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HB 1387

Requiring the criminal justice training commission to establish a program to recruit and train a pool of applicants who may be employed by certain law enforcement agencies in the state.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Callan and 5 co-sponsors

ND HB 1387 would close schools on election days when used as polling places and allow districts to cancel classes or separate students to prevent contact with voters.

Referred to Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry.
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Bill Summary · HB 1387

Summary — HB 1387 (North Dakota)

Amends and reenacts NDCC § 15.1‑06‑02 (school holidays) to require or permit school closure actions on days when schools are used as polling places.

Purpose

To reduce the opportunity for student contact with voters and address use of school buildings as polling places by (1) expressly making election days when a school is used as a polling place a school holiday and (2) authorizing school boards to cancel classes or separate students on those days.

Key provisions / changes

  • Amends NDCC § 15.1‑06‑02 (School holidays).
  • Adds a new holiday clause: schools may not be in session on “any day a national, statewide, or local election is held if the school is used as a polling place on that day during regular school hours.” (new subsection k in some versions)
  • Clarifies board authority in subsection 4: the board of a school district may cancel classes or separate students on an election day when the school is used as a polling place “to ensure there is no opportunity for student contact with voters.”
  • Retains existing holiday rules (New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and days declared by the President or governor).
  • Keeps existing weekend‑adjustment rules: if certain holidays fall on Sunday (or Veterans Day on Saturday), the district observes the holiday on an adjacent weekday.

Who would be affected

  • School districts and boards: would have an explicit statutory basis to close schools or alter student movement on election days when the building is a polling site.
  • Students and families: potential loss of in‑person instructional time and increased childcare/scheduling burdens on days when local polling uses school facilities.
  • Election administrators and local governments: may need to relocate polling places, adjust staffing, or coordinate with districts to avoid closures; could affect voter access if polling locations are moved.
  • Staff and transportation providers: schedules for bus routes, food service, and extracurriculars could be disrupted.

Procedural / timeline information

  • Statute amended: North Dakota Century Code § 15.1‑06‑02.
  • Sponsors (per bill documents): Reps. Heinert, Berg, Dockter, Jonas, Meier, Novak, M. Ruby; Sen. Rummel.
  • Introduced: November 18, 2024.
  • Education Committee action: committee adopted proposed amendments (committee report dated Jan. 28, 2025).
  • Final status (per provided information): Second reading — failed to pass (yeas 0, nays 46). The bill did not become law.

Potential impacts / considerations

  • Administrative: districts would need policies for communicating closures and handling instruction make‑up (if required by statute/policy).
  • Electoral logistics: counties may need contingency plans if schools decline to operate as polling places to avoid interrupting instruction.
  • Fiscal: potential costs for alternative polling locations, additional staff, or makeup instructional time; specifics not stated in bill text.

Note: The bill text as provided does not include an explicit effective date; usual practice would be immediate upon enactment unless otherwise specified. The measure failed on second reading and therefore was not enacted.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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