Title 54 — State Government

Every witness at a hearing of an investigating committee may be accompanied by counsel of the witness's own choosing, who may advise the witness as to the witness's rights, subject to reasonable limitations which the committee may prescribe to prevent obstruction of or interferen…

1. An investigating committee shall cause a record to be made of all proceedings in which testimony or other evidence is demanded or adduced, which record must include rulings of the chair, questions of the committee and its staff, the testimony or responses of witnesses, sworn w…

Any person whose name is mentioned or who is otherwise identified during a hearing of an investigating committee and who, in the opinion of the committee, may be adversely affected thereby, may, upon that person's request or upon the request of any member of the committee, appear…

1. A person is in contempt if that person: a. Fails or refuses to appear in compliance with a subpoena or, having appeared, fails or refuses to testify under oath or affirmation; b. Fails or refuses to answer any relevant question or fails or refuses to furnish any relevant book,…

A person guilty of contempt under section 54-03.2-14 is guilty of a class B misdemeanor, or if tried to the legislative assembly, or an appropriate house thereof, the legislative assembly or the appropriate house may impose such punishment as it deems appropriate, in the exercise…

Nothing contained in this code may be construed to limit or prohibit the acquisition of evidence or information by an investigating committee by any lawful means not provided for herein.

The state of North Dakota enacts, adopts, and agrees to be bound by the Compact for a Balanced Budget with all other jurisdictions legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows: ARTICLE I - DECLARATION OF POLICY, PURPOSE, AND INTENT Whereas, every state enacting, a…

It is hereby declared to be the intent of the legislative assembly to require that lobbyists register as such before engaging in lobbying activity and to require certain reporting procedures by lobbyists.

1. This chapter applies to any person who, in any manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, performs any of the following activities: a. Attempts to secure the passage, amendment, or defeat of any legislation by the legislative assembly or the approval or veto of any legislation…

1. When any lobbyist invites a legislator to attend a function sponsored in whole or in part by the lobbyist or the principal, the lobbyist shall, upon the request of the legislator, supply the legislator with the true or estimated cost of the gratuity and allow the legislator to…

In addition to the violation of any other provision of this chapter, it is unlawful for any lobbyist or for any other person: 1. To directly or indirectly give or agree to give any money, property, or valuable thing, or any security therefor, to any person for that person's servi…

Any person who violates any provisions of this chapter is guilty of a class B misdemeanor except that a violation of section 54-05.1-02 or 54-05.1-03 is an infraction. Whether a person is subjected to criminal prosecution under this section, and in addition to the registration fe…

As used in this chapter, unless the context or subject matter requires otherwise: 1. "Commission" means the industrial commission acting as the North Dakota building authority created under this chapter. 2. "Evidences of indebtedness" means bonds, notes, debentures, and other evi…

The commission is a North Dakota instrumentality empowered, subject to legislative authorization, to issue evidences of indebtedness to make funds available for a project or projects as directed by the legislative assembly.

The commission may issue evidences of indebtedness subject to the condition that payments under financing agreements shall begin no earlier than the first business day of the biennium following the biennium of issuance. Although the authority to issue evidences of indebtedness fo…

The moneys received by the industrial commission from the sale of evidences of indebtedness and moneys received by the industrial commission or the state agencies and institutions from revenue generated by projects authorized by the legislative assembly, are hereby appropriated a…

Except as otherwise limited by this chapter, the commission may: 1. Enter into agreements, including financing agreements, with respect to its projects, operation, properties, and facilities, subject to agreements with holders of evidences of indebtedness. 2. Sue and be sued. 3. …

The public purpose of the commission is to promote the general welfare of the citizens of this state by providing financing for projects for use primarily by the state.

The state may transfer jurisdiction of or title to any property under its control to the commission. All state agencies may render any and all services to the commission as are within the area of their respective governmental functions and as may be required by the commission, in…

Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, the state may lease any project or other property to the commission, in lieu of a transfer of title, and the commission may sublease or leaseback any such project or property back to the state in connection with any financing b…

A financing agreement must provide that the state may, at the expiration of the original or any extended term, purchase the project at a stated price, which must be the balance of the total project cost not amortized by the payments previously made by the state. The financing agr…

A financing agreement may provide that the state shall provide insurance or, as additional payment under a financing agreement, pay the cost of insuring the project against loss or damage in such sum agreed to by the parties. The financing agreement may also provide for payment o…

Payments under a financing agreement for a project must be sufficient at all times to pay any maintenance and operation costs for the project, unless the maintenance and operation costs are otherwise provided for under the financing agreement, the principal of and interest on any…

All property owned by the commission is exempt from taxation. 54-17.2-13. Resolutions for evidences of indebtedness authorized - Maximum amount outstanding - Legislative approval required. The commission may at any time provide by resolution for the issuance of evidences of indeb…

In any resolution of the commission relating to the issuance of any evidence of indebtedness, the commission may provide by covenants with the holders of the evidences of indebtedness, to: 1. Secure the evidences of indebtedness. 2. Covenant against pledging all or any part of it…

Evidences of indebtedness must be executed by a member or members of the commission as designated by the commission, or by facsimile signature and the manual signature of a designated authenticating agent. Any evidences of indebtedness bearing the signature of members in office a…

Evidences of indebtedness must state upon their face that they are payable solely from moneys derived by the commission as provided in this chapter. Evidences of indebtedness must state upon their face that they do not constitute an obligation of the state within the meaning of a…

The proceeds of and any revenue derived from the sale of evidences of indebtedness, charges, fees, or rentals, and all other revenue derived from any project undertaken pursuant to this chapter must be held in trust for the purposes of this chapter, in a special fund known as the…

Repealed by S.L. 1993, ch. 38, § 19.

The general fund amount of lease payments for a biennium associated with capital construction projects financed by the industrial commission acting as the state building authority may not exceed the amount equal to a portion of sales, use, and motor vehicle excise tax collections…

As used in sections 54-17.3-01 through 54-17.3-08, unless the context otherwise requires: 1. "Commission" means the North Dakota industrial commission. 2. "Paleontological resource" means any significant remains, trace, or imprint of a plant or animal that has been preserved by n…

The commission, acting through the office of the state geologist, has jurisdiction and authority to enforce the provisions of sections 54-17.3-01 through 54-17.3-08. The commission has authority to make such investigations as it deems proper to determine whether facts exist which…

A permit must be obtained by any person, organization, institution, or company engaged on one's own behalf or on behalf of another to: 1. Identify or evaluate paleontological resources to satisfy state or federal requirements; or 2. Investigate, excavate, collect, or otherwise re…

A permit issued under sections 54-17.3-01 through 54-17.3-08 expires on December thirty-first of the year in which it is issued. A permit may be extended upon written request to the state geologist before expiration of the permit and upon payment to the state geologist of the fee…

The state geologist shall notify the director of the state historical society of all quaternary paleontological finds reported to the state geologist which potentially or actually contain cultural resources. The treatment of sites containing both paleontological remains and cultu…

Any paleontological resource found or located upon any land owned by the state or its political subdivisions may not be destroyed, defaced, altered, removed, or otherwise disposed of in any manner without approval of the state geologist. The state geologist shall determine the si…

The state geologist may exchange with or transfer to universities, colleges, governmental bodies, and scientific institutions duplicate paleontological resources it holds. The state historical society must receive preference for the receipt of duplicate paleontological resources.

Any person violating any provision of sections 54-17.3-01 through 54-17.3-08 is guilty of a class B misdemeanor and shall forfeit to the state all paleontological specimens discovered by the violator at that site. Any such violation is considered to have been committed in the cou…

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: 1. "Commission" means the North Dakota industrial commission. 2. "State geologist" means the North Dakota state geologist. 3. "Survey" means the North Dakota geological survey, a division of the department of mineral…

There is created a North Dakota geological survey. The survey has the following responsibilities: 1. Serve as the primary source of geological information in the state. 2. Investigate, describe, and interpret the geological setting of the state with special reference to the econo…

The survey is under the direction and control of the commission.

The commission shall decide the location of the survey. However, the survey shall maintain a core and sample library at the university of North Dakota with associated core receiving, processing, and analytical equipment. The survey, in cooperation with the university of North Dak…

There is created the position of state geologist. 1. The state geologist's qualifications must include a doctor of philosophy degree in geology from an accredited university or college or equivalent geological experience, demonstrated competency in administration, and five years …

The state geologist is the head of the survey and shall exercise the powers of the office and be responsible for the execution of its duties.

The state geologist, with the approval of the director of mineral resources, may accept and expend money from and enter into contracts with federal, state, local, or other public entities to carry out the purposes of this chapter or to provide geological services. If such funds e…

The state geologist shall cause proper specimens, skillfully prepared, secured, and labeled, of rocks, minerals, ores, coals, fossils, and other earth materials discovered or examined in the course of the geological surveys to be preserved for public inspection free of cost. The …

A special fund known as the fossil excavation and restoration fund must be maintained in the state treasury. Funds received by the geological survey for participation in a public fossil dig, fossil excavation, fossil restoration, and fossil exhibit must be deposited in the fund. …

The state geologist is authorized to purchase cartographic products from the federal government for the purpose of reselling the products to the public at a fee set by the state geologist. All moneys collected from the sale of the products must be deposited in the cartographic pr…

The board of higher education and the survey shall develop a cooperative agreement for the sharing of books, equipment, and other physical resources.

Repealed by S.L. 2021, ch. 402, § 2.