North Dakota Legislative Branch

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.

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 North Dakota Century Code (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 Representative Bette B. Grande and Senator Jim Pomeroy.

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 Representatives Robert Kilichowski and Matthew M. Klein and Senators Randel Christmann and Robert M. Horne.

The commission meets during the annual meeting of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. During this meeting, the commission usually determines its legislative package for the upcoming legislative session. For minutes of the most recent annual meetings, click 2007 meeting or 2008 meeting. During each legislative session, the commission publishes its biennial report, which is available at 2008-09 biennial report of the commission.

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 Representative Gerry Uglem and Senator Robert S. Erbele.

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 Representative Nancy Johnson and Senator _______________.

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 Representative William E. Kretschmar.

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 Representatives Tracy Boe and__________, Senator __________, and Citizen Member Ivan Williams.

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 Representative RaeAnn G. Kelsch and Senator Gary A. Lee.

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 Representatives Al Carlson and Ken Svedjan and Senators Bob Stenehjem and Ray Holmberg.

Additional information with respect to the Emergency Commission is available from the Secretary of State.

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 Representative Bob Skarphol and Senator Rich Wardner.

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. No legislative members were appointed.

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 Representative Dennis Johnson and Senator Tim Flakoll.

Multistate Highway Transportation Agreement Cooperating Committee

Under NDCC Section 24-02-46, the director of the Department of Transportation is authorized to join the Multistate Highway Transportation Agreement to promote uniformity among participating jurisdictions in vehicle size and weight standards. The Legislative Council appoints a member of the House Transportation Committee and a member of the Senate Transportation Committee or their designees as the legislative members representing North Dakota to the cooperating committee. Under the agreement, each state is entitled to two designated representatives to participate and vote at cooperating committee meetings. Current legislative members are Representative Robin Weisz and Senator Gary A. Lee.

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 Representatives George J. Keiser and Francis J. Wald and Senators Jerry Klein and Constance Triplett.

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 Representatives Lois Delmore and Dwight Wrangham and Senator Gary A. Lee.

School of Medicine and Health Sciences 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 Representatives Stacey Dahl and Ralph Metcalf and Senators Robert S. Erbele and Tim Mathern.

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 Representative Dan Ruby and Senator Gary A. Lee.

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 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 Representative James Kerzman and Senator Jerry Klein.

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 Representative Stacey Dahl and Senator Stanley W. Lyson.

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 Representative Duane DeKrey and Senator Stanley W. Lyson.

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 Representatives Donald L. Clark and Joe Kroeber and Senators Jerry Klein and Elroy N. Lindaas.

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.

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 Representatives David Drovdal and Dave Weiler and Senators Dwight Cook and Dave Oehlke.

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 Representative David Drovdal and Senator Dwight Cook.

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. Appointed members are Senator Bill Bowman, Dr. Neil Dyer (NDSU Faculty Member), Dr. Bettenhausen (Practicing Veterinarian), Mr. Melvin Leland (Livestock Producer); Dr. Douglas Freeman (alternate NDSU Faculty Member), Dr. Rodney J. Gigstad (alternate Practicing Veterinarian), Mr. Russ Danielson (alternate Livestock Producer).

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.