A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new chapter to title 43 and a new section to chapter 54-07 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the duties of occupational and professional boards and the receipt by the office of the governor of complaints following licensing decisions of occupational and professional boards; and to provide for a report.
Summary
HB 1270 would create a new chapter in Title 43 governing occupational and professional licensing boards in North Dakota, and it would add a related section to Title 54-07 concerning the governor’s office. The bill defines “board” broadly to include state boards, commissions, or similar agencies that regulate licensed occupations or professions, and it defines the regulated activity to include occupations requiring a state license or a comparable foreign license in another jurisdiction.
The bill requires each board to adopt rules implementing the new chapter and to submit an annual report to the governor. That report would have to summarize board activity and provide counts of licenses issued, applicants, in-state and out-of-state applicants, new and renewing applicants, and former licensees who failed to renew. It also requires boards to post website instructions explaining how a person may file a complaint after an adverse licensing decision by the board or one of its members. In addition, the governor would be required to create a complaint process for such licensing disputes and establish a procedure to investigate those complaints.
Impact
If enacted, HB 1270 would add new reporting and complaint-handling obligations for occupational and professional licensing boards across state government. It would not directly change licensing standards for any specific profession, but it would impose administrative duties on boards to collect and report applicant and licensee data and to publish complaint instructions. It would also expand the governor’s role by creating an executive-branch complaint intake and investigation process for adverse licensing decisions, potentially affecting how licensing disputes are reviewed outside the boards themselves.
Sentiment
There is limited recorded discussion or voting history available for HB 1270, so the overall sentiment is difficult to gauge from committee debate. Based on the bill’s structure, it appears aimed at increasing transparency and providing an additional avenue for complaints about licensing decisions, which may appeal to applicants and licensees who feel aggrieved by board actions. The bill was ultimately withdrawn, suggesting it did not advance to enactment and may not have had sufficient support or may have been set aside for other reasons.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the shift in oversight and complaint review. Occupational and professional boards may view the required reporting and website notice provisions as added administrative burden, while the governor’s new complaint process could be seen as duplicating or interfering with existing board authority over licensing decisions. Applicants and licensees, by contrast, would likely support having a clearer path to challenge adverse decisions. Because there are no transcripts or recorded votes, specific arguments for or against the bill are not documented in the available materials.
A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new chapter to title 43 and a new section to chapter 54-07 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the duties of occupational and professional boards and the receipt by the office of the governor of complaints following licensing decisions of occupational and professional boards; and to provide for a report.
A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 15-10 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the creation of a North Dakota accelerated degree for high-demand occupations.
A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new chapter to title 15, a new chapter to title 15.1, a new section to chapter 54-10, and a new chapter to title 54 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the regulation of prohibited discriminatory practices; and to provide for a legislative management report.
A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-60 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the creation of an office of entrepreneurship; and to provide for a legislative management report.