The Information Technology Council of North Dakota Legislative Update

The North Dakota Legislature recessed March 26-27 and March 30-31 due to flooding and inclement weather conditions. It reconvened on Wednesday, April 1.



All bills were scheduled to be out of committee by the 55th legislative day (March 26), but because of the recess, that deadline has been suspended. All bills now need to be out of Senate committees by the 58th legislative day (April 6) and out of House committees by the 59th legislative day (April 7). ITCND will continue to monitor the remaining bills as they move to the floor of their respective chamber, and then move into conference committee, if necessary.



Status of Key Bills



SB 2003 – Support

This bill is the North Dakota University System’s appropriation bill. The bill was passed, as amended, out of the House Appropriations-Education and Environment Subcommittee March 31. The amendments included moving the $1 million in funding and policy language for the STEM loan forgiveness program from SB 2062 to SB 2003. The bill already contains $696,000 for the program for a total of nearly $1.7 million (governor’s budget recommended $2.7 million). The bill has not yet been acted on by the full House Appropriations Committee.



SB 2016 – Support

This bill is the Job Service North Dakota appropriation. The House approved the amendments recommended by the House Appropriations Committee today. The bill includes $1.5 million for Workforce 20/20, $200,000 for the spidering program and authorization for New Jobs Training. Included in the amendments is a change in the funding source for the job spidering program from the general fund to federal fiscal stimulus funds. The bill will now go to the House for final consideration.



SB 2019 – Support

This bill is the ND Department of Career and Technical Education (CTE) appropriation. The House approved the amendments recommended by the House Appropriations Committee today. The amendments include the following:

· Increase of $200,000 for the virtual area centers to provide total funding of $2.2 million (CTE’s request was $2.4 million, Senate provided $2 million). 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.

· Increase of $200,000 to increase program reimbursement rates for total funding of $2 million (CTE’s request was $3 million, Senate provided $1.8 million). This is important due to the high cost of equipment for these 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.

· Removed $400,000 to increase the number of career resource coordinators. These individuals would assist in providing information to students and educators on the career clusters, including the IT cluster.

· Restored $206,000 of the $305,000 removed by the Senate for workforce training grants for a total of approximately $3.2 million.

The bill will now go to the House for final consideration.



SB 2040 – Support

SB 2040 unanimously passed the House April 1. This bill provides a sales and use tax exemption for new or replacement equipment used for telecommunications infrastructure development.



Status Report



The committee hearings for bills ITCND is monitoring are completed. The work is now taking place in subcommittees and conference committees. A status report for the bills being tracked by ITCND is attached.



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

April 6

April 7

April 10

May 6
Topic

Bills and resolutions must be reported out of Senate committee

Bills and resolutions must be reported out of House committee

Good Friday

Session is limited to 80 legislative days




Legislative Bills Tracked






Appropriation Bills

SB 2003 – North Dakota University System – Support

SB 2016 – Job Service North Dakota – Support

SB 2018 – North Dakota Department of Commerce – Support

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

SB 2021 – Information Technology Department – Support



Other Bills

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

HB 1202 – Relating to entrepreneurship awards; relating to the Bank of North Dakota and North Dakota development fund, incorporated, use of funds for entrepreneurship awards; and to provide an expiration date – Track

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

SB 2062 – STEM loan forgiveness program – Support; Opportunity grant program – Support

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

SB 2269 – Relating to angel fund investment income tax credits – Support

SB 2325 – Relating to the streamlined sales tax agreement – Track

SB 2347 – Relating to gross receipts from the sale of items delivered electronically – Track

SB 2390 – Relating to the establishment and development of certified technology parks – Track









--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All attachments to this message are listed below.
Click on the name of any of the attachments to download them.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


ITCND Status Report - April 3, 2009.doc Size: 622864 bytes