JUNE 2013 VOL XXXVIII ISSUE 6 Interim Studies Chosen; Committees Named At its June 10 meeting, Legislative Interim Taxation Committee has Representative Steven L. Zaiser Management named members to been assigned the following: Senator Randall A. Burckhard various Interim Committees. • Study controlling the growth of Senator Jim Dotzenrod Interim Education Funding property tax levies, with emphasis Senator Lonnie J. Laffen Committee has been assigned the Senator Ronald Sorvaag on consideration of whether the level following: Senator Jessica K. Unruh • Study to examine and clarify state of property tax relief received by Advisory Commission on and local-level responsibility for the taxpayers has been commensurate Intergovernmental Relations has equitable and adequate funding of with the amount of state funds been assigned the following: elementary and secondary education distributed to benefi t political • Study the feasibility and desirability in this state subdivisions and provide property tax of making political subdivision budget Members of the Committee are: information accessible on the state relief to taxpayers Chair: Senator Tim Flakoll budget database website and fi nding Vice-chair: Representative Mike • Study the property tax system better ways to inform taxpayers Nathe • Study applying property tax rates regarding political subdivision budget Representative Mark A. Dosch against true and full value of property or levy deliberations and legislative Representative Jessica Haak Members of the Committee are: property tax relief Representative Brenda Heller Chair: Senator Dwight Cook • Study whether political subdivisions Representative Bob Hunskor Vice-chair: Representative Mark S. can become more effi cient and Representative Jerry Kelsh Owens effective to reduce costs to taxpayers Representative Ben Koppelman Representative Wesley R. Belter • Study local government structure, Representative Lisa Meier Representative Jason Dockter fi scal and other powers and functions Representative David Monson Representative David Drovdal of local governments, relationships Representative Karen M. Rohr Representative Glen Froseth between and among local governments Representative David S. Rust Representative Patrick Hatlestad and the state or any other government, Representative Mark Sanford Representative Craig Headland allocation of state and local resources, Representative John Wall Representative Jim Kasper and interstate issues involving local Senator Howard C. Anderson, Jr. Representative Jerry Kelsh governments (NDCC § 54-35.2-02) Senator Joan Heckaman Representative Scot Kelsh Members of the Committee are: Senator Richard Marcellais Representative Mike Nathe Chair: Representative Brenda Heller Senator Nicole Poolman Representative Dan Ruby Vice-chair: Senator Jessica K. Unruh Senator Donald Schaible Representative Jim Schmidt Representative Ron Guggisberg Representative Robin Weisz Senator Dwight Cook Continued on page 2 Travel Reimbursement Rates Changing Effective August 1, the following rates apply for travel within • Second quarter is from 12 noon to 6 p.m. and the the state: sum must be ten dollars and fi fty cents. • Third quarter is from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight and the • First quarter is from 6 a.m. to 12 noon and the sum sum must be seventeen dollars and fi fty cents. must be seven dollars. First quarter reimbursement • No changes were made to fourth quarter lodging may not be made if travel began after 7 a.m. reimbursement. JUNE 2013 Housing Incentive Fund Ready to Accept n COMMITTEES Applications and Contributions Continued from page 1 The North Dakota Industrial purchase publicly-owned housing units Government Finance Committee Commission recently approved the (i.e., housing units currently owned by has been assigned the following: biennial allocation plan for the state’s school districts), resulting in divestiture • Study the foundation aid Housing Incentive Fund (HIF), allowing by the public entity while maintaining stabilization fund, including anticipated the North Dakota the supply growth in the fund, appropriate funding Housing Finance of affordable levels, options for the disposition of Agency (NDHFA) housing excess funding if appropriate funding to accept for those levels are exceeded, reallocation of applications essential oil extraction taxes currently being from multifamily service deposited in the fund, and feasibility housing workers. This and desirability of proposing changes developers and allows school to the constitution relating to the contributions from districts to foundation aid stabilization fund taxpayers. The get out of Members of the Committee are: 2013 Legislature the housing Chair: Representative Jeff Delzer reauthorized business Vice-chair: Senator Terry M. the fund at so their Wanzek $35.4 million resources can Representative Larry Bellew and established be redirected Representative Joshua A. Boschee program priorities to their Representative Bette Grande of providing mission -- Representative Craig Headland affordable housing for essential service providing quality education to children Representative Rick Holman workers in energy-impacted counties in North Dakota. Representative Lisa Meier and preserving and providing for the “To ensure western North Dakota Representative Kylie Oversen needs of low- to moderate-income communities are able to recruit and Representative Don Vigesaa households statewide. retain law enforcement personnel, Representative Clark Williams One of the new eligible uses of HIF teachers, and long-term care workers, Senator Dwight Cook funding is to assist private entities to HIF applicants that set aside units Senator Gary A. Lee for these and other essential service Senator Donald Schaible workers will receive a scoring Senator Ronald Sorvaag preference,” said Mike Anderson, Senator Rich Wardner �������� NDHFA executive director. As was the case during this past The Bulletin is the offi cial newsletter of the North The allocation plan is available legislative session, NDSBA will be busy Dakota School Boards Association. It is published online at www.ndhousingincentivefund. tracking the direction of committees. twelve times each year and is mailed as third class mail from New Salem, North Dakota. org or www.ndhfa.org. This will be a critical interim for defi ning EDITOR Annette Bendish Applications for the fi rst funding future expectations of North Dakota PUBLISHER round must be submitted by 5 p.m. schools, students, and taxpayers. North Dakota School Boards Association More information about the Interim PO Box 7128 (CDT) on Friday, June 28, to Planning Bismarck, ND 58507-7128 and Housing Development Division Committees can be found online at http: TELEPHONE 1-800-932-8791 Director Jolene Kline at NDHFA, PO //www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/63-2013/ LOCAL (701)255-4127 Box 1535, Bismarck, ND, 58502-1535. committees/interim FAX (701)258-7992 WEB SITE www.ndsba.org EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Congratulations Alyssa! Jon Martinson, Bismarck Great news! Alyssa Martin, NDSBA Director of Policy OFFICERS Services, has been named to the Bismarck Tribune’s PRESIDENT Greg Allen, Jamestown 40 Under 40 class of 2013. She is being recognized VICE PRESIDENT for her leadership, professional development, and Jim Rostad, Minot commitment to the Bismarck community. Alyssa joins a PAST PRESIDENT distinguished group of alumni of 40 Under 40 including Angela Korsmo, West Fargo DIRECTORS North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm, Ben Auch, Mott/Regent North Dakota Tax Commissioner Cory Fong, and other Jennifer Johnson, Larimore young professionals who have led their business and Jim Johnson, Fargo Mike Lautenschlager, Berthold industries to success through both good times and challenging times. JUNE 2013 NDSBA Seeks Resolution Recommendations NDSBA members create the by Annette Bendish, NDSBA Legal Counsel association’s legislative agenda through adoption of resolutions. Attorney General Issues Open Records Opinion NDSBA resolutions fall into one of two categories: Beliefs and Policies On May 24, 2013, the North Dakota The Attorney General stated that or Standing Resolutions. Beliefs and Attorney General issued an opinion to the “Department of Education has Policies are permanent philosophical, North Dakota State University (NDSU) consistently issued letter opinions which legislative, and operational statements; regarding a record request for student recognize that occasionally information Standing Resolutions are uniquely disciplinary records. The Attorney could be traced to individual students, legislative and are dropped after four General found NDSU violated the open even if the records are redacted and years unless they are brought to the records law by providing an insuffi cient even when information is released in the Delegate Assembly for reconsideration. written denial to the request. aggregate. In those instances, FERPA Current Beliefs and Policies and On October 22, NDSU received prohibits disclosure of the information Standing Resolutions—along with a a request for “the details of any without consent when, taking into recommended submission format—are disciplinary action taken against the account all available information, data, available at www.ndsba.org under both NDSU football players who were and other information known to have the “About NDSBA” and “Legislation” charged and convicted of petition been disclosed by other means such links. signature fraud earlier this year.” as through the media, the educational It is time to think about resolutions Requested information included