NDACo Identifies Interim Legislative Activities

The North Dakota Association of Counties will be involved in and monitor a great deal of committees during the 2019-20 interim. NDACo has identified 58 studies and reports in 20 of the 28 interim committees that relate to counties. The following summarizes key studies that may ultimately affect counties.

Agriculture and Transportation.  Rep. Dennis Johnson – Chair. This committee will study the feasibility and desirability of creating a road train pilot program. The concept is to allow a series of multiple trailers or semi-trailers hauled by a primary vehicle. The study will look at economic impacts, safety concerns and restrictions for weights, length, routes and hours of operation. 

Budget Section.  Sen. Terry Wanzek – Chair. Members from Appropriations Committees serve on this committee, which has broad oversight over the state’s budget. The Department of Corrections will also be reporting to this committee once a year on the department’s prison population management plan, inmate admissions and the number of inmates the department has not admitted after sentencing. This will be of particular interest this interim as DOCR’s prioritization plan has kicked in for female inmates. Counties have experienced denials for admission and currently are responsible for the housing and medical costs of those state sentenced inmates. New to this interim, the committee will also be monitoring the donations related to the Theodore Roosevelt presidential library.

Commerce.  Rep. Scott Louser – Chair. This committee has numerous studies related to unmanned aircrafts and the industry in North Dakota. Of particular interest to counties, the interim committee will be studying the regulation of sewage treatment (septic) systems.

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Review.  Rep. Jon Nelson – Chair. This is a new interim committee created during the 2019 Legislative Session. The committee will conduct a comprehensive study of the DOCR. It will focus on the gender-responsiveness of facilities and service needs along with an assessment of facilities at MRCC, JRCC and the state hospital.

Education Policy.  Rep. David Monson – Chair. This committee will be diving into the very complex topic of the impacts of the behavior health crisis in the classroom. The study will look at the behaviors that make learning environments unsafe for students, teachers or other school personnel and the need for a uniform reporting system.

Employee Benefits Programs.  Rep. Mike Lefor – Chair. This committee is charged with monitoring and evaluating the various NDPERS programs. NDACo traditionally watches the committee’s activities because most county employees are affected by these programs. This interim, they will be studying the feasibility and desirability of PERS entering a separate contract for prescription drug coverage under the uniform group insurance program.

Energy Development & Transmission.  Sen. Rich Wardner – Chair. This committee receives numerous reports through the interim related to energy development in the state. This committee will be receiving two new reports this interim regarding a study on recycling produced water from oil and gas operations and a report from EERC on an underground gas storage pilot project. This committee traditionally holds “field” hearings across the state during the interim.

Government Administration.  Sen. Randy Burckhard – Chair. This committee will study consolidated emergency and interoperable public safety communications system governance and funding options. They will also be studying accessibility of the Capitol and state and federal veterans’ programs.

Government Finance.  Sen. Ron Sorvaag – Chair. This committee reviews state budget information, including monitoring of state revenue and appropriations. In addition, they will be reviewing state agency fees.

Health Care.  Rep. George Keiser – Chair. This committee will explore ways the state may be able to affect the current trend of health insurance rates increasing. The committee will also be looking at the delivery of health care in the state to include rural access and use of Emergency Medical Services. In addition, the Dept. of Health will report on the status and progress of an educational campaign regarding abandoned infants and approved locations for abandoned infants.

Human Services.  Rep. Karen Rohr – Chair. This committee will receive periodic reports from the Department of Human Services on the status of the transition from county social services to human service zones. This committee will be looking for information on not only the structure changes but also the human service zone budgets, indirect cost allocation plans, and any transfer of employees. The committee will study issues related to the Olmstead Commission. In addition, they will be studying the state’s behavioral health system with a focus on improving access and availability to behavioral health care.

Information Technology.  Rep. Cory Mock – Chair. This committee will monitor all major technology initiatives of the State. ITD will report on their cybersecurity initiatives along with their unification initiative. The committee will also receive the biennial report on Emergency Services Communications (9-1-1).

Judiciary.  Rep. Larry Klemin – Chair. This committee has a long list of studies of county interest. Key studies include the implication of a potential initiated measure to legalize marijuana, study the state’s civil commitment laws, study the juvenile justice process and receive reports on the state’s medical marijuana program. In addition, this committee will receive a new report from the Attorney General summarizing the activity of any civilly forfeited property. The report was part of an overhaul to the civil asset forfeiture code lawmakers approved in 2019.

Legacy Fund Earnings.  Rep. Chet Pollert – Chair. This is a newly created committee made up of legislative leadership and members of the appropriations and tax committees. This committee’s sole purpose is to study the potential uses of legacy fund earnings.

Natural Resources.  Sen. Robert Erbele – Chair. This committee will focus its efforts on furthering the discussion on access to public and private lands. As part of their study they will work with ITD and G&F to establish a trial electronic posting and hunter access information system in up to three counties.

Taxation.  Rep. Jim Grueneich – Chair. This committee will be exploring the feasibility and desirability of applying an alternative or additional tax on liquid nicotine and e-cigarettes. The committee will also study options for replacing special assessments with revenue from other funding sources. In addition, the committee will receive reports from the Tax Department of statewide property tax increases.

Water Topics Overview.  Rep. Jim Schmidt – Chair. This committee will look at the feasibility of the water resource boards in each drainage basin forming a joint water resource board to plan and construct water conveyance projects based on basin wide needs.

Visit www.legis.nd.gov for the interim committee calendar and meeting agendas.