AN ACT to amend and reenact section 57-40.6-04 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to assessed communication service fees.
House Bill No. 1096 seeks to amend section 57-40.6-04 of the North Dakota Century Code, specifically addressing the collection procedures for assessed communication service fees. The bill allows communication service providers to retain actual costs associated with the administration of fee collection, including charges for 911 database management, with a cap set at 2.5% of the fees collected. Additionally, it stipulates that providers must remit the collected fees within thirty days, unless they have fewer than ten subscribers, in which case they may remit quarterly.
The passage of HB1096 will modify the existing framework for communication service fee collection in North Dakota, potentially easing the financial burden on smaller providers by allowing them to retain a portion of the fees for administrative costs. This change aims to streamline the fee collection process and may encourage compliance among smaller service providers who previously faced challenges with the monthly remittance requirement.
The sentiment surrounding HB1096 appears to be overwhelmingly positive, as indicated by the unanimous support in the House (89-0) and a strong majority in the Senate (43-2). The lack of opposition suggests that stakeholders generally view the bill as a beneficial adjustment to existing law that will facilitate better operational practices for communication service providers.
There were no notable points of contention raised during discussions or voting on HB1096. The bill received broad bipartisan support, indicating a consensus among legislators regarding the need for the proposed amendments to the fee collection process.