North Dakota Administrative Code
Title 43 - Industrial Commission
Article 43-01 - General Administration
Chapter 43-01-01 - Organization of Industrial Commission
Section 43-01-01-01 - Organization of industrial commission

1. History. The 1919 legislative assembly passed legislation, codified as North Dakota Century Code chapter 54-17, creating the industrial commission of North Dakota. The industrial commission was created to conduct and manage, on behalf of the state of North Dakota, certain utilities, industries, enterprises, and business projects established by law.

The 1953 legislative assembly passed oil and gas conservation legislation, codified as North Dakota Century Code chapter 38-08, which gave the industrial commission jurisdiction and authority over all persons and property, public and private, necessary to enforce the provisions of the legislation.

The 1967 legislative assembly passed legislation, codified as North Dakota Century Code chapter 38-12, for the regulation, development, and production of subsurface minerals. It gave the industrial commission jurisdiction and authority over all persons and property, public and private, necessary to enforce the provisions of the legislation.

The 1975 legislative assembly passed legislation, codified as North Dakota Century Code chapter 38-12.1, requiring the filing of coal exploration data with the state geologist. It gave the industrial commission jurisdiction and authority over all persons and property, public and private, necessary to enforce the provisions of the legislation.

The 1989 legislative assembly passed legislation, codified as North Dakota Century Code chapter 54-17.4, transferring jurisdiction and authority over the geological survey from the board of higher education to the industrial commission. The geological survey serves as the primary source of geological information in the state.

The industrial commission is responsible for establishing the criteria for submission and consideration of research, development, and marketing proposals and entering into contracts under the lignite research, development, and marketing program.

2. Industrial commission membership and quorum. The industrial commission consists of the governor, the attorney general, and the commissioner of agriculture. The governor and one member constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.

3. Chairman and attorney for the industrial commission. The governor is the chairman of the industrial commission, and its attorney is the attorney general of the state. In its transaction of its general business, the industrial commission may employ secretaries and other subordinate officers, clerks, and agents, on such terms as it may deem proper, appointing and discharging all persons so engaged when and as, in its judgment, the public interest may require.

4. Inquiries. Inquiries regarding the industrial commission may be addressed to the executive director and secretary for the commission:

Mrs. Karlene Fine

State Capitol