HB 1249 — A BILL for an Act to provide appropriations to the attorney general, the department of career and technical education, the department of health and human services, and the agriculture commissioner for autonomous technology grants; to provide for a legislative management study; and to provide a report.

25.0756.0200025.0756.03000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota FIRSTSECOND ENGROSSMENT ENGROSSEDREENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO.

1249 Introduced by Representatives Hagert, Christy, Headland, Mitskog, Nathe, O'Brien, Schreiber-Beck, Stemen Senators Barta, Bekkedahl, Sickler, Thomas A BILL for an Act to provide appropriations to the attorney general, the department of career and technical education, the department of health and human services, the agriculture commissioner, and the departmentagriculture ofcommissioner emergency services for autonomous technology grants;

There is appropriated out of any moneys in the general fund in the state treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $750,000,$250,000, or so much of the sum as may be necessary, to the attorney general for the purpose of providing autonomous technology grants to individuals or entities that aid the bureau of criminal investigation in conducting missing person searches, crime scene reconstruction, and law enforcement first response operations, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027.

1 25.0756.0200025.0756.03000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly funding, and maximum grant awards.

There is appropriated out of any moneys in the general fund in the state treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $750,000,$500,000, or so much of the sum as may be necessary, to the department of career and technical education for the purpose of providing autonomous technology grants to a workforce training center serving the northwest area of the state for providing workforce training to address workforce shortages in the state, including shortages in the oil and gas industry for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027.

2 25.0756.0200025.0756.03000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly the oil and gas industry.

There is appropriated out of any moneys in the general fund in the state treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $750,000,$250,000, or so much of the sum as may be necessary, to the department of health and human services for the purpose of providing autonomous technology grants to individuals or entities that aid the functions and operations of rural emergency response and disaster mitigation, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027.

3 25.0756.0200025.0756.03000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly matching funds for every four dollars awarded by the state.

There is appropriated out of any moneys in the general fund in the state treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $750,000,$500,000, or so much of the sum as may be necessary, to the agriculture commissioner for the purpose of providing autonomous technology grants to individuals or entities in the agriculture industry, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027.

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APPROPRIATION - DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES - AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGY GRANTS - ONE-TIME FUNDING - REPORT TO LEGISLATIVE MANAGEMENT.

1.

There is appropriated out of any moneys in the general fund in the state treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $750,000, or so much of the sum as may be necessary, to the department of emergency services for the purpose of providing autonomous technology grants to individuals or entities that monitor the United States highway 2 corridor within the state to assist local and state law enforcement agencies, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027.

The funding provided in this section is considered a one-time funding item.

2.

For purposes of this section, autonomous technology includes uncrewed aircraft systems;

autonomous vehicles;

or other autonomous systems, processes, or technologies.

3.

The department of emergency services shall develop an application process and guidelines for the grants, including eligibility criteria, matching requirements, eligible uses of grant funding, and maximum grant awards.

To be eligible for a grant, an individual or entity shall certify to the department of emergency services that the operation of the autonomous technology is related to monitoring the United States highway 2 corridor within the state to assist local and state law enforcement agencies.

The department of emergency services may require an individual or entity to provide one dollar of matching funds for every four dollars awarded by the state.

An individual or entity may use grant funding for autonomous technology operations, contracting for services related to autonomous technology, or other eligible uses as determined by the department of emergency services.

4.

During the 2025-26 interim, the department of emergency services shall provide at least one report to the legislative management regarding the grants, including a list of grant recipients, the amounts awarded, and a description of the use of the grant funding.

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