The North Dakota Legislature

Key Hearings Held Jan. 19-23



SB 2019 – Support

SB 2019 was heard before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Jan. 22. This bill is the Department of Career and Technical Education appropriation. It provides a $1.2 million increase (of which the Governor recommended $800,000) for the virtual area career and technical education centers. These centers offer IT courses to students who previously did not have access to them, and each center is required to offer at least two credits of IT coursework to all students in member schools. The bill also provides $3 million (of which the Governor recommended $1.8 million) to increase funding for schools for career and technical education (CTE) programs. This is important due to the high cost of equipment for CTE courses and increased staffing needs due to smaller class requirements for lab settings. This provides an incentive for additional schools to add CTE courses, including IT, to their curriculum. Lastly, it includes $1.6 million (of which the Governor recommended $400,000) to increase the number of career resource coordinators and career advisors. These individuals would assist in providing information to students and educators on the IT cluster. ITCND supported this bill. Attached is the testimony of Gary Inman, ITCND president.



Status of Key Bills



SB 2110 – Support

SB 2110 was given a 6-0 “do pass” recommendation from the Senate Industry, Business and Labor Committee on Jan. 21. This bill expands the Operation Intern program to include apprenticeships and participation from 11th and 12th graders. Operation Intern is important to ITCND because, of the 87 companies taking advantage of the program, 20 are technology-related. The $1.2 million in funding for the expanded program is in both SB 2018 and HB 1065. It is assumed the funding will be taken out of one of the bills. ITCND supported this bill at its hearing on Jan.13.



Hearing Schedule and Status Report (Jan. 26-30)



The hearing schedule and status of bills being tracked by ITCND are attached. We will not be offering testimony on all of these bills, but are tracking them because they have a direct or indirect impact on information technology issues, either at the state agency level, political subdivision level or in private business.



For More Information



If at any time you need additional information or know of others who are interested in receiving this report, contact Annika Nelson, ITCND assistant executive director, at office@itcnd.org or 701-355-4458.



Copies of bill drafts and information about the 61st Legislative Session can be found at the Bills and Resolutions link on the North Dakota Legislative Council website at www.legis.nd.gov/.



How to Contact Your Legislators



During a legislative session, a legislator can be reached at the State Capitol through e-mail or by leaving a message with the legislative telephone message center at 888-NDLEGIS (635-3447) or 701-328-3373 (local). These numbers can also be used to obtain information on bills under consideration. Otherwise, a legislator can be reached by mail or e-mail at the address listed in the legislator's bio online under the 61st Legislative Assembly link at www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-2009.





Addressing Mail Correspondence

To a Senator:

Honorable (full name)

State Senator

600 E. Boulevard Ave.

Bismarck, ND 58505



Dear Senator (last name)


To a Representative:

Honorable (full name)

State Representative

600 E. Boulevard Ave.

Bismarck, ND 58505



Dear Representative (last name)




2009 Legislative Deadlines




Date

January 26

February 20

February 20, 23-24

March 5

April 10

April 30
Topic

Deadline for senators to introduce bills

Crossover for bills

Recess

Crossover for resolutions

Good Friday

Session is limited to 80 legislative days




Legislative Bills Tracked (to date)






Appropriation Bills

SB 2003 – North Dakota University System – Support

SB 2016 – Job Service North Dakota – Support

SB 2018 – ND Department of Commerce – Support

SB 2019 – North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education – Support

SB 2021 – Information Technology Department – Support



Other Bills

HB 1065 – Expansion of Operation Intern – Support

HB 1066 – Tax credits for automation and innovation – Track

HB 1085 – Income tax credits for employment of apprentices and for workforce recruitment – Track

HB 1144 – Relating to confidentiality of information contained in records – Track

HB 1208 – Relating to the use of a wireless communications device and demerit points – Track

SB 2040 – Sales and use tax exemption for telecommunications infrastructure equipment – Support

SB 2062 – Opportunity grant for North Dakota high school graduates and new graduate earned income deduction – Track

SB 2110 – Expands Operation Intern to include apprenticeships and participation from 11th and 12th graders – Support

SB 2131 – Relating to service charges for recycling and disposal for surplus property – Track