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'Two board bill' killed in ND House

The House overwhelmingly rejected a bill to create two boards of higher education.

The single board system in place now would be replaced with one board for the two research universities and one board to govern the other 9 campuses.

The House Education Committee recommended a “do-not-pass” on the bill. The committee’s chairman –  Representative Mark Owens (R-Grand Forks) – said this bill seems to be premature, because it will require a vote of the people.

"A concurrent resolution to insure public support for changes to the Board should be submitted to the public during the 2020 general election for approval," Owens said. "Then, during the 2021 session, the governance plan can be submitted to the Legislature, and, with approval, begin a new era in higher education governance."

"It's putting the cart before the horse," Owens said.

The bill’s author – Rep. Shannon Roers-Jones (R-Fargo) – said the plan was to have a Constitutional amendment introduced later in the session.

"Rather than sending a resolution for the Constitutional changes to the people of North Dakota and say, 'Vote to change the system, and we''ll tell you later how it's gonna change,' it would be more appropriate to have the outline of the changes passed in HB 1500, so that people know what changes they would see," Roers-Jones said.

The measure failed on a 74 to 19 vote. Supporters of changing the current Board said they are planning to introduce a Constitutional amendment shortly.

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