Senate

Relating to the operation of the North Dakota national guard.

Relating to the expansion of the national guard tuition grants to include out-of-state postsecondary education institutions.

HOUSE AMENDMENTS

• Declared an emergency.
• Excluded "out of state" online or remote courses.

SENATE/HOUSE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

• Acceded all amendments.
• Added: NDNG to report to Legislative Management by 6/01/2024 on grant usage.

A BILL for an Act to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the office of the adjutant general; and to provide an exemption.

SENATE ACTION:

Added request from SB 2307.

$71,000,000 to the adjutant general, including:

(1) $26,000,000 for a Williston armory project.     Senate approved $2.6 Million for design and engineering (ARPA Funds)

(2) $20,000,000 for a military museum project.     Senate did not approve. 

Intent of Bill:

AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 27-20.4 and a new section to chapter 61-01 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to records and cooperative agreements to provide services to juveniles adjudicated in tribal court and the water projects stabilization fund; to amend and reenact subsection 1 of section 21-10-06 and section 27-20.2-21 of the North Dakota Century Code and section 3 of chapter 20 of the 2021 Session Laws, relating to funds invested by the state investment board, the inspection of juvenile court files, and the appropriation of additional amounts to the stat

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

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.