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The Bismarck-Mandan Young Professionals Network is pleased to announce the creation of a government affairs task force. The purpose of this education-focused group is to update YPN members with information about legislation during the North Dakota legislative session. The nature of the task force will be non-partisan and will function in an educational capacity only.
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YP Legislative Update - Conference Committee
Posted 4/10/09
By The BMYP Government Affairs Task Force
The third period of the legislature is starting this week – conference committees. Conference committees are comprised of 3 members from each house, normally two members from the majority party and one member of the minority party. A conference committee is created for a bill when the House and Senate pass different versions of the same bill. The conference committee meets to decide which version to approve or to hammer out a comprise that can be supported by both chambers. Each chamber then votes on the conference committee report and then takes a final vote on the bill. The legislature is expected to be done by the end of April, although they can go as late as May 6th which is the 80th legislative day.
GREAT PLAINS APPLIED ENERGY RESEARCH CENTER
HB 1350 – Provides $5,000,000 to the Department of Commerce for a grant for construction of a Great Plains Applied Energy Research Center in Bismarck. The funds are only available if there are nonstate matching funds of $3 for every $1 of state funds. The Center will be focused on the integration of wind energy in the electrical grid through new energy storage and smart grid technologies. The Center may partner with Sandia National Lab out of Albuquerque, New Mexico. A feasibility study will be conducted before any state funds are expended.
Action: Passed House 68 to 25; Passed Senate 29 to 18; and currently awaiting the Governor’s signature.
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