AN ACT to amend and reenact section 15.1-11-05 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the preservation of records by county superintendents of schools.
HB 1133 amends North Dakota Century Code section 15.1-11-05 to clarify the duty of county superintendents of schools to preserve records acquired in an official capacity. The bill states that the superintendent must preserve records that have educational value and interest, as well as records that document official acts. It also requires that, when a county superintendent’s employment ends, those records be delivered to the superintendent’s successor.
The measure is a narrow records-management bill focused on continuity and preservation of school-related public records at the county level. It does not create a new program or funding mechanism; instead, it updates existing statutory language to more clearly refer to records rather than property and to ensure those records are transferred to the next officeholder.
HB 1133 affects the duties of county superintendents of schools by clarifying what must be preserved and how records are handled at the end of a superintendent’s term. It amends section 15.1-11-05 of the Century Code, reinforcing record retention obligations for educational and official documents and ensuring successor access to those materials. The practical impact is on county school administration, public records stewardship, and administrative continuity rather than on students or school funding directly.
The bill appears to have been noncontroversial and broadly supported. It passed the House 85-3 and the Senate 47-0, indicating strong bipartisan agreement and little opposition. The absence of committee transcript discussion suggests the measure was viewed as a technical or housekeeping change rather than a policy dispute.
There is little visible contention around HB 1133. The only opposition came from a small number of House members, while the Senate approved it unanimously. Based on the text, any concerns would likely have centered on the scope of record-preservation duties or the administrative burden on county superintendents, but no specific objections are reflected in the available record.