North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Dakota House Bill HCR3037 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	25.3111.03001
2		-	Title.04000
3		-	Adopted by the Political Subdivisions
4		-	Committee
	1	+	25.3111.03000
5	2		Sixty-ninth
6		-	April 3, 2025
7	3		Legislative Assembly
8	4		of North Dakota
9	5		Introduced by
10	6		Representative Rios
11	7		(Approved by the Delayed Bills Committee)
12	8		A concurrent resolution directing the Legislative Management to consider studying the feasibility
13		-	of establishingurging the Seventieth Legislative Assembly to consider enacting mandatory
14		-	reporting requirements for public officials, an investigative body for allegations of child
15		-	exploitation and abuse involving public officials, and severe penalties for public officials who
16		-	engage in, enable, or conceal child exploitation.
	9	+	of establishing mandatory reporting requirements for public officials, an investigative body for
	10	+	allegations of child exploitation and abuse involving public officials, and severe penalties for
	11	+	public officials who engage in, enable, or conceal child exploitation.
17	12		WHEREAS, the protection of children and vulnerable populations is a fundamental
18	13		responsibility of government; and
19	14		WHEREAS, individuals entrusted with positions of leadership and authority bear a greater
20	15		responsibility to uphold justice and protect the vulnerable, as noted in Luke 12:48, "From
21	16		everyone who has been given so much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has
22	17		been entrusted with much, much more will be asked"; and
23	18		WHEREAS, child exploitation, abuse, and trafficking are among the most heinous crimes,
24	19		as noted in Matthew 18:6, "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me,
25	20		it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in
26	21		the depth of the sea"; and
27	22		WHEREAS, a public official who participates in, enables, or knowingly conceals child
28	23		exploitation has betrayed his or her oath of office, contributed to the destruction of innocent
29	24		lives, and allowed evil to thrive under the protection of power and privilege; and
30	25		WHEREAS, the concealment of and participation in child exploitation within governmental
31	26		institutions represents a severe breach of duty that demands heightened accountability,
32	27		including criminal penalties and permanent removal from public service;
33		-	Page No. 1 25.3111.03001
	28	+	NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF
	29	+	NORTH DAKOTA, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN:
	30	+	That the Legislative Management consider studying the feasibility of establishing mandatory
	31	+	reporting requirements for public officials, an investigative body for allegations of child
	32	+	Page No. 1 25.3111.03000
34	33		HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 3037
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36		-	PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO
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57		-	21 Sixty-ninth
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	58	+	24 Sixty-ninth
58	59		Legislative Assembly
59		-	NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF
60		-	NORTH DAKOTA, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN:
61		-	That the Legislative Management consider studying the feasibility of establishing mandatory
62		-	reporting requirements for public officials, an investigative body for allegations of child
63	60		exploitation and abuse involving public officials, and severe penalties for public officials who
64	61		engage in, enable, or conceal child exploitation; and
65	62		BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , that the study include an examination of the implementation
66	63		of investigative and oversight measures, including the feasibility of the creation of a Special
67	64		Investigation Task Force within the Attorney General's office with the powers to investigate
68	65		allegations of child exploitation or abuse involving public officials, and a comprehensive review
69	66		of legislative powers in other states to assess whether similar powers should be adopted in this
70	67		state to address corruption, criminal conduct, or concealment of child exploitation; and
71	68		BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , that the study include an examination of accountability
72	69		measures, including consideration of statutory changes to establish penalties and mandatory
73	70		minimum sentences for public officials found to have participated in or concealed child
74	71		exploitation, facilitated ongoing abuse, or retaliated against individuals for reporting such
75	72		offenses; and additional penalties for such offenses, including removal from office, forfeiture of
76	73		retirement benefits, and permanent disqualification from holding public office; and
77	74		BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , that the study include strategies to ensure the safety and
78	75		confidentiality of victims, witnesses, and whistleblowers; and
79	76		BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , that the study include an assessment of the financial and
80	77		administrative impacts of any reforms; and
81	78		BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , that the Legislative Management engage with stakeholders,
82	79		including child welfare organizations, law enforcement agencies, the Department of Health and
83	80		Human Services, the Attorney General's office, victim advocacy groups, legal experts on ethics
84	81		and government accountability, individuals with experience investigating child exploitation
85	82		cases, and experts in criminal sentencing, public corruption law, and legislative oversight; and
86	83		BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , that the Legislative Management report its findings and
87	84		recommendations, together with any legislation required to implement the recommendations, to
88		-	theSixty-ninth Legislative Assembly urges the Seventieth Legislative Assembly to consider
89		-	enacting legislation to make public officials mandatory reporters.
90		-	Page No. 2 25.3111.03001
	85	+	the Seventieth Legislative Assembly.
	86	+	Page No. 2 25.3111.03000
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