Legislation

Motor Vehicle Veterans' Purple Heart Number Plates

A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new subdivision to subsection 2 of section 39-04-18 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to a purple heart recipient exemption from motor vehicle registration fees; and to amend and reenact section 39-04-10.10 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to veterans' number plates.

• Veterans who are Purple Heart recipient shall:
  • Not have to pay initial or annual fee for distinctive purple heart license plates for one vehicle
  • Be exempt from paying vehicle registration for one vehicle
• Fiscal note: $31,632

Appropriations - Veterans' Military Caskets and Urns

A BILL for an Act to provide an appropriation to the adjutant general for veterans' military caskets and urns.

• Provide military casket at no cost to veterans interred in ND 
• Fiscal note of $2,800,000

Senate amendments:

• Moved to ND DVA
• removed funding of $2,800,00
• Moved to County Social services

House amendments:

• Changed from shall to may: allowed family to choose

Senate concurred to house amendments

Passed House

Veterans' Cemetery Burial Fees for Dependents of Veterans

A BILL for an Act to provide for an appropriation for veterans' spouses and dependents burial fees at the veterans' cemetery.

• Pay for interring veterans eligible spouse and dependents at ND veterans Cemetery
• Fiscal note: $160,000

House Actions:

• Passed House GVA 14-0
• House appropriations recommended Do NOT Pass 19-2-2
• Failed House

Tribal Veterans Advisory Commission

A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 37-18 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the creation, membership, and duties of the tribal veterans' advisory commission.

• Creates a ND Tribal Veterans advisory Commission

Book of Veterans Serving in Area of Conflict 

A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 37-01-45 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the book of veterans.

• A book of record of all ND veterans who served in an area of conflict.

Senate amendments:

• Changed from "for publish" to made available to public.

House amendments:

• Changed from "Book" to "Record" and as deemed fit by the adjutant general.

Senate concurred with House amendments

County Veterans' Service Officers Accreditation Requirement

A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 37-14-18 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to county veterans' service officers.

• Removes requirement for County Veteran Service Officer's to be accredited with "National Association of County Veteran Service Officers"
• Adds requirement for County Veteran Service Officer's to be accredited with any veteran service organization recognized by the US Department of Veterans Affairs

House GVA amendment

• Changes requirement for County Veteran Service Officers to be accredited with "any" veteran service organization to being accredited with North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs
• Added content of failed bill HB 1205 with amendments and lower fiscal note
  • provides qualified dependents of 90% disabled ND Veterans with 90% tuition waiver at ND institutions of higher education
  • fiscal note: $350,000 (not general fund dollars)

House Appropriations action:

• Recommend Do NOT pass on education and accreditation

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

Protection and Reimbursement for Property Damage in Emergency

• Protects NDNG and Emergency Management from liability in natural disaster relief efforts
• Provides reimbursements to property owners for damages

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.

Visitation Proceedings Involving Military Parent

• Courts to take particular care to ensure child of military member called to active duty or may be called to active duty has maximum opportunity for contact with parent
• Military members call to active duty service may not be a factor in court decisions to grant to deny a petition for visitation
• Military member may petition for visitation rights for family member
• Fiscal note: $0

Guardian Powers Parent Deployed

• Allow parent or guardian of a minor child or incapacitated person authority to delegate guardianship to another person for up to 24 months
• Declared an emergency
• Fiscal note: $0

Mandatory Evacuations

• Adds "Mandatory evacuation order to NDCC 37-17.1-10". Reads: "A local disaster, emergency or mandatory evacuation order may be declared" ...
• Allows local executive officers of city or county to order mandatory evacuations

Hunting License as ND Resident

• Allowed members of US armed forces, and members of their household, stationed in ND to enter lottery for deer and turkey licenses as residents
• Declared an emergency bill
• Fiscal note: $51,600. Not General fund dollars.

Hunting License as ND Resident-No Lottery Required

• Adds "Military member in state on duty or leave"
• Adds "ND Driver's License number or ND non-driver photo ID" as proof of residency
• Allows resident hunting licensing without lottery for active duty military members on leave or stationed in ND and residents of ND serving on active duty
• Effective date April 1, 2014
• Fiscal note: $32,000. Not General fund dollars.

Veteran/Spouse License Plates

Origination: Commissioner, ACOVA, NDVCC

• Gold Star plates-removes initial ($15) and annual ($10) fee for plates
• POW Plates-no additional or annual fee for plates
  • Allows two plates
  • Allows spouse to retain one plate after veterans' death
• 100% disabled (DAV plate)-no additional or annual ($5) fee for plates 
• Four patriotic license plates added. (from failed HB 1323)
  • Funds to go to PWTF.
    • Removed and included with DOT budget when new ND license plates are issued.
      • Not found in DOT budget-2015 new bill introduced (HB1360)
• Fiscal note: $12,500. No appropriations.

Free Tuition for Surviving Dependents

• Allows eligible dependents to use free tuition benefit if 100% disabled veteran dies before dependent enrolls in school
• Fiscal note: $0
• NDCC 15-10-18.3

Professional Licensure of Military Spouses

• Provides provisional licenses to spouses of military stationed in ND or stationed in ND before a temporary assignment to duties outside of ND
• Boards to adopt rules and provide temporary licensure on case-by-case basis
• State board of architecture and landscape architecture is exempt from this mandate
• Fiscal note: $0

Income Tax Deduction for Military Retirement Pay

• Exempt Federally taxed income from military retirement pay from ND income tax