Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
As we move into the second week of the 66th Legislative Session, we are starting to see more bills on the House Floor as committees have completed their work on some of the smaller ones.
Besides hearing bills, the committees we serve on are having overviews of various departments. The Human Service Committee had extensive reviews of the operations of the Department of Human Services and the Department of Health.
The Energy and Natural Resources Committee had overviews of the Oil and Gas Division, the ND Pipeline Authority as well as the Game and Fish Department, the Empower ND Commission, the Environmental Health Section as well a BCI weapon overview.Appropriations Committee has been extensively busy with various overviews. The Government Operations Division had an overview of the Department of Financial Institutions, the Department of Trust Lands, the Aeronautics Commission, the Department of Transportation, the Highway Patrol, the Industrial Commission, the Racing Commission and the Informational Technology Department.
There are many bills being heard in committee and on the House Floor that have very positive implications for our District. HB 1034 will allow the Department of Human Services to establish guidelines to allow long-term care providers to deliver home and community-based services to allow individuals to remain in their homes and communities. About half of the people that go into nursing homes in our state are discharged again. By having the expertise available locally to help those people stay in their homes, it will often allow them to stay in their home communities, where they want to be living. The new service will compliment others that provide similar services. The House Human Service Committee gave the bill a 11-0 to pass recommendation and the full house passed it 88-1. It now goes to the Senate for their consideration.
The House also passed HB 1058, with a 92-0 vote on Tuesday. The bill will make it legal to leave a car idling while no one is in the vehicle. The present law has been on the books for 75 years and was originally put in place as a deterrent against automobile theft. In today's world, where North Dakotans routinely warm up their vehicles, the old law is unneeded. Rep. Vigesaa was one of the bill's sponsors. The legislation now moves onto the Senate for their consideration.
The House also passed HB 1039 which will raise the age of criminal culpability of a juvenile from age 7 to 10. Children under that age would be referred to social services rather than the juvenile court system. Those supporting the bill said that raising the age would open avenues for more children to deal with underlying family issues.
Legislators also reduced the projected revenue figures they will use to set the budget for the upcoming biennium. Legislative leaders are less optimistic on the oil and gas revenues than the Governor was when he set his budget. They took the action based on oil prices this week and the projections for oil production in the state. If that changes in any way the legislature still will have time to make changes after the March forecasts.
The financial future of the state remains a deep concern to all of us as we work through the legislative process. Even though there has been an uptick in oil prices there is no doubt we are going to be feeling the negative effects of the depressed farm commodity prices and oil prices for years to come.
We enjoyed having members of the Rural Leadership North Dakota delegation in Bismarck this week. Several people from our District have gone through the 18 months dynamic leadership development program over the years. We wish to congratulate Stephanie Goeller Johnson of Luverne, who is participating in the program at the present time.
District 23 residents who still wish to contact us with legislative ideas or comments on what is being discussed or proposed can email us at: [email protected] and [email protected]. Mail can be sent to us in Bismarck; c/o North Dakota House of Representatives, State Capital, 600 East Boulevard, Bismarck, ND 58505.
During the session constituents that wish to leave a message for us may call (888) 635-3447.
