25.0147.05000
Sixty-ninth
Legislative Assembly
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Appropriations Committee
A BILL for an Act to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the attorney general;
to amend and reenact sections 31-01-16, 54-12-11, 54-12-30, and 54-27-25 of the North Dakota
Century Code, relating to compensation and mileage and travel expenses for witnesses, the
salary of the attorney general, twenty-four seven sobriety program fees, and the tobacco
settlement trust fund; to provide for a report; to provide for a transfer; and to provide an
exemption.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
SECTION 1. APPROPRIATION. The funds provided in this section, or so much of the funds
as may be necessary, are appropriated out of any moneys in the general fund in the state
treasury, not otherwise appropriated, and from other funds derived from special funds and
federal funds, to the attorney general for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the attorney
general, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027, as follows:
Adjustments or
Base Level Enhancements Appropriation
Salaries and wages $53,007,980 $8,323,325 $61,331,305
New and vacant FTE pool 0 5,140,711 5,140,711
Operating expenses 17,579,264 (988,610) 16,590,654
Prosecution witness fees 0 360,056 360,056
Capital assets 606,000 1,391,280 1,997,280
Grants 3,903,440 0 3,903,440
Human trafficking victims grants 1,110,614 1,341,900 2,452,514
Forensic nurse examiners grants 252,676 1,568 254,244
Page No. 1 25.0147.05000
ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO. 1003
FIRST ENGROSSMENT
with Conference Committee Amendments
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Statewide litigation funding pool 0 5,000,000 5,000,000
Litigation fees 127,500 0 127,500
Medical examinations 660,000 0 660,000
Children's forensic interviews 304,560 0 304,560
North Dakota lottery 5,413,453 171,709 5,585,162
Arrest and return of fugitives 8,500 0 8,500
Gaming commission 7,489 0 7,489
Criminal justice information sharing4,579,950 2,749,467 7,329,417
Law enforcement 3,377,659 291,739 3,669,398
Total all funds $90,939,085 $23,783,145 $114,722,230
Less other funds 41,914,820 9,888,474 51,803,294
Total general fund $49,024,265 $13,894,671 $62,918,936
Full-time equivalent positions 266.00 4.00 270.00
SECTION 2. ONE-TIME FUNDING - EFFECT ON BASE BUDGET - REPORT TO
SEVENTIETH LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. The following amounts reflect the one-time funding
items included in the appropriation in section 1 of this Act which are not included in the entity's
base budget for the 2027-29 biennium and which the entity shall report to the appropriations
committees of the seventieth legislative assembly regarding the use of this funding:
One-Time Funding Description General Fund Other Funds Total
Bureau of criminal investigation equipment$161,000 $0 $161,000
Laboratory equipment and supplies 400,000 554,000 954,000
Network switches 32,000 0 32,000
Undercover vehicles 0 540,000 540,000
Portable handheld radios 0 105,000 105,000
Intoxilyzers 0 188,000 188,000
Human trafficking victims grants 650,000 0 650,000
Statewide litigation funding pool 0 5,000,000 5,000,000
Jail management system replacement 650,000 0 650,000
Statewide automated victim identification 0 1,500,000 1,500,000
notification system replacement
Total $1,893,000 $7,887,000 $9,780,000
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SECTION 3. NEW AND VACANT FTE POOL - LIMITATION - TRANSFER REQUEST. The
attorney general may not spend funds appropriated in the new and vacant FTE pool line item in
section 1 of this Act, but may request the office of management and budget to transfer funds
from the new and vacant FTE pool line item to the salaries and wages line item and other line
items with salaries and wages in accordance with the guidelines and reporting provisions
included in House Bill No. 1015, as approved by the sixty-ninth legislative assembly.
SECTION 4. ADDITIONAL INCOME - APPROPRIATION - ONE -TIME FUNDING -
REPORT. In addition to the amounts appropriated to the attorney general in section 1 of this
Act, there is appropriated from federal or special funds, the sum of $250,000, or so much of the
sum as may be necessary, to the attorney general for the purposes of defraying the expenses of
the office, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027. The attorney
general shall notify the office of management and budget and the legislative council of any
funding made available pursuant to this section. The funding provided in this section is
considered a one-time funding item.
SECTION 5. OTHER FUNDS - TRANSFER - COMMUNITY HEALTH TRUST FUND TO
ATTORNEY GENERAL OPERATING FUND. The other funds line item in section 1 of this Act
includes the sum of $239,716 from the community health trust fund which the office of
management and budget shall transfer to the attorney general operating fund for defraying
expenses related to the enforcement of the master settlement agreement and consent
agreement and any disputes with the agreement during the biennium beginning July 1, 2025,
and ending June 30, 2027.
SECTION 6. OTHER FUNDS - STRATEGIC INVESTMENT AND IMPROVEMENTS FUND
TRANSFER - STATEWIDE LITIGATION FUNDING POOL TO STATE AGENCIES. The other
funds line item in section 1 of this Act includes the sum of $7,466,000 from the strategic
investment and improvements fund, of which $321,000 is for state crime laboratory equipment
and supplies, $540,000 is for the replacement of bureau of criminal investigation undercover
vehicles, $105,000 is for portable handheld dual-band radios, $5,000,000 is for the statewide
litigation funding pool, and $1,500,000 is for the replacement of the statewide automated victim
identification notification system. The attorney general shall transfer funding from the statewide
litigation funding pool to eligible state agencies for litigation expenses during the biennium
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beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027. The attorney general may not use funding
from the statewide litigation funding pool to pay judgments under section 32-12-04.
SECTION 7. HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS GRANT PROGRAM - REQUIREMENTS -
REPORTS. The human trafficking victims grants line item in section 1 of this Act includes
$2,452,514 from the general fund for the purpose of providing grants to organizations involved
in providing prevention and treatment services related to human trafficking victims and related
administrative costs, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027. The
attorney general may provide grants for the development and implementation of direct care
emergency or long-term crisis services, residential care, training for law enforcement, support of
advocacy services, and programs promoting positive outcomes for victims. Any organization
that receives a grant under this section shall report to the attorney general and the
appropriations committees of the seventieth legislative assembly on the use of the funds
received and the outcomes of its programs. The attorney general shall report to the legislative
management during the 2025-26 interim on the status and results of the grant program.
SECTION 8. FORENSIC NURSE EXAMINERS GRANT PROGRAM - REPORTS. The
forensic nurse examiners grants line item in section 1 of this Act includes $254,244 from the
general fund for the purpose of providing forensic nurse examiner program grants for
community-based or hospital-based sexual assault examiner programs and related
administrative costs, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027. Any
organization that receives a grant under this section shall report to the attorney general and the
appropriations committees of the seventieth legislative assembly on the use of the funds
received and the outcomes of its programs. The attorney general shall report to the
appropriations committees of the seventieth legislative assembly on the number of nurses
trained, the number and location of nurses providing services related to sexual assault nurse
examiner programs, and documentation of collaborative efforts to assist victims which includes
nurses, the hospital or clinic, law enforcement, and state's attorneys.
SECTION 9. BUREAU OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION CYBER CRIME RESOURCES.
The salaries and wages line item, operating expenses line item, and capital assets line item in
section 1 of this Act includes the sum of $825,000 from the general fund for the purpose of
hiring two full-time equivalent bureau of criminal investigation cyber crime agent positions and
for related equipment and capital asset costs. The personnel hired and resources purchased
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pursuant to this section must be dedicated to assisting a police department in a city in
northeastern North Dakota with at least 50,000 residents with the prevention and detection of
cyber crime.
SECTION 10. AMENDMENT. Section 31-01-16 of the North Dakota Century Code is
amended and reenacted as follows:
31-01-16. Compensation and mileage and travel expense of witness.
1.A witness in a civil or criminal case is entitled to receive:
1.a.A sum of twenty-five dollars for each day necessarily in attendance before the
district court or before any other board or tribunal, except municipal court.
2.b.A sum for mileage and travel expense reimbursement equal to the
reimbursement rates provided for state employees in sections 44-08-04 and
54-06-09.
2.In all criminal cases in district court, the attorney general shall pay prosecution witness
fees and expenses, in an amount not to exceed twenty-five thousandthirty thousand
dollars per county per biennium, and the commission on legal counsel for indigents
shall pay witness fees and expenses for witnesses in those cases in which counsel
has been provided by the commission. Prisoners may not be compensated as
witnesses under this section. If a county exceeds the thirty thousand dollar
reimbursement during a biennium, the county may enter an agreement with another
county to allow the county to receive another county's unused reimbursement funds
for that biennium, with the approval of the attorney general.
SECTION 11. AMENDMENT. Section 54-12-11 of the North Dakota Century Code is
amended and reenacted as follows:
54-12-11. Salary of attorney general.
The annual salary of the attorney general is one hundred seventy-nine thousand three
hundred twelveone hundred ninety - two thousand seventy - nine dollars through June 30,
20242026, and one hundred eighty-six thousand four hundred eighty-fourone hundred
ninety - seven thousand eight hundred forty - one dollars thereafter.
SECTION 12. AMENDMENT. Section 54-12-30 of the North Dakota Century Code is
amended and reenacted as follows:
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54-12-30. Twenty-four seven sobriety program fees.
A criminal justice agency may collect program fees from offenders participating in the
twenty-four seven sobriety program, including fees for twice per day breath alcohol testing,
urine testing, drug patch testing, installation and deactivation fees for remote electronic alcohol
monitoring devices, and remote electronic alcohol monitoring daily fees. A district court judge or
judicial referee may not waive program fees for offenders participating in the twenty - four seven
sobriety program. The criminal justice agency shall pay all program fees into the general fund of
the governing body. The fees may only be applied to twenty-four seven sobriety program
support services, equipment maintenance and replacement, and compliance with the program.
The governing body shall pay any daily fees collected for remote electronic alcohol monitoring
to the twenty-four seven sobriety program fund.
SECTION 13. AMENDMENT. Section 54-27-25 of the North Dakota Century Code is
amended and reenacted as follows:
54-27-25. Tobacco settlement trust fund - Interest on fund - Uses.
There is created in the state treasury a tobacco settlement trust fund. The fund consists of
the tobacco settlement dollars obtained by the state under subsection IX(c)(1) of the master
settlement agreement and consent agreement adopted by the east central judicial district court
in its judgment entered December 28, 1998 [Civil No. 98-3778] in State of North Dakota, ex rel.
Heidi Heitkamp v. Philip Morris, Inc. Moneys received by the state under subsection IX(c)(1)
must be deposited in the fund. Moneys in the fund must be transferred within thirty days of
receipt by the state to a community health trust fund. Moneys in the fund may be appropriated
for community-based public health programs and other public health programs, including
programs with emphasis on preventing or reducing tobacco usage in this state, and for the
enforcement of the master settlement agreement and consent agreement and any disputes with
the agreement.
SECTION 14. CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD CHECKS - FEES. Any individual or entity
requesting a criminal history record check from the bureau of criminal investigation, as a result
of legislation enacted by the sixty-ninth legislative assembly, shall pay a reasonable fee
established by the attorney general to the attorney general to be deposited in the general fund,
for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027.
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SECTION 15. EXEMPTION - CONTINGENT FEE ARRANGEMENT. Notwithstanding
section 54-12-08.1, the attorney general may contract for legal services compensated by a
contingent fee arrangement for ongoing multistate technology litigation during the biennium
beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027.
SECTION 16. EXEMPTION - ATTORNEY GENERAL REFUND FUND. Notwithstanding
section 54-12-18, the attorney general may retain the balance in the attorney general refund
fund which would otherwise be transferred to the general fund on June 30, 2025.
SECTION 17. EXEMPTION - UNEXPENDED APPROPRIATIONS. The following
appropriations are not subject to the provisions of section 54-44.1-11 and may be continued into
the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027:
1.The amount appropriated to the attorney general from other funds for the statewide
automated victim identification and notification system as contained in sections 1
and 8 of chapter 3 of the 2017 Session Laws, continued into the 2019-21 biennium for
the statewide automated victim identification and notification system, and continued
into the 2021-23 biennium and 2023-25 biennium for the legal case management
system in section 17 of chapter 35 of the 2023 Session Laws.
2.The sum of $400,000 appropriated from the attorney general refund fund for the
criminal history improvement project in section 1 of chapter 3 of the 2021 Session
Laws, and continued into the 2023-25 biennium section 18 of chapter 35 of the 2023
Session Laws.
3.The sum of $1,000,000 appropriated from the federal state fiscal recovery fund for the
replacement of the prosecuting case management system in subsection 20 of
section 1 of chapter 550 of the 2021 Special Session Session Laws and continued into
the 2023-25 biennium in section 21 of chapter 35 of the 2023 Session Laws.
4.The sum of $736,000 appropriated from the charitable gaming operating fund for the
charitable gaming technology system in section 1 of chapter 35 of the 2023 Session
Laws.
5.The sum of $177,000 appropriated from the general fund for a licensing and deposit
software system in section 1 of chapter 35 of the 2023 Session Laws.
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6.The sum of $1,772,038 appropriated from federal funds for the justice community
oriented policing services anti-methamphetamine program in section 1 of chapter 35 of
the 2023 Session Laws.
SECTION 18. EXEMPTION - STATEWIDE LITIGATION FUNDING POOL. The sum of
$3,000,000 appropriated from the general fund as a deficiency appropriation for the statewide
litigation funding pool during the 2023-25 biennium, as approved by the sixty-ninth legislative
assembly in House Bill No. 1024, is not subject to section 54-44.1-11 and any unexpended
funds may be continued into the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027.
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