 voting member board appointed by Governor ​
      • One member from each of the following organizations
        • American Legions
        • AMVETS
        • Disbled American Veterans
        • Veterans of Foreign Wars
        • Vietnam Veterans of America
      • Four members nominated from any organization or citizen
        • Each must qualify as a veteran under NDCC 37-01-40
    • Governor Appoints Chairman of the ACOVA
    • Ex-Officia members of ACOVA
      • ​Adjutant General
      • Director of Human Services
• Executive Director of Job Service ND
• Removes Powers and Duties of ACOVA and replaces with
  • Committee shall present matters needing attention and action to the apporopriate board, commission, agency or department of state
  • Committee shall create a strategice plan for delivery of services by the Committee
    • Annually report status of strategic plan to Governor
      • Add compensation of $135 per day and expenses
• Committee recommended DO NOT PASS 8-5-0 HJ 700

FISCAL NOTE: $46,000

FAILED HOUSE 24-69 HJ 789

Wounded Warrior Project Deer Licenses

Issue four any deer licenses annually to the wounded warrior project for distribution. A license issued under this subsection is valid from the opening of the youth deer season through the close of the deer season.

County Veterans Service Officers (CVSO)

Origination: House Government & Veterans Affairs Committee

A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 37-14-18 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to county veterans' service officers. 

This bill would...

• Remove the August 1, 2011 deadline for CVSO accreditation with the National Association of County Veteran Service Officers (NACVSO)
• Require new CVSO's to attend the NACVSO accreditation training at county expense
• Change CVSO "Duty" to "Shall" cooperate with and coordinate state and federal VA programs

HOUSE AMENDMENTS AND ACTIONS

• Commissioner of Veterans Affairs to recommend standards and qualifications, training, certification and accreditations set by NDDVA Commisisoner for qualification as a CVSO
• Change from "accreditation" with NACVSO to "training" with NACVSO 
• Committee recommended DO PASS as amended 12-0-1 HJ 705
• PASSED HOUSE 92-1 HJ 798

SENATE AMENDMENTS AND ACTIONS

• Committee recommended DO NOT PASS 7-0-0 SJ 1079
• FAILED SENATE 1-46 SJ 1087

FISCAL NOTE: NONE

Appropriation for Transfer to Veterans' Postwar Trust Fund

Origination of bill: Commissioner, ACOVA, NDVCC

• Appropriated $210,000 to the Department of Veterans Affairs to be used in lieu of income generated from the veterans' postwar trust fund for programs authorized by law to benefit and serve veterans or their dependents.
• Appropriated $50,000 to the Department of Veterans Affairs for purchasing vans for the transport of veterans or their dependents. General fund dollars.
• Begins July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2013

Honor Guard Leave for State Employees

Origination: DOT, Sen. Lyson

Provides 24 hours of paid leave time for classified government employees to participate in honor guard for funerals.