Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

1035.02000
     Sixty-eighth
     Legislative Assembly                     HOUSE BILL NO. 1523
     of North Dakota
     Introduced by
       Representative Henderson
       Senator Weston
  A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact sections 16.1-03-01, 16.1-03-07, 16.1-03-08, and
  16.1-03-11 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to political committee organizations; and
  to repeal sections 16.1-03-03, 16.1-03-05, and 16.1-03-17 of the North Dakota Century Code,
  relating to committeemen and political party reorganization after redistricting.
  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
      SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. Section 16.1-03-01 of the North Dakota Century Code is
  amended and reenacted as follows:
      16.1-03-01. Party caucus - Time and manner of holding - Caucus call - Notice.
      1.   Each legislative district party shall organize in conformance with the state legislative
          district boundaries as established by the legislative assembly and as set forth under
          chapter 54-03.
     2.   On or before May fifteenth following the last preceding general election, and after
          redistricting of the legislative assembly becomes effective, a party caucus must be
          held byin every legislative district party. The legislative district party may organize the
          caucus by precinct or on an at-large basis for the entire district.
     3.   The legislative district chairman of each party shall set the date and time for the party
          caucus. If there is not a duly elected district chairman in a legislative district, the state
          party executive committee may issue the call for the caucus and appoint a temporary
          chairman to chair the meeting. The call must contain the following:
          a.     Name of party.
          b.     Legislative district number.
           c.    Date of caucus.
          d.     Place of caucus.
          e.     Hours of caucus.
                                                Page No. 1                          23.1035.02000
     Sixty-eighth
     Legislative Assembly
           f.   A statement of the business to be conducted, including the party organization,
                and participation requirements established by state party and district bylaws or
                rules.
           g.   The name of the district chairman or, if there is not a duly elected district
                chairman, the membername of the state party executive committee issuing the
                call. The chairman or a representative of the state committee shall provide their
                contact information.
      4.   The district chairman or, if there is not a duly elected district chairman, the state party
           executivedistrict committee shall provide tenthirty days' published notice in the official
          newspaper in circulation in the district. The notices must contain thatthe information
          set forth in subsection 3.
     5.   After redistricting of the legislative assembly becomes effective, in any newly
          established district, the state committee may issue a call for a party caucus. The
          caucus must occur before primary election filing deadlines.
    SECTION 2. AMENDMENT. Section 16.1-03-07 of the North Dakota Century Code is
 amended and reenacted as follows:
    16.1-03-07. Meeting of districtDistrict committee - Organization.
     1.   If a legislative district chooses to organize by precinct in every odd-numbered year, the
          district committee of each party shall meet within fifteen days after the caucus
          provided for in section 16.1-03-01. The day, hour, and site must be set by the existing
          district committee chairman. Any incumbent members of the legislative assembly from
          the party and any other individual provided for by the district committee's bylaws
          constitute the district committee of the party. TheAt each party caucus, the district
          committee of a party must be organized to coincide with the geographical boundary
          lines of state legislative districts. Each member of any committee provided for in this
          chapter must be a qualified elector.
     2.   The district committee shall selectelect the officers of the district committee and
          forward to the state committee the name and contact information of the district
          committee chairman. The district committee may appoint an executive committee
          consistent with the bylaws of the district committeeshall adopt bylaws or rules of
          procedure which may not conflict with bylaws or rules of the state party. That party's
                                               Page No. 2                          23.1035.02000
     Sixty-eighth
     Legislative Assembly
           nominees for and members of the legislative assembly shall serve as members of the
           executive committee.
      3.   If the office of chairman becomes vacant, the vacancy maymust be filled as provided
           by the district party bylaws or rules.
      4.   The bylaws of the state committee or state party may not include any requirement
           providing directives or procedures for the method of the organization of district
           committees nor may the state committee or state party take any action or impose any
           requirement regarding district party organization unless a district lacks a district
           committee that is able to carry out the responsibilities under this chapter. A state party
          may not take any action that is inconsistent with this chapter.
     5.   After redistricting of the legislative assembly becomes effective, the state party chair
          may appoint a temporary district party organization chair in any newly established
          district or a district that lacks a district committee able to carry out the responsibilities
          of this chapter. The temporary district party organization chair shall organize the
          district political party as closely as possible in conformance with this chapter to assure
          compliance with primary election filing deadlines.
     SECTION 3. AMENDMENT. Section 16.1-03-08 of the North Dakota Century Code is
 amended and reenacted as follows:
     16.1-03-08. State committee - Membership.
     The state committee of each party consists of the chairman of each of the district
 committees of the party and any individual provided for in the state party bylaws of the state
 committeeor rules adopted under section 16.1-03-14.
     SECTION 4. AMENDMENT. Section 16.1-03-11 of the North Dakota Century Code is
 amended and reenacted as follows:
     16.1-03-11. State committee - Meetings - Organization.
     The statedistrict committee chairmen shall meet on or before July first of each
 odd-numbered year. The committee and shall organize a state committee by selectingelecting
 officers as provided for by the state committeeparty bylaws and by adopting rules and modes of
 procedure, including rules and procedures regarding the selection of state convention delegates
 or rules. Within thirty days following the state committee's organization, the newly elected
                                                Page No. 3                           23.1035.02000
    Sixty-eighth
    Legislative Assembly
 chairman shall notify the secretary of state, and, if applicable, the affiliated national party of the
 names of the party officers selected.
     SECTION 5. REPEAL. Sections 16.1-03-03, 16.1-03-05, and 16.1-03-17 of the North
 Dakota Century Code are repealed.
                                               Page No. 4                          23.1035.02000
Statutes affected: 
INTRODUCED: 16.1-03-01, 16.1-03-07, 16.1-03-08, 16.1-03-11