[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6090958,"mediaKeyId","2865624-46b3a648381b087799c4a6fcad354fd8","parentId",2865624,"title","Appropriations committee hears request to raise adult residential facility rates, refers bill for further review","audioSeconds",1231,"startMs",615000,"endMs",1846000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2865624-46b3a648381b087799c4a6fcad354fd8&start=615&end=1846","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2865624-46b3a648381b087799c4a6fcad354fd8/thumbnail_615000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6090958/North-Dakota/Appropriations-committee-hears-request-to-raise-adult-residential-facility-rates-refers-bill-for-further-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6090958-dfc388cc1785090be225ff94223f7974/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188947&Signature=jlK7fnkjuwnLHuw2pszgiUUviRBaF5ihbDejDC4-JrrF5F1Dpt4qmvXhSCL2qPiNEZ3oKSNVozhgsiajb86GCY5NuHayBjDu0UiGTOIoMR~jWV5vzknm41C~hY0FPra2ePwJP5vMlcltVhPWDGUASATdO4gipiE7FKsMJaEOhC9zayThYT2mu~a-bZhcEs1TScIsXDtg3k~wbl01Hvs3tyTfgGGnQg6JCGqUERBeYXZYnyeL0kGPQN3KV0AK4azzlmy6bkwY2J9JifojbQjxSfd6d9MnQUIQH7RyYRMPPaGIU2dZTuJmuoNcDjIUC4Gl2B3jOR7JJyE68XtyZoyENQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota Legislature","date","2025-04-03T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 2271, presented to the House Appropriations Committee by Representative Matt Ruby (R–District 40), would reclassify and rebase reimbursement for adult residential facilities—formerly called specialized basic care—and increase the reimbursement rate used to pay those providers. Ruby told the committee the proposal includes a roughly $1.7 million appropriation in the next biennium to adjust rates for that provider group.

The bill matters because adult residential facilities serve people with dementia and those with acquired brain injury who otherwise may qualify for skilled nursing care. Representative Ruby said the current adult residential reimbursement is $29,333 per year while “skilled care is a hundred and 30 5 thousand 6 hundred and 80, 686 a year,” and that raising the adult residential rate is intended to help keep those lower‑acuity options open and reduce bottlenecks at higher‑cost skilled nursing facilities.

Committee members asked technical, budget and capacity questions. Representative Murphy asked whether the $1,709,000 figure was a department administration or rate‑increase number; Ruby said the appropriation is to increase rates to reflect cost of care, and staff said they did not develop the bill and did not supply the funding formula. Representative Murphy and others asked how many residents would be affected; Ruby said there are 224 participants currently in adult residential care. Sarah Aker, executive director of the Division of Medical Services at North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, told the committee that adult residential memory care is typically separate from nursing facility services, though some providers are co‑located or operated by the same provider.

Department staff and several representatives emphasized statutory distinctions: adult residential services are delivered under an HCBS waiver while basic care (often called personal care under the state plan) uses a different reimbursement construct. Aker said the adult residential service does receive routine inflation adjustments but has not been rebased recently; the bill would rebase the adult residential rate within that payment formula rather than merge it into the basic care formula.

The committee did not vote on the measure. Members asked the committee human resources section to perform a deeper review of the appropriation and rate methodology and to return to the committee as early as Monday for further action.

Outlook: Staff will analyze the bill’s cost model, capacity assumptions and whether the appropriation covers initial rebasing or must be supplemented if enrollment grows.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations Apr 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 2271 would rebase reimbursement for adult residential facilities that serve residents with dementia or acquired brain injury, and includes an initial appropriation of about $1.7 million for the next biennium.","taxTitle","Appropriations, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28310,"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},6090940,"Appropriations committee reviews K‑12 and higher‑education proposals; UND nursing building bill fails in committee",1270,5403000,6673000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2865624-46b3a648381b087799c4a6fcad354fd8&start=5403&end=6673","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2865624-46b3a648381b087799c4a6fcad354fd8/thumbnail_5403000.jpg","/articles/6090940/North-Dakota/Appropriations-committee-reviews-K12-and-highereducation-proposals-UND-nursing-building-bill-fails-in-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6090940-92884518dfa270db702504cef2bdb9c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188947&Signature=BbGOpJgeaExH~h9gfILJwO59IuOrFhM6I7W-2NRmm~vdQIDpOV7tryNwgutgwQalRsxQ6fiaNOd2iQJuAK0KiLfS89WnWh8I-8dLkfV30cbJBhRWDd-gbbyK4a8sUGj7vSwRgXXh2CbLkcQy3LTvH2wg4Z31am8o3WZ9vFnNyv4K3s1mphoNSuUdNHf8tCWNLTGT1rkLewfZDqOwltfPC~7sBP8bJS0Ua~i~9IDg9sfIIbr5WytxSULqhU4W3oeci~emKc7tpCSXWHZHxt5qI1QIXpKYHsF~KXhzS4B4mS0zxyyoDDsa2jYTd3LfgRNvkWS9XnOJw8oamIh6WIE7jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Appropriations Committee heard multiple education funding proposals that came from policy and education committees. Members focused on ensuring proposals did not inappropriately replace one‑time federal ESSER money with ongoing general‑fund commitments and on coordinating requests with pending K–12 and higher education budgets.

Choice Ready grants (Senate Bill 2234): Representative Pat Heiner presented a request to replace ESSER funding for the Choice Ready grants. The House education committee reduced the original $2 million request to $1 million, noting last year 82 schools applied for grants at roughly $6,000 each. The appropriations committee referred the bill to the E&E division for comparison with the K–12 budget to avoid duplication.

UND School of Nursing facility request (Senate Bill 2286): The University of North Dakota sought a capital appropriation (originally presented as $95 million with UND proposing to raise $40 million locally). House Education cut the state ask to a proposed $55 million line of credit in committee; the House Appropriations Committee’s E&E staff reviewed the project and recommended it is a higher‑education budgetary matter rather than a stand‑alone bill. Representative Nathie moved a “do not pass” on SB 2286; the motion carried on a roll call (22‑0‑1) and the committee placed the measure in the higher education budget process for further consideration.

Mathematics instruction pilot (Senate Bill 2213): Sponsors described a program patterned on the state’s earlier “science of reading” initiative to provide professional development and pilot implementation focused on mathematics instruction for early grades. The bill requests $1.5 million total: staffing and pilot costs for the Department of Public Instruction and implementation grants to districts. The committee referred the bill to E&E staff and to the DPI budget process to ensure alignment with K–12 budget priorities.

Other votes and budget actions: the committee approved the Racing Commission and Trust Lands budgets (amendments and roll calls recorded) and asked divisions to supply additional materials (deferred maintenance reports and project details) for capital requests.

","Appropriations members reviewed several education spending proposals, reduced or deferred stand‑alone capital requests, and referred multiple items to the E&E division for budget alignment; the UND nursing building request received a do‑not‑pass vote.",{"_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},6090950,"Committee reviews bill to guarantee appointed counsel at initial appearance; appropriation scaled and effective date delayed",579,2467000,3046000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2865624-46b3a648381b087799c4a6fcad354fd8&start=2467&end=3046","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2865624-46b3a648381b087799c4a6fcad354fd8/thumbnail_2467000.jpg","/articles/6090950/North-Dakota/Committee-reviews-bill-to-guarantee-appointed-counsel-at-initial-appearance-appropriation-scaled-and-effective-date-delayed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6090950-118f535aaf415448a9a6dfda05aec9bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188947&Signature=IxiNzsR1vx0MgmtBBBSdQaUXjjqCOGrDYb08Q6XaFi-6kHZt6sC1mem8~W9RSdgFFRCqWXXvqsaBw3Z8Vh4rdS8V2NpfAz2qB3hCKvhx-jjHF1tSNOVvgReUIVqo9vn4RbzEiWwGMlUwEcvcGAExkxCDgCjqIDWr3IzpwG1~xM2VbGHjEEv~fcHQGUDN~AwsoZSeinK3QK~buFr0d8AtZs8c6Z-KrHu0GAtCyKQLL7Vq4TlUU6c-ksDI7JiOPiwshf6mQzKWI42jiOasFiViVQdop6xi2NK~4JM4Qq2xqG49nW2kzVuOlRpsR2icLZXX0aIBay3T4oOMBbMpcGW9FA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Lawrence Clamine presented a bill to clarify that incarcerated individuals at initial appearance are presumed indigent for purposes of appointed counsel. The proposal follows a work group and court cases in other Eighth Circuit states that have found appointed counsel at the initial appearance can be a constitutional requirement.

Clamine said the bill originally included a $616,000 appropriation for the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigence; the committee reduced that figure to $463,000 and added a delayed effective date of Jan. 1, 2026 after counsel for the governor said the Supreme Court may issue a rule and to allow districts time to plan. The delayed date also reduced near‑term cost estimates.

Travis Fink, executive director of the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigence, told the committee the agency surveyed courts to identify initial appearance schedules, estimated contract coverage needs by district and modeled contractor hours. He said the approach is to contract for attorney availability at initial‑appearance dockets (a retainer model), not to bill per case; the committee’s estimate used roughly 286 hours per month at an hourly rate that the commission is seeking elsewhere under its budget narrative (testimony referenced a $90/hour target rate). Fink noted some jurisdictions already use pretrial services and have attorneys available for initial appearances; the proposal would expand that coverage to districts that currently lack it.

Members asked about logistics and cost control. Representative Meyer asked whether expanded initial‑appearance coverage could save incarceration costs; Fink said some savings are possible but the contract model pays for availability rather than per‑case work. Representative Murphy and others asked whether counsel is constitutionally required at pre‑charge questioning; committee counsel said that is not currently a constitutional requirement and the bill addresses the initial appearance stage, not custodial questioning.

Committee members did not take a final vote in the hearing and directed staff to continue technical review. The bill’s delayed effective date and reduced appropriation were highlighted as part of the draft amendment the committee considered.

","A bill to presume indigence at an initial appearance and fund contract counsel availability drew committee questions about cost, timing and delivery; sponsors reduced the appropriation and included a delayed effective date.",{"_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},6090953,"Appropriations committee orders independent audit of state development fund, adds emergency clause and routes report to legislative audit committee",737,1750000,2487000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2865624-46b3a648381b087799c4a6fcad354fd8&start=1750&end=2487","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2865624-46b3a648381b087799c4a6fcad354fd8/thumbnail_1750000.jpg","/articles/6090953/North-Dakota/Appropriations-committee-orders-independent-audit-of-state-development-fund-adds-emergency-clause-and-routes-report-to-legislative-audit-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6090953-8fb4fe855e91150ac01078d09c8cf6ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188947&Signature=iAoM1bRRiQf6D7FVhPXQx9ryfRohUb5aNyJ5ysyVMLONJam9yz3M1eWZ503B5gsUb0WCNHYxyMQNLkTKIH2zo8dfOPg3EYqRDD8~8IiUj0hX0GiOdvEtVIKnaYrL1GrLAwJz2b4fLlpycAOf1lqPXWggh4Fmsiq62miE1u2Kr1WG8CJ2hQkN8h~exRYmQFAPGs4pB4eoAS8sQsKmGRVLdE7xQeINogVzG1SXiZSMvRQOh0TUDknLJzecqS71XsdLTNvk4zJ~7Lr0RjA74zIjJdpb2jT2th0HF9nrC0GOpH8IbOvoX5L4G1h62-y5dP-SpfCVkYGPxstw1XX8r0GfNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 2396, presented by Representative Jonathan Morey (R–District 22), would fund a third‑party performance audit of the North Dakota Development Fund and require the findings to be shared with the state auditor and legislative oversight. Morey told the committee the development fund currently contains private/confidential financial information that the state auditor cannot fully inspect under current practice; committee sponsors asked for an independent, conflict‑free reviewer to improve transparency without duplicating routine commerce audits.

Committee testimony included an estimate from the state auditor of roughly 1,200 labor hours to audit the fund. Committee staff solicited pricing from a private firm that estimated remote work after an initial site assessment and proposed a $200/hour rate; the committee amended the appropriation to $250,000 to cover the scope and to require the third‑party audit findings be shared with legislative audit and fiscal review. Representatives raised timing concerns: the private contractor estimated a ~90‑day start and faster lead time than the state auditor’s internal option (9–12 months).

Representative Nelson moved to add an emergency clause and to have the audit report delivered to the Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee; the motion was seconded and the amendment carried on a roll call. The committee then voted to give the bill a “do‑pass as amended.”

Key details: the committee reduced the originally proposed appropriation to $250,000; the bill calls for a conflict‑free third‑party audit whose findings will be shared with the state auditor and legislative audit committee; the aim is targeted transparency into development‑fund transactions and allocations without repeating the Commerce Department’s biennial financial audit.

","Lawmakers approved an amended bill to hire a third‑party auditor to examine the North Dakota Development Fund and require sharing findings with the state auditor; committee cut the appropriation to $250,000 and added an emergency clause and a routing amendment directing the report to the Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6090944,"Committee reviews juvenile fitness process and juvenile criminal code changes; departments asked for implementation details and staffing plans",689,3700000,4389000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2865624-46b3a648381b087799c4a6fcad354fd8&start=3700&end=4389","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2865624-46b3a648381b087799c4a6fcad354fd8/thumbnail_3700000.jpg","/articles/6090944/North-Dakota/Committee-reviews-juvenile-fitness-process-and-juvenile-criminal-code-changes-departments-asked-for-implementation-details-and-staffing-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6090944-fa07dd1abb63e2520d24502d117611d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188947&Signature=WxCQcd8CW03KUAUPQd9q0ivpfJdIQloDa6S1gdfoiDSUfuSQYhISBafiYz5VR5K8b0KqbIcjWFtpWLZ0UtZZULwf6zBg8VxaAaP6ewjBZcuVYKj65kgQbSbT0fG-giubjRUvbKLhEqgRutVx0P0vddmtwzBuUfwYSppWvfi5GseNtO6oX85JkE~sFaG64EeG2ADrAlz8--hqLXpWf0teBfOtnRNq1WVTBFYrp0nvci1v5ksrktkJI3sXN-tNtyVep5dkcv5-ZERVSlqh4xZDgHF-SfyLcn4GIVEq75hV8qwImy8koEIoZstjpVuocLm-nXE5NEEi9lKpN-iShO~hAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Lawrence Clamine presented two bills generated by the Interim Juvenile Justice Committee and a specialist work group: one (Senate Bill 2036) establishes a fitness‑to‑proceed chapter setting definitions, referral procedures and remediation timeframes for juveniles who may lack legal fitness; the other (Senate Bill 2037) begins a juvenile criminal code by amending selected adult criminal code provisions to apply to juveniles aged 10–17 and addressing collateral consequences and certain penalties.

Clamine said the fitness bill provides process steps when there is uncertainty about a juvenile’s present ability to consult with counsel and participate rationally in their defense. The proposed fitness process includes initial evaluations by qualified mental‑health professionals, remediation orders (initially 60 days, extendable another 60) and dismissal or referral to other juvenile protection proceedings if the juvenile cannot gain fitness. The bill contains a $500,000 appropriation to the Department of Health and Human Services for administering juvenile fitness‑to‑proceed mental‑health services in the coming biennium.

The juvenile criminal code bill (2037) contains multiple age‑related amendments to existing criminal provisions, cross‑references and a $300,000 appropriation to DHHS for contracting fitness‑to‑proceed evaluation services. Committee members discussed overlaps between the two bills, whether the appropriations and evaluation models are complementary, and concerns raised by local human service zones that some zones do not have staff capacity to carry out remediation orders.

Committee leaders asked the human resources section to examine implementation questions, including whether DHHS and the human service zones have adequate staffing to perform evaluations and remediation, and to return to the committee with more detail early next week. No final vote was taken.

","Representatives heard two related measures — one to create a fitness‑to‑proceed procedure and another to begin a juvenile criminal code — that include appropriations for mental‑health evaluations. Sponsors said the bills create a process for determining whether juveniles can assist counsel and for remediation services; Human Ser","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Appropriations committee hears request to raise adult residential facility rates, refers bill for further review

Appropriations committee reviews K‑12 and higher‑education proposals; UND nursing building bill fails in committee

Committee reviews bill to guarantee appointed counsel at initial appearance; appropriation scaled and effective date delayed

Appropriations committee orders independent audit of state development fund, adds emergency clause and routes report to legislative audit committee

Committee reviews juvenile fitness process and juvenile criminal code changes; departments asked for implementation details and staffing plans