2019 Legislative Summary Bills that Passed - 2019

Submitted by lwangen@nd.gov on

2019 66th Legislative Session

Summary: Veteran & Military Bills

  1. Appreciation of Veterans and Military
    1. 1056: POW/MIA Flag to be flown daily on the ND State Capitol Grounds
      1. Immediately south of the State Capitol Building
        1. In front of the all Veterans Memorial
        2. On the east side of the Heritage Center
        3. PASSED
    2. 1169: Patriots Day designated for the third Monday in April each year
      1. Commemorate the start of the American Revolutionary War and the battles of Lexington and Concord (shot heard around the world)
      2. Governor to make proclamation each year
      3. PASSED
    3. 1404: Veterans Memorial Highway
      1. Designates ND Highway 22 as “Veterans Memorial Highway”
      2. Signs to be placed along highway
      3. ND Department of Transportation may accept and expend donations for this project
      4. PASSED
    4. HCR 3019: Honor Flight. ND House and Senate Show appreciation for ND and MN Honor Fights (HCR 3019)
      1. PASSED
    5. HCR 3023: Honor Fallen Armed Forces Veterans ND House and Senate show appreciation (HCR 3023)
      1. PASSED
    6. HCR 3033: US Flag to be displayed in Memorial Hall of Capitol at all times
      1. PASSED
  2. Budget
    1. 1007: Veterans Home
      1. Added one time funding:
        1. $48,000 stipend for housing administrator
        2. $99,400 for equipment
        3. $100,000 for flooring project
        4. $233,450 for demolition of administrator’s residence
        5. $52,500 for security system upgrades
        6. $25,000 for strategic plan
        7. $68,000 for Nurse call system
    2. 1025: ND Department of Veterans Affairs Budget
      1. Continue $50,000 grant for service dogs to Veterans with PTSD (HB 1025 and HB 1128)
      2. Continue funding for one DAV transportation Van $18,800 (HB 1025 and HB 1168)
      3. Added funding for Stand Down Grants $5,000 (HB 1025 and HB 1178)
      4. PASSED

  1. Burial & Memorial
    1. 1131: ND Commemorative Memorial coin can be purchased by any person
      1. (removed restriction to family only)
      2. Sale of coins are exempt from state sales tax
      3. PASSED
    2. 2195: Spouse of Veteran Burial Benefits at ND Veterans Cemetery
      1. Provides $175,000 to defray the cost of interring spouse of veteran
      2. Program period: March 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021
      3. PASSED
  2. Education
    1. 1046: ND National Guard Tuition Waiver to be effective upon initial appointment into the National Guard
      1. (This bill also included under “National Guard Specific”)
      2. PASSED
    2. 1389: Veteran Scholarship for Aeronautics
      1. $20,000 scholarship per veteran in program
      2. FAILED
  3. Employment
    1. 1095: Employment protection for National Guard members called up for state emergencies. Expanded to include ND employees as members of National Guard in other states.
      1. (Also included under “National Guard Specific”)
      2. PASSED
    2. 1337: Emergency Medical Services Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact
      1. Allows military members and spouses (and other) with emergency medical licensures to be recognized and allowed to assist in medical emergencies in states with this compact
        1. PASSED
    3. 2059, 2126, 2127, 2173, 2306: Military Spouse Licensure & Permit and Interstate Compacts
      1. Provides exemptions, compacts and quicker licensure or permit for military spouses transferred to North Dakota
      2. PASSED
    4. 2314: Veterans Preference
      1. Removes “Wartime” and “ND Residency” requirement
        1. Adds Honorably discharged ND National Guard or Reserve members with at least 20 years of service or served in a combat zone.
        2. PASSED
  4. Financial
    1. 1053: Tax Exempt Military Retirement Pay
      1. Exempt from State Income Tax effective for taxable years after 12/31/2018
        1. PASSED
    2. 1061: Tax Exempt Military Pay and Military Retirement Pay
      1. Exempt active military and all NG and Reserve Pay
      2. Exempt Military retirement pay
      3. FAILED
    3. 1130:  ACOVA PWTF investment
      1. ACOVA to set investment goals, objectives, and asset allocation of PWTF
      2. FAILED
    4. 1248: Income Tax Check-off box to contribute to the Veterans Post War Trust Fund
      1. Allow ND tax payers to contribute to PWTF when filing state income tax
      2. Effective for taxable years after 12/31/2018
      3. PASSED
    5. 1545: Property Tax Credit Disabled Veterans
      1. Remove current property tax law
      2. Provide income tax “sur-tax”
      3. FAILED
    6. 2097: Adjusted Compensation (known as war bonus) extended from ending 6/30/2019 to 6/30/2021
      1. For service between December 5, 1992 and June 30, 2021
      2. PASSED
    7. 2309 Property Tax Credit for Veterans
      1. Removes all current property tax credits for disabled veterans and spouses
      2. Allows property tax credit for all veterans or surviving spouses receiving DIC or Pension
      3. Removes tax valuation limit
      4. FAILED
    8. 2314: Expand Veteran Aid Loan at ND Department of Veterans Affairs to persons with a VA disability rating who do not meet the NDCC 37-01-40 definition of a veteran
      1. PASSED
  5. Health and Wellbeing
    1. 1359 2012: Hyperbaric Oxygenation Treatment Pilot (HB 1359 and SB 2012)
      1. Provides $335,000 to ND Human Services for a pilot study of HBOT for Traumatic Brain Injuries
      2. 1359 FAILED, SB 2012 PASSED
    2. HCR 3018: Hyperbaric Oxygenation Treatment. Resolution to urge US Congress to provide veterans with Medical coverage for HBOT therapy
      1. PASSED
    3. 2314: Expand Grantsat ND Department of Veterans Affairs for Hearing, Optical, Dental/Denture and other medical to persons with a VA disability rating who do not meet the NDCC 37-01-40 definition of a Veteran
      1. PASSED
  6. Housing
    1. NONE

  1. Law/Policy Change
    1. 1054: North Dakota Veterans Coordinating Council Name Change to North Dakota Veterans Legislative Council
      1. PASSED
    2. 1129: ND Department of Veterans Affairs allowed to work with Public and Private entities to serve ND Veterans and their families
      1. PASSED
    3. 1131: ND Department of Veterans Affairs allowed to Apply for, Accept and Expend donations, gifts, grants or bequests from any public or private entity
      1. PASSED
    4. 1316: ND Department of Veterans Affairs file access
      1. Updated verbiage of NDCC 37-18-11 on protection and access to veteran files
      2. PASSED
    5. 1397: Vehicle and Aircraft Excise Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans
      1. 50-100% disabled veterans receive exemption equal to disability rating
      2. FAILED
    6. 1409: County Veteran Service Officers Accreditation
      1. Maintain proficiency and accreditation as established by NDDVA
      2. FAILED
    7. 2314: County Veteran Service officers to be accredited by the National Association of County Veteran Service Officers or the North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs within 12 months of appointment as CVSO (SB 2314)
      1. Previously only NACVSO accreditation was required and no timeline set
      2. PASSED

  1. Legal Services
    1. 1518: Veterans and Military Members Criminal Justice Study
      1. Study the need for a veteran’s court during interim
      2. FAILED


 

  1. Military Families Top Ten Key Issues
    1. 1095: Employment protection for National Guard members called up for state emergencies. Expanded to include ND employees as members of National Guard in other states.
      1. (Also included under “National Guard Specific” and “employment”)
      2. PASSED
    2. 1337: Emergency Medical Services Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact
      1. Allows military members and spouses (and other) with emergency medical licensures to be recognized and allowed to assist in medical emergencies in states with this compact
      2. PASSED
    3. 2059, 2126, 2127, 2173, 2306: Military Spouse Licensure & Permit and Interstate Compacts
      1. Provides exemptions, compacts and quicker licensure or permit for military spouses transferred to North Dakota
      2. PASSED

  1. National Guard Specific
    1. 1046: ND National Guard Tuition Waiver to be effective upon initial appointment into the National Guard
      1. (This item also included under EDUCATION)
      2. PASSED
    2. 1095: Employment protection for National Guard members called up for state emergencies. Expanded to include ND employees as members of National Guard in other states.
      1. (Also included under “National Guard Specific”)
      2. PASSED
    3. 1101: ND National Guard Adjutant General allowed to Accept and Expend donations, gifts, grants or bequests
      1. From private or Federal organizations
      2. For ND Service member, Veteran, family and Survivor Support Program
      3. PASSED
    4. 2097: ND National Guard Deputy Adjutant appointment: Must have 3 years commissioned service in ND National Guard prior to be appointment. Currently was 5 years.
      1. PASSED

  1. Other Misc.
    1. NONE

 

  1. Services and Outreach
    1. 1177: NSO/VSO Funding
      1. NDDVA to provide $50,000 grant to Veteran Service Organizations for NSO funding
      2. $150,000 total
      3. FAILED
  2. Studies
    1. 1518: Veterans and Military Members Criminal Justice Study
      1. Study the need for a veteran’s court during interim
      2. FAILED
    2. HCR 3047: Veterans Affairs
      1. Interim study of Veterans Affairs. Mirrors the Governor’s Task Force on Veterans Affairs.
      2. PASSED
    3. 2015: Veterans Home
      1. Interim study of Veterans home potential revenue generating
      2. (SB 2015 section 35)
      3. PASSED

 

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66th Legislative Assembly - 2019
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