Legislation

Resident Tuition for Spouses and Dependents

• Adds Spouse and Dependents of Veterans to allow resident tuition rates if veteran is eligible to transfer Post 9-11 GI Bill benefits
• Separates Spouse and Dependents of Veterans into two sections
• Adds "Reserve component" members, spouses and dependents as eligible
• Fiscal Note: $15,000

Property Tax Relief. Freeze Value of Home

• Allows Veterans eligible for disabled Veteran tax credit to freeze value of primary residence
• Fiscal note: $478,000

Veterans Upward Bound

• $325,000 appropriated for Veterans Upward Bound program
• Provides classroom instruction which prepares veterans for college
• Provide assistance to eligible veterans enrolled at or in process of enrolling at institute of higher education in ND or adjacent state institution participating in course exchange agreement with ND institution
• ND Department of veterans affairs may accept and expend gifts, grants, and donations for providing additional assistance to eligible veterans

Military Children Compact

• Extends law allowing state of ND to join in pact with other states to allow children of military members transferred into or out of ND to maintain their grade (year in school) level

Homestead Tax Credit

• Increases property tax exemption limit for disabled veterans from $120,000 full and True ($5,400 taxable value) to $150,000 ($6,750 taxable value)
• Effective date of 12-31-2012. And 12-31-2013 for mobile homes.
• Fiscal note: $477,000. State general funds reimbursement

Melvin Norgard Memorial Fund

• Allow veterans home administrator to expend funds up to $10,000. Over $10,000 must be approved by governing board.
• Requires governing board gain ACOVA approval for expenditures
• Expenditures made solely for projects and programs to benefit and serve the residents of the veterans home.

CVSO as Conservator

Origination: Commissioner, ACOVA, NDVCC

• Removes from NDCC 37-14-18 exemption for CVSOs to serve as conservator/fiduciary if appointed by County Commission
• Fiscal note: $0.

Patriotic License Plate Decals

Origination: Commissioner, ACOVA, NDVCC

• Create "Patriotic License Plates" (Decals like military plates)
• Four Patriotic license plates to be added with new ND license plate issue - proceeds go to Veterans PWTF
• $15 initial fee and $10 annual fee
• $10 initial to DOT, $5 initial to PWTF
• $10 annual fee $5 to principal of PWTF $5 available for programs

Deer License for Injured Military Wildlife Project (Wounded Warrior)

• Change from "Wounded Warrior Project" to "Injured Military Wildlife Project of ND"
• Maintained 4 any deer licenses
• Added 6 any white-tailed deer licenses
• Change license valid from "opening of youth deer season through the close of deer season" to "during the period of the deer bow season"
• Fiscal note: $240. Not general fund dollars.

Agent Orange

Origination: Representative Trottier, ACOVA, NDVCC

• $50,000 appropriation of general funds to ND Department of Veterans Affairs to provide grants for the identification and provision of services to ND Veterans who had been exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam conflict.
• Requires ND Department of Veterans Affairs to report to the budget section on the use and outcome of the grants awarded
• Appropriations: $50,000

Study on Treatments for PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

• A study for nontraditional healing therapies, massage, healing touch, reflexology, stress management, yoga, hyperbaric chamber treatments and gathers information on the needs of women veterans.
• Appropriations: $0.

Fishing License Fees

• Lowers disability level requirement from 100% to 50%
• Adds Unemployability
• Fee goes from $3 to $5
• Fiscal note: $1,425. Not general funds.

Post War Trust Fund (PWTF)

Origination of bill: Commissioner, ACOVA, NDVCC

• Adds $250,000 in general funds to the principal of the PWTF

Disabled Veterans Rent Credit

Origination of bill: Representative Guggisberg, Ron

• Provided renters credit for 50% or higher disabled veterans who would qualify for property tax exemption, but rent.
• Fiscal note: $1,472,000

ND DVA Budget

• Veterans Affairs: Adds one FTE
• Veterans Affairs: $15,000 for website improvements
• Veterans Home funding: Demolish old veterans home $1,121,000
• Veterans Home Approved: Hold over Veterans Home construction funds into next biennium to complete all billings
• Veterans Home Approved: Carry over funding for Electronic Health record system into next biennium
• Veterans Home Approved: Authorization of Melvin Norgard funds for construction of a workshop $788,200
• Reduced Veterans Home operating budget by $50,000
• Reduced Veterans Home and Veterans Affairs salary enhancements by $455,431
• Added $10,000 to Veterans Affairs for Stand Down event grants
• Added one time funding of $30,000 to Veterans Affairs for purchase of transportation vans
• Added requirement for Veterans Affairs to prepare a transportation van replacement plan for 64th Legislative assembly and seek state funding for vans based on the plan

NDNG State Active Duty

• Protects National Guard members from employer discrimination when involuntarily activated for State Active Duty emergencies for more than twenty regular working days in a calendar year. Under NDCC 37-29-03
• Fiscal note: $0

ND National Guard UCMJ and License Plates

• Adds state active duty time to be subject to discipline as set forth in USMJ
• Changes to veteran definition dates for adjusted compensation (war bonus)
• Adds motorcycle plates available for NDNG license plates
• Fiscal note: $0

Interment at Veterans’ Cemetery Eligibility

• Add: "a child who is without any sibling and who survives the veteran" to eligibility for internment at ND State Veterans Cemetary
• Fiscal note: $350,000. Federal VA Cemetery Grants

ND National Guard-Emergency Management

• Allows local emergency management organizations to enter into interstate mutual aid agreements with nearby political subdivisions.

DAV Plates

• Allows 100% disabled Veterans with DAV plates to park in handicapped parking without additional handicapped parking tab
• Fiscal note: $0
• NDCC 39-01-15 (1&2)