Legislation

A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new subsection to section 20.1-03-11 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to disabled veteran deer hunting licenses.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:

SECTION 1. A new subsection to section 20.1-03-11 of the North Dakota Century Code is created and enacted as follows:

A resident disabled veteran who has a one hundred percent service-connected disability as determined by the department of veterans' affairs is entitled to receive a deer license to hunt any legal deer. A deer license issued under this subdivision must be issued without being subject to the lottery for deer hunting licenses.

A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 50-06 and chapter 57-40.7 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the creation of the 988 crisis hotline program and the 988 crisis stabilization fund and the imposition of a 988 access fee; to provide for a legislative management report; to provide an appropriation; to provide a continuing appropriation; and to provide an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:

SECTION 1. A new section to chapter 50-06 of the North Dakota Century Code is created and enacted as follows:

988 crisis stabilization fund - 988 crisis hotline program - Establishment - Continuing appropriation.

A BILL for an Act to create and enact chapter 43-44.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to adoption of the dietician licensure compact.

A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new subsection to section 53-06.1-11.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the payment of a veterans organization's club expenses with net proceeds from charitable gaming.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:

SECTION 1. A new subsection to section 53-06.1-11.1 of the North Dakota Century Code is created and enacted as follows:

A veterans organization may use up to twenty percent of net proceeds per quarter for the costs of food and beverages, including alcoholic beverages, incurred operating the veterans organization's club. A veterans organization may operate one club in one location.

A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 57-02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to a valuation reduction for property used as a primary residence; to amend and reenact subdivision b of subsection 4 of section 15.1-27-04.1, subsection 26 of section 57-02-08, sections 57-02-08.1, 57-02-08.3, 57-02-08.9, 57-02-08.10, and 57-02-11.1, subsection 1 of section 57-23-06, and section 57-55-10 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the determination of state school aid, removal of the homestead credit, homestead renter refund, and the primary residence credit; to repeal sections 57-02-08.2 and 57-02-08.8 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the homestead credit certification and disabled veterans' credit; to provide for retroactive application; to provide an effective date; and to provide an expiration date.

Removes annual fee from Veteran License plates.

A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new chapter to title 37 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the establishment of the military compatibility commission.

/sites/www/files/documents/Legislation/2023%20Legislation/2023.5%20Legislative%20Summary%20Passed%20and%20Failed.pdf

A BILL for an Act to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the veterans' home.

Optional package

• $750,000 resident garages and storage units (From: Melvin Norgard Funds)
  • Governor recommended $750,000. (From: Melvin Norgard Funds)
  • House approves $750,000. 
  • Senate approves $750,000.
• $1,100,000.00 parking lot and road repairs (From: Special Funds)
  • Governor recommended $750,000 (From: Strategic Investment and Improvement Funds).
  • House approves $600,000.
  • Senate approves $1,100,000 (Changed to: Special Funds)
• $125,750 equipment purchases (From: Special Funds)
  • Governor recommended at $108,900.
  • House approves $125,750.
  • Senate approves $$125,750.
• $478,930 Thermostat and air handling repairs/replacement (From: Federal ARPA Funds)
  • NDVH requested $150,000 (From: Special Funds)
  • Governor-NOT recommended.
  • House approves $328,930 (Federal ARPA funds)
  • Senate approves $478,930 (Federal ARPA funds)
• Senate added a study of veterans' home.
  • Interim 2023-24 shall consider legislative study.
  • Study current duties and responsibilities of:
    • ACOVA
    • Veterans Home Governing board
    • Veterans' Home Administrator
    • any organizational changes necessary to...
      • provide services for veterans and spouses.
      • increase resident census at veterans home.
      • accomplish goals of strategic plan
      • ensure long-term viability of the veteran's home.

Intent of legislative Bill:

ND Veterans Affairs Budget Optional requests

NDDVA Request and Governor recommendations.

1. Staff salary equity funding.
   1. NDDVA requested $289,710.
   2. Governor recommended $102,000.
   3. House reduced to $85,000.
   4. Senate
2. 1 FTE-DENIED
   1. NDDVA requested return of 1 FTE's lost in 2017 RIF's.
   2. Communications director $199,756     
      1. Governor did NOT recommend. 
      2. House did NOT approve.
      3. NDDVA changed to Deputy Commissioner position.
      4. Senate did NOT approve.
3. 1 FTE Approved 
   1. NDDVA requested return of 1 FTE's lost in 2017 RIF's.
      1. Veterans Benefits Specialist $175,510 
      2. Governor recommended 1-FTE (move Part Time Temp to FTE). 
         1. Using $68,000 federal funds supplanted from HRTG.
         2. Using state general funds for remainder
      3. House approved this FTE.
         1. Reduced $68,000 supplanted funds to $18,000 as bargaining chip.
      4. Senate approved House amendment.
4. 1 Additional DAV Van Approved
   1. NDDVA requested funding for one more vehicle $18,800 (1 in base budget. Total of 2 vans at $37,600)
      1. Governor recommended additional van.
      2. House approved additional van.
      3. Senate amended from General Funds to ARPA dollars. Approved.​​​​​​​​​​​
5. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​$19,066 Retirement funding
   1. NDDVA requested $19,066.
      1. ​​​​​​​Governor recommended at $19,066.
      2. House approved at $19,066.
      3. Senate approved at $19,066.
6. $100,860 Scanning grants for all DD214’s in County and Tribal offices
   1. NDDVA requested: ($78,000-$324,000 as bids were pending during session)   
      1. Governor recommended at $78,000. From General Funds
      2. House approved at $78,000 (waiting on bid results from procurement)
      3. Senate amended to $100,860 (based on bids received) From: ARPA dollars.

HOUSE ACTION:

• Supported Governor Recommendations except...
  • ​​​​​​​Reduced equity funding by -$17,000
  • Removed PTSD dog funding from base budget -$50,000.
    • ​​​​​​​allowed carry over of past biennium.
  • ​​​​​​​Replaced $50,000 of supplanted federal (HRTG) funds with general funds.

SENATE ACTIONS:

• Supported Governor Recommendations amended...
  • ​​​​​​​Equity funding as OMB budget committee recommends.
  • Amended 1 time funding items from General Funds to ARPA dollars.
    • ​​​​​​​1 DAV Van $18,800
    • Scanning Project $100,860

Relating to the pay and benefits received by national guard members; to amend and reenact subsection 9 of section 37‑17.1‑05 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to response to disasters or emergencies; and to repeal sections 37‑04‑08, 37‑04‑09, 37‑04‑11, 37‑04‑12, 37‑04‑13, and 37‑07‑05 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to expenses and pay of officer and enlisted members of the national guard.

the daily pay rate for each of the grades listed must be increased as follows:

a. E-3 - fifty-five percent.

b. E-4 - forty-five percent.

c. E-5 - thirty-five percent.

d. E-6 - twenty-five percent.

e. E-7 - fifteen percent.

f. E-8 - ten percent.

HOUSE AMENDMENTS:

• Added Emergency Clause

Intent of legislative bill:

1. Update definition of Military, Armed Forces and Uniform Services Under  NDCC 37-01:
2. Add to 37-01-01 Definitions
   1.  “Armed forces” means Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard.
   2. “Military” means armed forces.
   3. “Uniformed services” means the armed forces, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps and the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service

No fiscal note expected

Relating to designating the bridge on state highway 18 as the veterans memorial bridge; and to provide a continuing appropriation.

A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact sections 11-11-05 and 15.1-09-30, subsection 5 of section 15.1-19-03.1, and sections 40-06-02, 49-01-07, 54-16-01, and 54-17-02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the recitation of the pledge of allegiance.

HOUSE AMENDMENTS

• Changed to "regularly scheduled meetings"

SENATE AMENDMENTS

• Removed all of section 3 of bill relating to school boards

Relating to virtual instruction of military-connected students; and to amend and reenact section 15.1‑20‑02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to compulsory school attendance.

Intent of Bill: Allow students of military parents who are transferred to or out of ND to attend beginning or end of school year in order to complete that year of schooling.

HOUSE ACTIONS:

Amended: added "Students with a medical condition, or students moving out of state"

Relating to hunting and fishing license, permit, and application fees for out‑of‑state national guard members; and to amend and reenact section 20.1‑01‑02, subsection 3 of section 20.1‑03‑07.1, subsection 4 of section 20.1‑04‑12.1, and section 20.1‑06‑14 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to hunting and fishing license, permit, and application fees for out‑of‑state national guard members.

HOUSE ACTION:

• Removed "former member of the national guard"
• Removed most of the law?

Intent of legislative bill:

1. 1. Veteran Gaming income to be allowed for donation to and used for operation of State Veteran Service Organization Department administrative and operational expenses and programs
   2. NDCC 53-06.1-11.1 (2)
   3. No fiscal note expected.

Verbiage added to law:

• The administrative and operating expenses of a statewide veterans' organization.

HOUSE ACTION:

• Amended: The administrative and program management expenses of a statewide veterans' organization.

SENATE ACTION:

• Amended: Added emergency clause.

Relating to an exception to membership in the teachers' fund for retirement for retired military personnel.

A BILL for an Act to provide an appropriation to the department of veterans' affairs for providing grants for the construction of the Fisher house.

Intent of Bill...

• Provide $500,000 from state funds for construction cost of Fisher House at the Fargo VA Health Care Services.

SENATE AMENDMENTS

• Changed from General Funds to ARPA Funds

SECTION 1. A new section to chapter 54-06 of the North Dakota Century Code is created and enacted as follows: Pledge of allegiance. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an executive branch officer or employee may not alter the language of the pledge of allegiance. The voluntary pledge is "I pledge allegiance to the flag, of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."