HB1277 — A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-03 and two new sections to chapter 54-66 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to immunity from criminal prosecution and an affirmative defense for individuals voting on legislation, closure of a matter and issuance of guidance by the ethics commission, and the discretionary referral of an investigation to an outside attorney or investigator by the ethics commission's executive director; to amend and reenact sections 12.1-13-02 and 54-66-01, subsection 2 of section 54-66-04, and sections 54-66-12 and 54-66-18 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to immunity from criminal prosecution when adhering to legislative rules, definitions related to state government ethics, confidential records related to an alleged violation of an ethics law or rule, and conflicts of interest in the legislative assembly; to repeal sections 54-66-05, 54-66-06, 54-66-07, 54-66-08, 54-66-09, and 54-66-10 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the complaint process of the ethics commission; and to declare an emergency.

HB1277 — A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-03 and two new sections to chapter 54-66 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to immunity from criminal prosecution and an affirmative defense for individuals voting on legislation, closure of a matter and issuance of guidance by the ethics commission, and the discretionary referral of an investigation to an outside attorney or investigator by the ethics commission's executive director; to amend and reenact sections 12.1-13-02 and 54-66-01, subsection 2 of section 54-66-04, and sections 54-66-12 and 54-66-18 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to immunity from criminal prosecution when adhering to legislative rules, definitions related to state government ethics, confidential records related to an alleged violation of an ethics law or rule, and conflicts of interest in the legislative assembly; to repeal sections 54-66-05, 54-66-06, 54-66-07, 54-66-08, 54-66-09, and 54-66-10 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the complaint process of the ethics commission; and to declare an emergency. · Informed CitizenryHB1277 proposes several changes to North Dakota state government ethics and legislative procedures. It establishes that members of the legislative assembly are immune from criminal prosecution for…Open in Informed Citizenry