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.
Capitol Grounds Planning Commission
The 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 North Dakota Century Code (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 of the commission are Senators Dennis Bercier and Dick Dever and Representatives James Boehm and Howard Grumbo.
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 Thomas Fischer and Representative William R. Devlin.
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 Tom 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.
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 Amy Kliniske-Warnke.
Information on the project is available from the Protection and Advocacy Project.
Comprehensive Health Association of North Dakota Board
The association 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 26.1-08-03, the President 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.
The North Dakota Department of Insurance provides additional information on the Comprehensive Health Association of North Dakota.
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 commission 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 Ray Holmberg and Representative RaeAnn G. Kelsch.
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 chairman of the Legislative Council and the chairmen of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees are members of the five-member commission. Current legislative members are Representatives Wesley R. Belter and Mike Timm and Senator Dave Nething.
The office of North Dakota Secretary of State provides additional information with respect to the Emergency Commission.
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 President 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 14-member council. Current legislative members are Senator Robert S. Erbele and Representative Ken Svedjan.
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 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 Francis J. Wald.
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 Keiser and Francis J. Wald.
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 Bob Stenehjem and Representative Robin Weisz.
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. 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, appointed by the chairman of the Legislative Council. Current legislative members are Senators Terry M. Wanzek and Ronald Nichols and Representative Eugene Nicholas.
Department of Commerce Strategic Plan Task Force
Section 9 of Senate Bill No. 2019 (2001 Session Laws, Chapter 44) declares legislative intent that the Department of Commerce develop a strategic plan including the new economy initiative, with the assistance of an economic development consultant and involvement from a task force including members of the Economic Development Foundation, one member appointed by the Economic Development Association of North Dakota, and three legislators appointed by the chairman of the Legislative Council. Current legislative members are Senator Randy A. Schobinger and Representatives Rick Berg and Bob Skarphol.
Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact Commission
Under NDCC Section 8-11-01, effective through August 1, 2003, 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 Kim Koppelman.
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 NDCC Section 4-05.1-16, the 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 Ken Solberg and Representative Phillip Mueller. Senator Randel Christmann was appointed to replace former Senator Ken Solberg on January 22, 2003.
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 William R. Devlin.
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 Steven W. Tomac and Representatives Jeff Delzer and Lyle Hanson.
State Hospital Governing Body
Under NDCC Section 25-02-01.1, 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. The Legislative Council selects a legislator as one member of the seven-member body. The current legislative member is Senator Dave Nething.
Yellowstone-Missouri-Fort Union 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 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.
