AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 50-06.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the compensation rate paid by the department of health and human services under the senior community service employment program.
Summary
HB 1066 creates a new section of North Dakota Century Code governing the hourly compensation rate for individuals paid by the Department of Health and Human Services under the Senior Community Service Employment Program. The bill sets the rate at $12 per hour, or at another amount established by the department through administrative rule, so long as the amount remains within the limits of legislative appropriation.
The measure is narrowly focused on program administration and compensation for participants in a federally supported senior employment program. It does not create a new benefit category or expand eligibility; instead, it establishes a statutory floor and gives the department limited flexibility to adjust the rate by rule, subject to available funding.
Impact
HB 1066 amends state law by adding a new provision to chapter 50-06.1 of the North Dakota Century Code. Its practical effect is to direct the Department of Health and Human Services on the compensation rate used in the Senior Community Service Employment Program, while preserving agency discretion to set a different rate through rulemaking within appropriated funds. The bill affects the department, program administrators, and senior participants employed through the program.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the House 87-1 and the Senate 41-3, indicating strong bipartisan approval and little opposition. The absence of committee transcript discussion suggests the measure was treated as a routine administrative or funding-related adjustment rather than a major policy dispute.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the balance between a fixed statutory rate and administrative flexibility. By setting a $12 hourly rate but allowing the department to establish another amount by rule within appropriation limits, the bill leaves room for questions about whether the compensation should be locked in by statute or adjusted administratively. Any opposition likely centered on fiscal constraints, agency discretion, or the adequacy of the wage level for senior participants, though the recorded votes show only minimal dissent.