An act to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-35 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the creation of a legislative task force on government efficiency; to provide for a legislative management report; t, the official text

Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota In Regular Session Commencing Tuesday, January 7, 2025
HOUSE BILL NO. 1442 (Representatives Toman, Lefor, Weisz, Vigesaa)
(Senators Hogue, Bekkedahl)
AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-35 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the creation of a legislative task force on government efficiency; to provide for a legislative management report; to provide an expiration date; and to declare an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA: SECTION 1. A new section to chapter 54-35 of the North Dakota Century Code is created and
enacted as follows: Legislative task force on government efficiency - Members - Duties - Report to the legislative
management. 1. The legislative management shall create a legislative task force on government efficiency. 2. Each member of the task force shall serve two-year terms. The membership of the task force consists of: a. The director of the office of management and budget; b. The chief operating officer for the office of the governor; c. One elected statewide officer, appointed by the governor; d. One individual residing in the state, appointed by the governor; e. Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the majority leader of the house of representatives; and f. Three members of the senate, appointed by the majority leader of the senate. 3. The chairman of the legislative management shall select a member of the legislative assembly appointed under subdivision e or f of subsection 2 to serve as chairman of the task force. 4. The task force shall: a. Meet at least once each calendar quarter or more frequently at the call of the chairman. b. Review and analyze budgets and reports from executive branch agencies and the supreme court. c. Collaborate with and receive testimony from executive branch agencies and the supreme court to identify areas to increase efficiency and methods to implement cost-saving measures, determine areas of state government deemed unnecessary or duplicative, target outdated or overly restrictive regulations, and find areas in which partnerships between the state and private industry would create innovative financing models to drive economic growth and job creation. d. Review the effectiveness and necessity of programs and laws created by the legislative assembly through previous legislative enactments.

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e. Request the state auditor or an independent private auditing firm to conduct program evaluations using generally accepted performance audit standards for state and local governments.
f. Submit an annual report to the legislative management detailing its findings and progress in implementing cost-saving measures and efficiencies along with any recommended legislation for introduction at the next legislative session.
5. A state employee who is a member of the task force is entitled to receive that employee's regular salary and is entitled to reimbursement for mileage and expenses to be paid by the employing agency. A member of the task force who is a member of the legislative assembly is entitled to receive per diem compensation at the rate provided under section 54-35-10 for each day performing official duties of the task force. The legislative council shall pay the per diem compensation and reimbursement for travel and expenses as provided by law for any member of the task force who is a member of the legislative assembly.
6. The legislative council shall provide staffing and administrative services for the task force through July 31, 2031.
SECTION 2. EXPIRATION DATE. This Act is effective through July 31, 2031, and after that date is ineffective.
SECTION 3. EMERGENCY. This Act is declared to be an emergency measure.

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____________________________ Speaker of the House

____________________________ President of the Senate

____________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

____________________________ Secretary of the Senate

This certifies that the within bill originated in the House of Representatives of the Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota and is known on the records of that body as House Bill No. 1442 and that two-thirds of the members-elect of the House of Representatives voted in favor of said law.

Vote:

Yeas 91

Nays 1

Absent 2

____________________________ Speaker of the House

____________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

This certifies that two-thirds of the members-elect of the Senate voted in favor of said law.

Vote:

Yeas 41

Nays 4

Absent 2

____________________________ President of the Senate

____________________________ Secretary of the Senate

Received by the Governor at ________M. on _____________________________________, 2025. Approved at ________M. on __________________________________________________, 2025.

____________________________ Governor
Filed in this office this ___________day of _______________________________________, 2025, at ________ o’clock ________M.

____________________________ Secretary of State