19.3115.04000
Sixty-sixth
Legislative Assembly HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 3044
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Representatives Boschee, Guggisberg, Hoverson, M. Johnson, Kasper, Schneider
Senators Hogan, Kannianen, Oban, Wanzek
1 A concurrent resolution directing the Legislative Management to consider studying, in
2 consultation with the Department of Commerce, Department of Human Services, and the
3 private sector, the desirability and feasibility of developing and expanding asset-building
4 opportunities, including a review of state and federal policies associated with government
5 assistance which impede or improve low-income workers' ability to earn more income.
6 WHEREAS, North Dakota ranks high in job creation, has one of the lowest unemployment
7 rates in the nation, and is showing a rebounding economic growth rate; and
8 WHEREAS, in 2017, the average adjusted gross income for individuals in North Dakota
9 was nearly $69,500, declining from a peak in 2013, but 10.3 percent of individuals and
10 11 percent of families live below the poverty level; and
11 WHEREAS, in 2017, 9 percent of households in North Dakota were food insecure at some
12 time, with 3.5 percent of those households having very low food security; and
13 WHEREAS, North Dakota's population has grown to an all-time high of 760,077 residents,
14 and although the average age has declined, the population of individuals over the age of 65 is
15 estimated to grow to 18 percent of the population by 2025; and
16 WHEREAS, 10.5 percent of North Dakotans have a disability that may impact their level of
17 employment, and Social Security comprises the sole source or majority of income for
18 61 percent of individuals over the age of 65 in North Dakota; and
19 WHEREAS, in 2017, 6.3 percent of the population used high-cost, high-risk forms of credit,
20 including payday loans, rent-to-own, and pawning to make ends meet;
21 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF
22 NORTH DAKOTA, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN:
23 That the Legislative Management consider studying, in consultation with the Department of
24 Commerce, Department of Human Services, and the private sector, the desirability and
25 feasibility of developing and expanding asset-building opportunities, including a review of state
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 Sixty-sixth
Legislative Assembly
1 and federal policies associated with government assistance which impede or improve
2 low-income workers' ability to earn more income; and
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Legislative Management and the Department of
4 Human Services project the number of individuals who may be living with low incomes for the
5 next 10 years and determine a self-sufficiency standard for North Dakota; and
6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Legislative Management report its findings and
7 recommendations, together with any legislation required to implement the recommendations, to
8 the Sixty-seventh Legislative Assembly.
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