Senate Education Committee clears bill to fix wording on county superintendent records

The Senate Education Committee voted to give House Bill 1133 a due-pass recommendation after hearing that the bill only makes wording corrections to existing law governing county superintendents of schools.

Representative Don Longbure, who introduced the bill at the request of the Department of Public Instruction, told the committee the measure addresses antiquated language in the North Dakota Century Code that affects county superintendent offices. "The heading of that section uses the word records, but the text of that section uses the word property to describe those records," he said.

Jim Uppgren, legislative liaison with the Department of Public Instruction, testified in support and urged the committee to recommend a due pass. "House Bill 1133 basically just cleans up that language, to use the word records and not the word property," Uppgren said, adding he could answer technical questions from the committee.

Committee discussion was minimal. A motion for a due pass was made by Senator Bauchay and seconded by Senator Axman. The committee voted 5 yeas, 0 nays, 1 not voting, and the chair asked for a carrier to advance the bill. Senator Gearhart agreed to carry the bill.

The amendment does not change duties, qualifications or procedures for county superintendents; testimony indicated the change is intended only to correct inconsistent wording between a section heading and the section text.

The committee closed the hearing with no testimony in opposition and no requested amendments, and moved the bill forward to the next step in the legislative process.