23.0490.01000
Sixty-eighth
Legislative Assembly SENATE BILL NO. 2194
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Senators Patten, Bekkedahl, Kannianen
Representatives Longmuir, J. Olson, Timmons
1 A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 15-02 of the North Dakota
2 Century Code, relating to a post-production royalty oversight program; and to provide an
3 appropriation.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
5 SECTION 1. A new section to chapter 15-02 of the North Dakota Century Code is created
6 and enacted as follows:
7 Post-production royalty oversight program.
8 1. The commissioner of university and school lands, in cooperation with the industrial
9 commission, shall establish a program providing technical assistance and support to
10 landowners and mineral companies relating to royalty payment issues.
11 2. The commissioner may contract for ombudsmen to be a resource for technical
12 assistance and followup on royalty payment issues.
13 3. The program may provide technical education, support, and outreach on royalty
14 payment related matters in coordination with other entities.
15 4. The commissioner may contract with local individuals, deemed trustworthy by the
16 landowners and mineral companies, to be ombudsmen. The commissioner is not
17 subject to the provisions of chapter 54-44.4 when contracting for the services of
18 ombudsmen.
19 5. The names of landowners and mineral companies that receive assistance under the
20 program are not subject to section 44-04-18 and section 6 of article XI of the
21 Constitution of North Dakota.
22 6. The commissioner shall submit expenses related to the implementation of the program
23 to the industrial commission for reimbursement.
Page No. 1 23.0490.01000
 Sixty-eighth
Legislative Assembly
1 SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION - INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION - ROYALTY OVERSIGHT
2 PROGRAM. There is appropriated out of any moneys in the general fund in the state treasury,
3 not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $500,000, or so much of the sum as may be necessary,
4 to the industrial commission for the purpose of implementing a post-production royalty oversight
5 program administered through the department of trust lands, for the biennium beginning July 1,
6 2023, and ending June 30, 2025.
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Statutes affected:
Adopted by the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee: 38-08-04.5
Enrollment: 38-08-04.5