SB 2097 — Relating to the creation of a rural community endowment fund and a rural community endowment fund committee; to provide an appropriation for the rural community endowment fund; to provide for a transfer; and to provide for a report.

25.0231.0400325.0231.04000 Adopted by the Political Subdivisions Title.05000 Committee March 28, 2025 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO FIRST ENGROSSMENT ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO.

The department may not expend moneys from the rural community endowment fund Page No.

1 25.0231.04003 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly until the principal of the fund is at least ten million dollars, of which at least five million dollars must be derived from gifts, donations, bequests, or other funding from nonstate sources collected by the department for deposit in the fund.

Funding directly from state sources may not be used unless appropriated by the legislature.

Interest earnedInvestmentearned earnings on moneys in the fund must be credited to the fund, which may be spent by the department,Page pursuantNo. to legislative appropriations, for providing grants in accordance with this section to rural communities in the state to support, create, or improve local housing, workforce, business recruitment and commerce, infrastructure, or other community needs.

1 25.0231.04000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly department, pursuant to legislative appropriations, for providing grants in accordance with this section to rural communities in the state to support, create, or improve local housing, workforce, business recruitment and commerce, infrastructure, or other community needs.

The commissioner shall appoint a rural community endowment fund committee consisting of the commissioner, nine individuals residing in rural communities, and a representative of a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting housing initiatives, social and cultural events, and small businesses inthatin are critical to the vitality of rural communities ofinof the state.

When awarding grants from the fund, the committee shall prioritize capital projects that support the long-term prosperity, independence, safety, health, and quality of life of rural communities and their citizens.

The department shall contract with a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting housing initiatives, social and cultural events, and small businesses of vital community importance in rural communities in the state to assist the department in administering Pagethe No.rural community endowment fund and provide recommendations to the rural community endowment fund committee related to funding, awards, projects, and other purposes.

2 25.0231.04003 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly the rural community endowment fund and provide recommendations to the rural community endowment fund committee related to funding, awards, projects, and other purposes.

For purposes of this section, "rural community" means a city with a population of fewer than one thousand two hundred individuals as determined by the most recent decennial census.

Before July first of each year, the department shall report to the legislative management regarding the status of the rural community endowment fund, use of funding,Page andNo. program results.

2 25.0231.04000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly funding, and program results.

APPROPRIATION - TRANSFER TO RURAL COMMUNITY ENDOWMENT FUNDFUND. - ONE-TIME FUNDING.

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

3 25.0231.0400325.0231.04000