Budget

A BILL for an Act to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the adjutant general; and to provide an exemption to section 54-44.1-11 relating to unexpended appropriations.

A BILL for an Act to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the office of the adjutant general; and to provide an exemption.

SENATE ACTION:

Added request from SB 2307.

$71,000,000 to the adjutant general, including:

(1) $26,000,000 for a Williston armory project.     Senate approved $2.6 Million for design and engineering (ARPA Funds)

(2) $20,000,000 for a military museum project.     Senate did not approve. 

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

Optional package

Intent of legislative Bill:

Adjutant Generals Office Budget (NDNG)

• Added:$600,000 additional for Veterans Bonus Program
• Added additional $44,098 for Civil Air Patrol
• Added additional $110,000 for Tuition Assistance
• Added additional $70,089 for Veterans Cemetery ($647,006 total)
• Added additional $9,531 for Reintegration program

NDNG Members Pay for State Active Duty

• Adds to NG pay allowances: “Each enlisted member shall also receive a state active duty pay enhancement of one hundred dollars for every fourteen consecutive days spent on state active duty”.
• Adds to NG pay allowances: “Each commissioned officer member shall also receive a state active duty pay enhancement of one hundred dollars for every fourteen consecutive days spent on state active duty”.
• Emergency declared on this bill
• Fiscal note: $10,000 for 2011-2013. $40,000 for 2013-2015.

NDNG-Allows Adjutant General to Provide

• Adds "Adjutant General Coin" to NDCC 37-01
• Adds "Disaster Response Coin" to NDCC 37-01
• Adds a North Dakota state flag may be presented upon retirement to NDNG members with 20 or more years of military service
• Fiscal note: $20,000. No General funds appropriated

WSI Coverage for NG Members while on State Active Duty

• Adds definition of wages for ND members while on state active duty to include income from federal employment and may be included in determining the average weekly wage.
• Fiscal note: $0.

ND DVA Budget

• Veterans Affairs: Adds one FTE
• Veterans Affairs: $15,000 for website improvements
• Veterans Home funding: Demolish old veterans home $1,121,000
• Veterans Home Approved: Hold over Veterans Home construction funds into next biennium to complete all billings
• Veterans Home Approved: Carry over funding for Electronic Health record system into next biennium
• Veterans Home Approved: Authorization of Melvin Norgard funds for construction of a workshop $788,200
• Reduced Veterans Home operating budget by $50,000

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 obtain