[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6343416,"mediaKeyId","2252345-51d5dc22d5854dd5d71b620c8ebf80bf","parentId",2252345,"title","Senate committee advances bill to let Life Skills and Transition Center serve some non‑DD eligible youth","audioSeconds",1562,"startMs",1269000,"endMs",2831000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2252345-51d5dc22d5854dd5d71b620c8ebf80bf&start=1269&end=2831","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2252345-51d5dc22d5854dd5d71b620c8ebf80bf/thumbnail_1269000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6343416/North-Dakota/Senate-committee-advances-bill-to-let-Life-Skills-and-Transition-Center-serve-some-nonDD-eligible-youth","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6343416-403861589d73121f52c45ce9766f1c6f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775395632&Signature=M~0r1LrKpVn30ZTzEa1bbR6iAjI1~XnNvJbOIU5xgZWeksdn36rQKKJe6JNNb3WMB0HpeefiaHEEkAGSZJKr--V9uuqjlitR46VM9S2itprEZILrqSgNvQUQTtCuCSkT0EAZ9PRpWnLd8dNMkWqYF1aH4X0kky6kxrqo8jmdlPfPnnlxE2HV4yQmx66BnbRlsL2lM7boUUU7I6L6UsjHVeQQOjBYMRKkZN99ebOcqNUutILD91pSHJYJdJPHEl0eZoFsZ4Q5reUuQnScLzVkvTC5vZred6tRIi6WUzrrCHSuEGQ34WALIAOaZkFBORU7Za-c6BNrYC~VDp4tqDJ3fQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Appropriations - Human Resources Division","date","2025-02-06T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday voted to advance Senate Bill 2112, a policy change that would allow the Life Skills and Transition Center (LSTC) to serve individuals who are not formally determined DD eligible but who otherwise meet admission criteria for a short-term stabilization stay.

Jessica Thomason, executive director for the Human Services Division at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), told the committee the department proposed the change to fill a gap for certain youth — often late adolescents who have not been well served by other settings — and to allow LSTC to provide short-term stabilization while teams find a more suitable long-term placement.

Thomason said the fiscal note assumes a conservative estimate: one youth per biennium for up to 180 days and that the entire incremental cost would be general fund, producing a fiscal impact roughly in the $87,000 range. She said the department chose a conservative assumption because funding sources for individual cases might vary, including Medicaid or other HHS budget sources.

Committee members pressed for safeguards to avoid recreating institutional, long‑term placements for youth. Thomason and other HHS staff emphasized that the intent is stabilization and transition, not permanent placement, and described work to expand family-based options such as host homes and therapeutic foster care as next steps for youth who need longer-term placement.

Senator Mather asked whether the center’s services would resemble institutional care; department staff said LSTC uses a crisis‑stabilization approach and that the proposed change is aimed at rare cases where other community options have been exhausted. Senator Cleary and others expressed concern about signaling a long-term policy shift away from community-based supports.

Senator Davison moved to advance the bill; the motion passed on a roll call with Senators Davidson (aye), Deaver (aye) and Magrum (yes) voting in favor and Senators Clary and Mather (no) voting against. The committee recorded differing views but concluded the bill should move to the House for further policy consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Appropriations - Human Resources Division Feb 6, 2025\t","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday approved a due-pass recommendation for Senate Bill 2112, which would let the Life Skills and Transition Center provide short-term stabilization to some people who are not formally DD eligible.","taxTitle","Appropriations - Human Resources Division, Senate, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28901,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6343407,"Committee debates Veterans Affairs budget request, questions commissioner pay and service-dog funding",809,4441000,5250000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2252345-51d5dc22d5854dd5d71b620c8ebf80bf&start=4441&end=5250","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2252345-51d5dc22d5854dd5d71b620c8ebf80bf/thumbnail_4441000.jpg","/articles/6343407/North-Dakota/Committee-debates-Veterans-Affairs-budget-request-questions-commissioner-pay-and-service-dog-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6343407-64cc2a3b9ba4ff130bb3af10836f02f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775395632&Signature=OuglTKKFtudJoTmbNopmDFTLaWX4ah7vZTHhi25TXw-cRAI7ODLDseWMc9-d6YitMdy77zGOO5iwdEGRZh~WA~2ltWkefOmagw3A5zz9ZeFHffZhMiYCF0XRFfqPjP~ZcVYK1Hu7aCw47nAq9xEuwkrd3O04MCRGmCBL9ovVSbkOkuH9iLaUJO87eoTWFx~gqtyjmUdpWJft-zSac8hEQoZhOTUSAPi81b9iNgGA3JYQisArq52~O1yaeInmhX~X6Y6DExdhJ4kBGXZCN1NZIMhbQASPBGQY9dYWmf1UfX~kuIj~GtLDise6kbq17-6wzmwZuuSHZUaSKnZ--1FnkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Appropriations Committee spent time reviewing the Department of Veterans Affairs budget and raised questions about a commissioner salary increase the department implemented outside the current appropriation.

Legislative staff told the committee the Senate long sheet currently includes salary adjustments, health insurance increases and IT rate changes but has not added a requested new FTE the department sought. Committee members asked about service-dog funding; staff reported the department carried over $75,000 into the 2023–25 biennium and had spent $12,500 of that amount as of March 2024. Senators said they would ask for a current accounting before adding new dollars.

Multiple senators criticized the department for granting a salary increase to the commissioner without prior legislative approval. Some members argued the board had consulted with the attorney general and other offices and believed they had authority, while others said the department should not have increased pay without legislative appropriation and that any deficiency should be handled through regular budget processes.

Senators signaled differing views about whether to include the salary increase in the Senate budget; one senator suggested starting at zero in the Senate bill to preserve bargaining room for conference negotiations. The committee did not take final action on adding the commissioner’s pay but agreed to seek more information, budgeting options and legal guidance before the next committee meeting.","Senators questioned the Department of Veterans Affairs’ budget requests on Monday, focusing on a commissioner pay increase implemented by the department and outstanding service-dog funding.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6343411,"Appropriations panel approves amended veterans home appropriation, removes monthly stipend for former administrator",707,3607000,4314000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2252345-51d5dc22d5854dd5d71b620c8ebf80bf&start=3607&end=4314","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2252345-51d5dc22d5854dd5d71b620c8ebf80bf/thumbnail_3607000.jpg","/articles/6343411/North-Dakota/Appropriations-panel-approves-amended-veterans-home-appropriation-removes-monthly-stipend-for-former-administrator","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6343411-e4b506c4f57e1961be22ec1e458087ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1775395632&Signature=HqEDASF-aVYI0FWx24Co8XdNl38uOA9R3ZsFipK8jC69P9O-bcOqkr3LXcleezaSst50ZfnFxQI~XBrgeRUWoJZ~y0xApXjB7jj73MHT7RG7DR2pvw-aOOAgoi3QREXRrheztmxkOFQ--F4rXlNU6ws2~ghQ5IBBGKJsmp6b8H3ynmK~md2StI77Fv-kOx~Kr8j5lzJO7jO3oDwaCVuol3UDjDA91w8yzQuh~u8KPPb-eOO-HIDt2lZEroJDQxX3WYJw9elYHHsYA5zRNSBVLLmwt~PhcQq8uqVBCx25r9TspjHh6gWWiEkQUBxbBnA8iyH9dUkzoq6uZmRdmnmtNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday amended and approved Senate Bill 2007, the veterans home appropriation, adopting multiple footnotes that reallocate and add funding for staff pay, overtime, information technology and building maintenance while removing a $2,000 monthly housing stipend for a prior administrator.

Committee members said the amendment preserves base payroll changes, adds funding for health insurance increases, and creates an FTE pool. Specific additions included funding labeled for nursing salary equity, $275,000 noted for nursing salary increases, $200,000 for nursing overtime, and $15,000 to reclassify one licensed practical nurse FTE to a registered nurse FTE. The amendment also added one‑time funding for equipment replacement, a water heater and building repairs, and authorized use of the Melvin Nordgaard Memorial Fund for residential garages and storage units.

Senator Cleary and others raised concerns about retention and competitiveness for nurses and certified nursing assistants (CNAs), urging consideration of classification flexibility so the veterans home can offer market-competitive pay. Committee staff described a request to upgrade software licensing to premium Office 365 to improve scheduling and productivity; members said that change explains movement of IT funding between lines.

The committee removed language authorizing a $2,000 monthly housing stipend previously paid to a former administrator; members said the new administrator did not receive that stipend. The committee adopted the amendment by voice vote and then approved a due-pass recommendation for the bill as amended.

Senators Clary, Davison, Deaver, Magrum and Matherne recorded affirmative votes on the due-pass motion during the clerk’s roll call. Senator Matherne signaled willingness to carry the bill to the full committee.","The Senate Appropriations Committee approved amendments and a due-pass recommendation for Senate Bill 2007, the veterans home appropriation. Changes include funding for nursing salary equity, overtime, IT licensing, equipment replacement and removal of a previously authorized $2,000 monthly housing stipend for a prior administrator.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6343421,"Senate committee amends DEQ budget to add petro-tank fund spending, chemist positions",308,460000,768000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2252345-51d5dc22d5854dd5d71b620c8ebf80bf&start=460&end=768","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2252345-51d5dc22d5854dd5d71b620c8ebf80bf/thumbnail_460000.jpg","/articles/6343421/North-Dakota/Senate-committee-amends-DEQ-budget-to-add-petro-tank-fund-spending-chemist-positions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6343421-c38e950d0a9ca7274c0f845c3d8b20c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775395632&Signature=l0J5ZIRSxbfQwTvRMAkjlq7MBFr1otCRtNpfRNAHJKtJ6l2BVuesrxOSXPAWbmI2b7evAPB06iq11jwK-ux~VtBJW~N5Wb3GA0j01L4lmxrPOtqZyuI8ulHmlRT5Vu96U2B7odvi8NmCsXRiJjxjaZT3phFjL14fLFG8yTcctP~eUzs9vfPpl73O9Ii12Z4jgMImS65U2V6Vy9Lr5DbQZqiqw0iDF11S-t5od6AcwUgjqui7CkKpZXMjkkd6H57Is1zKpvcV~R0pIoIyiiXzW6Bhfyc6vKu7xmCZhoWxwoBPkqzdC~g86uZs7rRTPzU813-AJVOYHMMuZVydeWu3fg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday approved amendments to Senate Bill 2024 that add one-time and ongoing spending tied to the Petroleum Tank Release Compensation Fund and two new chemist positions for the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The committee then gave the amended bill a due-pass recommendation to the floor.

The amendment, offered by Senator Davison and adopted by voice vote, incorporates language from Senate Bill 2179 into the DEQ appropriation. Committee discussion and fiscal notes show one-time capital for a new chemistry lab, funding for testing equipment tied to an emerging contaminants program (PFAS), and costs associated with the state fuel inspection program.

Committee members said the changes were intended to place a chemist position related to the state fuel inspection program and another chemist tied to the governor’s emerging contaminants initiative into the DEQ budget. The amendment also authorizes spending roughly $1,827,000 from the Petroleum Tank Release Compensation Fund for petroleum tank program expenses, including a $700,000 one-time database operating expense and capital asset purchases tied to fuel inspection testing.

Chairman Deaver and Senator Davison described the approach as consolidating previously approved provisions so equipment and personnel associated with SB 2179 appear in the DEQ budget. Senator Maggill asked for clarification about why line items in section 5 reflected $1,800,000; staff said those amounts came from the fiscal note for SB 2179 and were rolled into the current bill.

The committee adopted the amendment and then approved a due-pass recommendation for Senate Bill 2024 as amended. The roll call on the due-pass recommendation recorded Senators Clary, Davison, Deaver, Magrum and Matherne as voting in the affirmative.

The amended bill will move to the full Senate floor for further consideration.","The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to amend and give a due-pass recommendation to Senate Bill 2024, folding provisions from Senate Bill 2179 into the Department of Environmental Quality budget to fund petroleum tank program work, equipment and two chemist positions tied to PFAS and fuel inspection testing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee advances bill to let Life Skills and Transition Center serve some non‑DD eligible youth

Committee debates Veterans Affairs budget request, questions commissioner pay and service-dog funding

Appropriations panel approves amended veterans home appropriation, removes monthly stipend for former administrator

Senate committee amends DEQ budget to add petro-tank fund spending, chemist positions