25.0189.03000
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 commission on
legal counsel for indigents; to create and enact a new subsection to section 54-44.3-20 of the
North Dakota Century Code, relating to categories of positions in the state service; and to
provide for a legislative management study.
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 commission on legal counsel for indigents for the purpose of defraying the
expenses of the commission on legal counsel for indigents, for the biennium beginning July 1,
2025, and ending June 30, 2027, as follows:
Adjustments or
Base Level Enhancements Appropriation
Commission on legal counsel $23,022,372 $3,576,753 $26,599,125
for indigents
New and vacant FTE pool 0 554,757 554,757
Total all funds $23,022,372 $4,131,510 $27,153,882
Less other funds 2,023,067 26,149 2,049,216
Total general fund $20,999,305 $4,105,361 $25,104,666
Full-time equivalent positions 41.00 2.00 43.00
SECTION 2. NEW AND VACANT FTE POOL - LIMITATION - TRANSFER REQUEST. The
commission on legal counsel for indigents may not spend funds appropriated in the new and
Page No. 1 25.0189.03000
ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO. 2022
FIRST ENGROSSMENT
with House Amendments
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22 Sixty-ninth
Legislative Assembly
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 commission on legal
counsel for indigents line item in accordance with the guidelines and reporting provisions
included in House Bill No. 1015, as approved by the sixty-ninth legislative assembly.
SECTION 3. A new subsection to section 54-44.3-20 of the North Dakota Century Code is
created and enacted as follows:
Attorneys employed by the commission on legal counsel for indigents.
SECTION 4. LEGISLATIVE MANAGEMENT STUDY - COMMISSION ON LEGAL
COUNSEL FOR INDIGENTS - NORTH DAKOTA PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE. During the
2025-26 interim, the legislative management shall consider studying the potential impacts of
establishing the North Dakota public defenders office as an administrative agency under the
authority of the commission on legal counsel for indigents. The legislative management shall
report its findings and recommendations, together with any legislation required to implement the
recommendations, to the seventieth legislative assembly.
Page No. 2 25.0189.03000
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