North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Dakota Senate Bill SB2251 Compare Versions

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1-Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota
2-In Regular Session Commencing Tuesday, January 7, 2025
3-SENATE BILL NO. 2251
4-(Senators Cleary, Weston, Castaneda, Paulson)
5-(Representatives M. Ruby, Rohr)
6-AN ACT to amend and reenact section 54-10-01, subsection 5 of section 54-10-14, and sections
7-54-10-22 and 54-10-27 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to audits conducted by the
8-state auditor and charges for audits.
1+25.0851.02002
2+Title.03000
3+Adopted by the House Government and
4+Veterans Affairs Committee
5+Sixty-ninth
6+March 20, 2025
7+Legislative Assembly
8+of North Dakota
9+Introduced by
10+Senators Cleary, Weston, Castaneda, Paulson
11+Representatives M. Ruby, Rohr
12+A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 54-10-01, subsection 5 of section 54-10-14, and
13+sectionsections 54-10-22 and 54-10-27 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to audits
14+conducted by the state auditor and charges for audits.
915 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
10-SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. Section 54-10-01 of the North Dakota Century Code is amended and
11-reenacted as follows:
12-54-10-01. Powers and duties of state auditor - Report. (Retroactive application - See note )
16+SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. Section 54-10-01 of the North Dakota Century Code is
17+amended and reenacted as follows:
18+54-10-01. Powers and duties of state auditor - Report. (Retroactive application - See
19+note )
1320 1.The state auditor shall:
1421 a.Be vested with the duties, powers, and responsibilities involved in performing the
15-postaudit of all financial transactions of state government, detecting and reporting any
16-defaults, and determining that expenditures have been made in accordance with law and
17-appropriation acts.
18-b.Perform or provide for the audit of the general purpose financial statements and a review
19-of the material included in the comprehensive annual financial report of the state in
20-accordance with government auditing standards.
21-c.Except for the audit of the department of financial institutions as outlined in section
22-54-10-31, perform or provide for audits of state agencies in accordance with government
23-auditing standards and legislative audit and fiscal review committee guidelines developed
24-under section 54-35-02.10. Except for the annual audit of the North Dakota lottery
25-required by section 53-12.1-03, the state auditor shall audit each state agency once
26-every two to four years. Audits may be conducted at more frequent intervals if requested
27-by the governor or the legislative audit and fiscal review committee. The state auditor
28-shall charge an amount equal to the cost of the audit and other services rendered by the
29-state auditor to all agencies that receive and expend moneys from other than the general
30-fund. This charge may be reduced for an agency that receives and expends both general
31-fund and nongeneral fund moneys. The charge for an audit of an agricultural commodity
32-group listed in section 4.1-44-04 must be six thousand dollars for an annual financial
33-statement audit or four thousand dollars for a two-year single-page financial statement
34-audit performed during the biennium ending June 30, 2025, and may be increased by
35-five percent on July first of each odd-numbered year thereafter. State agencies shall use
36-nongeneral fund moneys to pay for the cost of the audit. If nongeneral fund moneys are
37-not available, the agency may, upon approval of the legislative assembly, or the budget
38-section if the legislative assembly is not in session, use general fund moneys to pay for
39-the audit. Any budget section action under this subdivision must comply with section
40-54-35-02.9.
41-d.Except for the audit of the department of financial institutions as outlined in section
42-54-10-31, perform or provide for performance audits of state agencies, or the agencies'
43-blended component units or discreetly presented component units, as determined
44-necessary by the legislative assembly, or the legislative audit and fiscal review committee
45-if the legislative assembly is not in session. When determining the necessity of a
46-performance audit, the legislative audit and fiscal review committee shall consider: S. B. NO. 2251 - PAGE 2
47-(1)The potential cost-savings or efficiencies that may be gained as a result of the
48-performance audit;
49-(2)The staff resources of the state auditor's office and of the state agency being
50-audited which will be required to conduct the audit;
51-(3)The potential for discovery of noncompliance with state law or legislative intent
52-regarding the program or agency; and
22+postaudit of all financial transactions of state government, detecting and reporting
23+any defaults, and determining that expenditures have been made in accordance
24+with law and appropriation acts.
25+b.Perform or provide for the audit of the general purpose financial statements and a
26+review of the material included in the comprehensive annual financial report of
27+the state in accordance with government auditing standards.
28+c.Except for the audit of the department of financial institutions as outlined in
29+section 54-10-31, perform or provide for audits of state agencies in accordance
30+with government auditing standards and legislative audit and fiscal review
31+committee guidelines developed under section 54-35-02.10. Except for the
32+Page No. 1 25.0851.02002
33+ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO. 2251
34+FIRST ENGROSSMENT
35+PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO
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55+20 Sixty-ninth
56+Legislative Assembly
57+annual audit of the North Dakota lottery required by section 53-12.1-03, the state
58+auditor shall audit each state agency once every two to four years. Audits may be
59+conducted at more frequent intervals if requested by the governor or the
60+legislative audit and fiscal review committee. The state auditor shall charge an
61+amount equal to the cost of the audit and other services rendered by the state
62+auditor to all agencies that receive and expend moneys from other than the
63+general fund. This charge may be reduced for an agency that receives and
64+expends both general fund and nongeneral fund moneys. The charge for an audit
65+of an agricultural commodity group listed in section 4.1-44-04 must be six
66+thousand dollars for an annual financial statement audit or four thousand dollars
67+for a two-year single-page financial statement audit performed during the
68+biennium ending June 30, 2025, and may be increased by five percent on July
69+first of each odd-numbered year thereafter. State agencies shall use nongeneral
70+fund moneys to pay for the cost of the audit. If nongeneral fund moneys are not
71+available, the agency may, upon approval of the legislative assembly, or the
72+budget section if the legislative assembly is not in session, use general fund
73+moneys to pay for the audit. Any budget section action under this subdivision
74+must comply with section 54-35-02.9.
75+d.Except for the audit of the department of financial institutions as outlined in
76+section 54-10-31, perform or provide for performance audits of state agencies, or
77+the agencies' blended component units or discreetly presented component units,
78+as determined necessary by the legislative assembly, or the legislative audit and
79+fiscal review committee if the legislative assembly is not in session. When
80+determining the necessity of a performance audit, the legislative audit and fiscal
81+review committee shall consider:
82+(1)The potential cost-savings or efficiencies that may be gained as a result of
83+the performance audit;
84+(2)The staff resources of the state auditor's office and of the state agency
85+being audited which will be required to conduct the audit;
86+(3)The potential for discovery of noncompliance with state law or legislative
87+intent regarding the program or agency; and
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53121 (4)The potential for the performance audit to identify opportunities for program
54122 improvements.
55123 e.Report quarterly to the legislative audit and fiscal review committee regarding:
56-(1)Communication processes with audited entities and any changes to the processes;
57-(2)Billing practices and procedures, including the use of cost estimates for audits, an
58-itemized invoicing methodology, and a defined change order process for audits that
59-exceed the original estimate;
124+(1)Communication processes with audited entities and any changes to the
125+processes;
126+(2)Billing practices and procedures, including the use of cost estimates for
127+audits, an itemized invoicing methodology, and a defined change order
128+process for audits that exceed the original estimate;
60129 (3)Information on audits completed, including:
61130 (a)Name of the audited organization;
62131 (b)Organization type;
63132 (c)Audit type;
64133 (d)Audit period;
65134 (e)Estimated and actual hours and costs; and
66135 (f)Total audit cost and the total cost as a percentage of the audited
67136 organization's operating budget; and
68-(4)Audit schedules, including audits performed by private firms and audits performed
69-by the state auditor's office.
70-f.Report on the functions of the state auditor's office to the governor and the secretary of
71-state in accordance with section 54-06-04 or more often as circumstances may require.
72-g.Perform work on mineral royalties for the federal government in accordance with section
73-1735(a) of the Mineral Lands and Mining Act [30 U.S.C. 1735 et seq.].
137+(4)Audit schedules, including audits performed by private firms and audits
138+performed by the state auditor's office.
139+f.Report on the functions of the state auditor's office to the governor and the
140+secretary of state in accordance with section 54-06-04 or more often as
141+circumstances may require.
142+g.Perform work on mineral royalties for the federal government in accordance with
143+section 1735(a) of the Mineral Lands and Mining Act [30 U.S.C. 1735 et seq.].
74144 h.Report to the legislative audit and fiscal review committee regarding final report
75-distribution policies and practices and any final audit reports released to the public prior
76-to distribution of the final audit report to all individuals charged with the governance of the
77-audit client.
145+distribution policies and practices and any final audit reports released to the
146+public prior to distribution of the final audit report to all individuals charged with
147+the governance of the audit client.
78148 i.Perform all other duties as prescribed by law.
79149 2.The state auditor may:
80-a.Conduct any work required by the federal government and charge an amount equal to
81-the cost of the audit to be paid by the audited federal funds of the appropriate
82-government agency and deposited into the general fund.
83-b.Within the resources available to the state auditor, perform or provide for performance
84-audits of state agencies as determined necessary by the state auditor. S. B. NO. 2251 - PAGE 3
85-c.Audit the International Peace Garden at the request of the board of directors of the
86-International Peace Garden.
87-d.Contract with a private certified public accountant or other qualified professional to
88-conduct or assist with an audit, review, or other work the state auditor is authorized to
89-perform or provide for under this section. Before entering any contract, the state auditor
90-shall present information to the legislative audit and fiscal review committee on the need
91-for the contract and its estimated cost and duration. Except for performance audits
92-conducted under subdivision d of subsection 1 or subdivision b of this subsection and
93-except for audits of occupational or professional boards, the state auditor shall execute
94-the contract and any executive branch agency, including higher education institutions,
95-shall pay the fees of the contractor. For performance audits conducted under
96-subdivision d of subsection 1 or subdivision b of this subsection, the state auditor may
97-charge a state agency for the cost of a contract relating to an audit, subject to approval
98-by the legislative assembly or the legislative audit and fiscal review committee if the
99-legislative assembly is not in session. When considering a request, the legislative audit
100-and fiscal review committee shall consider the effect of the audit cost on the agency
101-being audited, the necessity of the contract, and the potential benefit to the state
102-resulting from the contract. The state auditor shall notify the affected agency of the
103-potential cost before requesting approval from the legislative assembly or the legislative
104-audit and fiscal review committee.
105-3.Notwithstanding subdivision c of subsection 1 and subdivision d of subsection 2, the state
106-auditor may not charge audit fees to an institution of higher education, agency, or office under
107-the control of the state board of higher education, including passthrough grants, except for a
108-proportional share of audit fees on federal programs or grants to the extent those audited
109-federal programs or grants provide for allowable cost recovery. Institutions without an
110-approved indirect cost recovery fund may not be assessed audit fees on closed federal
111-programs.
112-SECTION 2. AMENDMENT. Subsection 5 of section 54-10-14 of the North Dakota Century Code is
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181+a.Conduct any work required by the federal government and charge an amount
182+equal to the cost of the audit to be paid by the audited federal funds of the
183+appropriate government agency and deposited into the general fund .
184+b.Within the resources available to the state auditor, perform or provide for
185+performance audits of state agencies as determined necessary by the state
186+auditor.
187+c.Audit the International Peace Garden at the request of the board of directors of
188+the International Peace Garden.
189+d.Contract with a private certified public accountant or other qualified professional
190+to conduct or assist with an audit, review, or other work the state auditor is
191+authorized to perform or provide for under this section. Before entering any
192+contract, the state auditor shall present information to the legislative audit and
193+fiscal review committee on the need for the contract and its estimated cost and
194+duration. Except for performance audits conducted under subdivision d of
195+subsection 1 or subdivision b of this subsection and except for audits of
196+occupational or professional boards, the state auditor shall execute the contract
197+and any executive branch agency, including higher education institutions, shall
198+pay the fees of the contractor. For performance audits conducted under
199+subdivision d of subsection 1 or subdivision b of this subsection, the state auditor
200+may charge a state agency for the cost of a contract relating to an audit, subject
201+to approval by the legislative assembly or the legislative audit and fiscal review
202+committee if the legislative assembly is not in session. When considering a
203+request, the legislative audit and fiscal review committee shall consider the effect
204+of the audit cost on the agency being audited, the necessity of the contract, and
205+the potential benefit to the state resulting from the contract. The state auditor
206+shall notify the affected agency of the potential cost before requesting approval
207+from the legislative assembly or the legislative audit and fiscal review committee.
208+3.Notwithstanding subdivision c of subsection 1 and subdivision d of subsection 2, the
209+state auditor may not charge audit fees to an institution of higher education, agency, or
210+office under the control of the state board of higher education, including passthrough
211+grants, except for a proportional share of audit fees on federal programs or grants to
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245+the extent those audited federal programs or grants provide for allowable cost
246+recovery. Institutions without an approved indirect cost recovery fund may not be
247+assessed audit fees on closed federal programs.
248+SECTION 2. AMENDMENT. Subsection 5 of section 54-10-14 of the North Dakota Century
249+Code is amended and reenacted as follows:
250+5.A political subdivision may not pay a public accountant for an audit until the state
251+auditor has accepted the audit. However, a political subdivision may make progress
252+payments to the public accountant. A political subdivision shall retain twentyfive
253+percent of any progress payment until the audit report is accepted by the state auditor.
254+SECTION 3. AMENDMENT. Section 54-10-22 of the North Dakota Century Code is
113255 amended and reenacted as follows:
114-5.A political subdivision may not pay a public accountant for an audit until the state auditor has
115-accepted the audit. However, a political subdivision may make progress payments to the
116-public accountant. A political subdivision shall retain twentyfive percent of any progress
117-payment until the audit report is accepted by the state auditor.
118-SECTION 3. AMENDMENT. Section 54-10-22 of the North Dakota Century Code is amended and
119-reenacted as follows:
120-54-10-22. Public officers to aid state auditor - Auditor's authority on investigation - Referral
121-of open records request.
122-1.The officers and employees of all departments, institutions, boards, commissions, and political
123-subdivisions, subject to examination by the state auditor, shall afford all reasonable facilities
124-for the investigation provided for in this title and shall make returns and exhibits to the auditor
125-under oath in sucha form and in such manner as the auditor may prescribe.
126-2.The auditor shall have full power and authority to audit any books, papers, accounts, bills,
127-vouchers, and other documents or property of any and all departments, boards, commissions,
128-political subdivisions, and financial institutions subject to the auditor's audit. The auditor shall
129-have authority to audit under oath any or all trustees, managers, officers, employees, or
130-agents of any such departments, boards, commissions, or political subdivisions. When
131-necessary, the auditor shall employ stenographers or clerical help, the expense incurred to be
132-collected by the auditor from the respective department, institution, board, commission, or
133-political subdivision. S. B. NO. 2251 - PAGE 4
134-3.If the auditor receives a request for access to or inspection of information submitted to the
135-auditor by a department, institution, board, commission, or political subdivision, the auditor
136-shall refer the request to the submitting department, institution, board, commission, or political
137-subdivision for response. The referral of a request under this subsection satisfies the
138-responsibility of the auditor to respond to a request for public records under chapter 44-04.
139-SECTION 4. AMENDMENT. Section 54-10-27 of the North Dakota Century Code is amended and
140-reenacted as follows:
256+54-10-22. Public officers to aid state auditor - Auditor's authority on investigation -
257+Referral of open records request.
258+1. The officers and employees of all departments, institutions, boards, commissions, and
259+political subdivisions, subject to examination by the state auditor, shall afford all
260+reasonable facilities for the investigation provided for in this title and shall make
261+returns and exhibits to the auditor under oath in sucha form and in such manner as the
262+auditor may prescribe.
263+ 2. The auditor shall have full power and authority to audit any books, papers, accounts,
264+bills, vouchers, and other documents or property of any and all departments, boards,
265+commissions, political subdivisions, and financial institutions subject to the auditor's
266+audit. The auditor shall have authority to audit under oath any or all trustees,
267+managers, officers, employees, or agents of any such departments, boards,
268+commissions, or political subdivisions. When necessary, the auditor shall employ
269+stenographers or clerical help, the expense incurred to be collected by the auditor
270+from the respective department, institution, board, commission, or political subdivision.
271+ 3. If the auditor receives a request for access to or inspection of information submitted to
272+the auditor by a department, institution, board, commission, or political subdivision, the
273+auditor shall refer the request to the submitting department, institution, board,
274+commission, or political subdivision for response. The referral of a request under this
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307+subsection satisfies the responsibility of the auditor to respond to a request for public
308+records under chapter 44-04.
309+SECTION 4. AMENDMENT. Section 54-10-27 of the North Dakota Century Code is
310+amended and reenacted as follows:
141311 54-10-27. Occupational and professional boards - Audits and reports.
142-The governing board of any occupational or professional board shall provide for an audit once
143-every two years by a certified public accountant or licensed public accountant. The accountant
144-conducting the audit shall submit the audit report to the state auditor's office. If the report is in the form
145-and style prescribed by the state auditor, the state auditor may not audit that board. An occupational or
146-professional board may request the state auditor to conduct its audit, and if the state auditor agrees to
147-conduct the audit, the state auditor shall deposit the fees charged to the occupational or professional
148-board into the state auditor operating account. Instead of providing for an audit every two years, an
149-occupational or professional board that has less than two hundred thousandtwo million dollars of annual
150-receipts may submit an annual report to the state auditor. The report must contain the information
151-required by the state auditor. The state auditor also may make any additional examination or audit
152-determined necessary in addition to the annual report. When a report is not filed, the state auditor may
153-charge the occupational or professional board an amount equal to the fair value of the additional
154-examination or audit and any other services rendered. The state auditor may charge an occupational or
155-professional board a fee not to exceed ninety dollars an hour for the costs of reviewing the annual
156-report. S. B. NO. 2251 - PAGE 5
157-____________________________ ____________________________
158-President of the Senate Speaker of the House
159-____________________________ ____________________________
160-Secretary of the Senate Chief Clerk of the House
161-This certifies that the within bill originated in the Senate of the Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North
162-Dakota and is known on the records of that body as Senate Bill No. 2251.
163-Senate Vote:Yeas 46 Nays 0 Absent 1
164-House Vote: Yeas 90 Nays 0 Absent 4
165-____________________________
166-Secretary of the Senate
167-Received by the Governor at ________M. on _____________________________________, 2025.
168-Approved at ________M. on __________________________________________________, 2025.
169-____________________________
170-Governor
171-Filed in this office this ___________day of _______________________________________, 2025,
172-at ________ o’clock ________M.
173-____________________________
174-Secretary of State
312+The governing board of any occupational or professional board shall provide for an audit
313+once every two years by a certified public accountant or licensed public accountant. The
314+accountant conducting the audit shall submit the audit report to the state auditor's office. If the
315+report is in the form and style prescribed by the state auditor, the state auditor may not audit
316+that board. An occupational or professional board may request the state auditor to conduct its
317+audit, and if the state auditor agrees to conduct the audit, the state auditor shall deposit the fees
318+charged to the occupational or professional board into the state auditor operating account.
319+Instead of providing for an audit every two years, an occupational or professional board that has
320+less than two hundred thousandtwo million dollars of annual receipts may submit an annual
321+report to the state auditor. The report must contain the information required by the state auditor.
322+The state auditor also may make any additional examination or audit determined necessary in
323+addition to the annual report. When a report is not filed, the state auditor may charge the
324+occupational or professional board an amount equal to the fair value of the additional
325+examination or audit and any other services rendered. The state auditor may charge an
326+occupational or professional board a fee not to exceed ninety dollars an hour for the costs of
327+reviewing the annual report.
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