North Dakota Statutory Committees
Various statutes provide for legislative membership on boards, committees, and commissions other than legislative standing or procedural committees and Legislative Council interim committees. The following information identifies the statutory entity, its general responsibility, and the authority for legislative membership.
State Board of Agricultural Research and Education
The board is responsible for the budgeting and policymaking responsibilities associated with the supervision of the Agricultural Experiment Station and the North Dakota State University Extension Service within the policies of the State Board of Higher Education. Under North Dakota Century Code (NDCC) Section 4-05.1-16, the 17-member board includes two members of the Legislative Assembly, one from each political faction, appointed by the chairman of the Legislative Council. Current legislative members are Senator Randel Christmann and Representative Ole Aarsvold.
Crop Protection Product Harmonization and Registration Board
The board is responsible for identifying and prioritizing crop protection product labeling needs and pursuing any opportunity to make more crop protection product options available to agricultural producers in this state. Under NDCC Section 4-35-30, the 10-member board includes the chairmen of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees, or their designees, and one member of either committee who is not a member of the faction in which the committee chairman is a member and one member who is a representative of the crop protection product manufacturing industry, appointed by the chairman of the Legislative Council. Current legislative members are Senators __________ and __________ and Representative Tracy Boe and Citizen Member __________.
Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact Commission
Under NDCC Section 8-11.1-01, this state entered the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact to promote development and implementation of improvements to intercity passenger rail service in the Midwest. The commission consists of four resident members of each party state. Under the compact, the chairman of the Legislative Council selects a member of the Senate and a member of the House of Representatives as two of the four members. Current legislative members are Senator Randy A. Schobinger and Representative Dave Weiler.
State Council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision
The council advises the administrator of the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision on participation in the Interstate Commission on Adult Offender Supervision activities and administration of the compact (the director of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is ex officio the compact administrator for this state's commissioner to the interstate commission). Under NDCC Section 12-65-01, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House each appoint one member to the seven-member council. Current legislative members are Senator Stanley W. Lyson and Representative Ron Carlisle.
State Council for Interstate Juvenile Supervision
The council advises the administrator of the Interstate Compact for Juveniles on participation in the Interstate Commission on Juveniles activities and administration of the compact (the director of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is ex officio the compact administrator for this state's commissioner to the interstate commission). Under NDCC Section 12-66-01, the chairman of the Legislative Council appoints one member of the Senate and one member of the House of Representatives to the seven-member North Dakota State Council for Interstate Juvenile Supervision. Current legislative members are Senator Stanley W. Lyson and Representative Duane DeKrey.
Child Support Guidelines Drafting Advisory Committee
North Dakota Century Code Section 14-09-09.7 required the Department of Human Services to initiate a rulemaking proceeding in 1998 to ensure that the application of its child support guidelines results in the determination of appropriate child support award amounts. Subsequent proceedings must be commenced at least once every four years. Before commencing a proceeding, the department is to convene a drafting advisory committee that includes two members of the Legislative Assembly appointed by the chairman of the Legislative Council. Current legislative members are Senator Tom Fischer and Representative William R. Devlin.
Veterinary Medical Education Program Admissions Committee
North Dakota Century Code Section 15-10-43 authorizes the State Board of Higher Education to contract with Kansas State University to provide an opportunity for up to five eligible students to enroll in the veterinary medical education program at Kansas State University. The students must be selected by a five-member admissions committee consisting of the chairman of the Admissions Committee at Kansas State University School of Veterinary Medicine and four members appointed by the Legislative Council, one of whom is a member of the Legislative Assembly. The current legislative member is Senator Bill L. Bowman.
Midwestern Higher Education Commission
North Dakota Century Code Section 15-10.2-01 adopts the Midwestern Regional Higher Education Compact to provide greater higher education opportunities and services in the midwestern region, with the aim of furthering regional access to, research in, and choice of higher education for the citizens residing in the states that are parties to the compact. The Midwestern Higher Education Commission, which provides for the programs of the compact, consists of five resident members from each party state. Under NDCC Section 15-10.2-02, the chairman of the Legislative Council appoints one member of the Senate and one member of the House of Representatives as two of the five members representing this state. Current legislative members are Senator Tim Flakoll and Representative Dennis Johnson.
Medical Center Advisory Council
The council advises, consults with, and makes recommendations to the University of North Dakota and to the several agencies represented on the council concerning the program of the North Dakota Medical Center. Under NDCC Section 15-52-03, the chairman of the Legislative Council appoints two members of the Senate and two members of the House of Representatives to the 14-member council. Current legislative members are Senators Robert S. Erbele and Tim Mathern and Representatives and Ralph Metcalf and Ken Svedjan.
Education Commission of the States
Under NDCC Section 15.1-04-01, this state entered the Compact for Education to encourage and promote local and state initiatives in the development, maintenance, improvement, and administration of education systems and institutions in a manner that will accord with the needs and advantages of diversity among localities and states. The Education Commission of the States consists of seven members representing each party state. Under the compact, the membership of the Senate selects one member of the Senate and the membership of the House of Representatives selects one member of the House as two of the seven members representing this state. Current legislative members are Senator Tim Flakoll and Representative RaeAnn G. Kelsch.
Special Road Committee
The committee reviews requests for funding from the special road fund and decides which project requests will receive funding. Under NDCC Section 24-02-37.2, the chairman of the Legislative Council appoints one member of each house to the five-member committee. Current legislative members are Senator Thomas L. Trenbeath and Representative Wesley R. Belter.
Committee on Protection and Advocacy
The committee supervises and directs the Protection and Advocacy Project, which provides advocacy and protective services for individuals with developmental disabilities and individuals with mental illnesses. Under NDCC Section 25-01.3-02, the Legislative Council appoints one member of each house to serve on the seven-member committee. Current legislative members are Senator Judy Lee and Representative Gerald Uglem.
State Hospital Governing Body
The Department of Human Services, in consultation with the State Hospital, is to create the State Hospital Governing Body and describe the powers and duties of the Governing Body. Under NDCC Section 25-02-01.1, the seven-member governing body includes a legislator selected by the Legislative Council. The current legislative member is Representative Chet Pollert.
Comprehensive Health Association of North Dakota Board
The Comprehensive Health Association of North Dakota (CHAND) offers health benefit plans to eligible state residents who have been rejected for accident and health insurance or have substantially reduced coverage due to restrictive riders or a preexisting conditions limitation. Under NDCC Section 26.1-08-02.1, the majority leader of the Senate appoints one member of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives appoints one member of the House to the eight-member board of directors of the association. Current legislative members are Senator Judy Lee and Representative Clara Sue Price.
Court Facilities Improvement Advisory Committee
The committee makes grants from the court facilities improvement and maintenance fund to counties to provide funds for court facilities improvement and maintenance projects. Under NDCC Section 27-05.2-09, the chairman of the Legislative Council appoints one member of the five-member committee. The current legislative member is Senator Stanley W. Lyson.
Capitol Grounds Planning Commission
The Capitol Grounds Planning Commission confers with the Council on the Arts with respect to the artistic value of any monument, memorial, or work of art to be constructed on the Capitol grounds; approves the basic style and exterior construction of, and site for, any building, facility, monument, memorial, or work of art to be constructed on the Capitol grounds; and advises the director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Legislative Council on matters relating to the physical and aesthetic features of the interior of every building on the Capitol grounds. Under NDCC Section 48-10-01, the President of the Senate appoints two members of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives appoints two members of the House to the nine-member commission. Current legislative members are Senators Dennis Bercier and Dwight Cook and Representatives Mary Ekstrom and Betty B. Grande.
North Dakota Lottery Advisory Commission
The commission advises the director of the North Dakota lottery and the Attorney General on policy and general operation of the lottery and serves as the audit committee. Under NDCC Section 53-12.1-04, the chairman of the Legislative Council appoints three legislators as members of the five-member commission and the Attorney General appoints two members. Terms of office are three years, and no member may be appointed to more than two consecutive terms. No member of the commission may, directly or indirectly, individually, as a partner of a partnership, or as a stockholder, director, or officer of a corporation, have an interest in the gaming system or advertising agency vendor of the lottery. Current legislative members are Senator Jerry Klein and Representatives Lois Delmore and RaeAnn G. Kelsch.
State Employees Compensation Commission
The commission makes recommendations on appropriate levels of state employee compensation and fringe benefits. Under NDCC Section 54-06-25, the chairman of the Legislative Council appoints four members of the Legislative Assembly to the nine-member commission. Current legislative members are Senators Ralph L. Kilzer and Elroy N. Lindaas and Representatives Ron Carlisle and Lyle Hanson.
Emergency Commission
The commission has authority to authorize state officers to expend amounts in excess of appropriated sums, to authorize a transfer of spending authority from the state contingency appropriation, to authorize a transfer of money or spending authority between funds or line items, and to authorize the expenditure of federal funds or other moneys. Under NDCC Section 54-16-01, the majority leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives and the chairmen of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees are members of the six-member commission. Current legislative members are Senators Bob Stenehjem and Ray Holmberg and Representatives Rick Berg and Ken Svedjan.
Additional information with respect to the Emergency Commission is available from the Secretary of State.
National Conference of Insurance Legislators
Under NDCC Section 54-35-20, the chairman of the Legislative Council, in consultation with the Insurance Commissioner, appoints two members of each house to represent this state at functions of the National Conference of Insurance Legislators. Current legislative members are Senators Jerry Klein and Harvey Tallackson and Representatives George J. Keiser and Francis J. Wald.
Commission on Uniform State Laws
The commission promotes uniformity in state laws on those subjects where uniformity may be deemed desirable and practicable. Under NDCC Section 54-55-01, the Legislative Council appoints one member of each house to the 10-member commission. Current legislative members are Senator Thomas L. Trenbeath and Representative Lawrence R. Klemin.
Information on the activities of the commission and uniform laws commissioners is available from the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.
Information Technology Advisory Committee
The committee advises the Information Technology Department regarding statewide information technology planning and budgeting, services of the department, and statewide information technology initiatives and policy and reviews reports on major information technology projects. Under NDCC Section 54-59-07, the Legislative Council appoints two members of the Legislative Assembly to the committee, which consists of at least 18 members. Current legislative members are Senator Rich Wardner and Representative Bob Skarphol.
Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents
The commission is to develop and monitor a process for the delivery of state-funded legal counsel services for indigents, as well as provide indigent defense services for those individuals determined by the court to be eligible for and in need of those services. Under NDCC Section 54-61-01, the chairman of the Legislative Council appoints one member of each house of the Legislative Assembly to the seven-member commission. Individuals appointed to the commission "should have experience in the defense of criminal cases or other cases in which appointed counsel services are required or should have demonstrated commitment to quality representation in indigent defense matters." After the initial appointment, members serve not more than two consecutive three-year terms. Current legislative members are Senator Thomas L. Trenbeath and Representative Duane DeKrey.
Advisory Commission on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
The advisory commission advises the director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and the Governor in the establishment of policy regarding matters affecting the faith-based and community organizations, including making recommendations to the Governor concerning the future of existing state programs and initiatives. Under NDCC Section 54-62-03, the seven-member advisory commission includes one member of the Legislative Assembly selected by the members of the Legislative Council representing the majority faction and one member of the Legislative Assembly selected by the members of the Legislative Council representing the minority faction. Current legislative members are Senator Tim Mathern and Representative Bette B. Grande.
Yellowstone-Missouri Rivers Confluence Commission
The commission investigates, in cooperation with the state of Montana and the National Park Service, the historical importance and significance of the Yellowstone-Missouri Rivers confluence area and formulates and executes plans for the preservation of the historic sites illustrative of the history of the United States. Under NDCC Section 55-06-01, the 10-member commission includes the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board
Under NDCC Section 57-39.4-01, this state adopted the Streamlined Sales and use Tax Agreement as adopted November 12, 2002, by the member states of the Streamlined Sales Tax Project. Under NDCC Section 57-39.4-31, the chairman of the Legislative Council appoints two members of each house of the Legislative Assembly to represent the state on the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board. Current legislative members are Senators Dwight Cook and Herb Urlacher and Representatives David Drovdal and Dave Weiler.
Streamlined Sales Tax State and Local Advisory Council
Under NDCC Section 57-39.4-01, this state adopted the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement as adopted November 12, 2002, by the member states of the Streamlined Sales Tax Project. Under NDCC Section 57-39.4-31, the chairman of the Legislative Council appoints one member of each house of the Legislative Assembly to represent the state on the Streamlined Sales Tax State and Local Advisory Council. Current legislative members are Senator Dwight Cook and Representative David Drovdal.
Child Support Enforcement Task Force
Section 5 of Senate Bill No. 2301 (2005), effective until July 1, 2007, requires the Department of Human Services to convene a Child Support Enforcement Task Force that includes two members of the Legislative Assembly appointed by the chairman of the Legislative Council to study organization and programmatic structure of the Child Support Enforcement Program. Current legislative members are Senator Tom Fischer and Representative William R. Devlin.
