Center for Distance Education asks legislature to modernize statutes for online operations

Dr. Alyssa Martin, state director for the North Dakota Center for Distance Education, asked the task force to consider statute updates that would reflect modern online operations and reduce repetitive administrative barriers.

CDE requested three core changes: (1) relief from repeatedly filing alternative procurement requests for routine curriculum and digital contracts where prior legislative waivers permitted flexibility; (2) standardized, acceptable indemnification language for vendor contracts so agencies do not renegotiate the same clauses repeatedly; and (3) clarification that secure electronic personnel records and password‑protected access logs may substitute for paper signatures in older statutes. Martin said the center has scanned personnel files into a password‑protected SharePoint site and verified secure access methods, but statutes still presume paper signatures.

Martin also said small public ceremonies (graduations of 30–50 remote students) have been handled via OMB waivers and that clearer statutory guidance on permitted small expenditures would prevent staff from being asked to chip in.

On technology policy, CDE recommended modernizing references to state telephones and state‑issued keys to reflect cell phones, laptops and device‑return procedures; Martin suggested that withholding final paychecks until equipment is returned could be considered to improve accountability.

OMB and other committee members agreed to collaborate on technical fixes. CDE offered to work with OMB and legislative staff to produce draft language.

"Our hope is just to modernize statute, to ensure that it aligns with our operations at the center," Martin said.