Section 11-11.1-01 - Job development authority - Board of directors' members qualifications1. The board of county commissioners, by resolution, may create a job development authority for the county, or may discontinue a job development authority which has been created for the county. a. If the authority is created, the question of discontinuing the authority may be placed on the ballot at the next regular election by petition filed with the county auditor at least ninety days before any countywide election and signed by electors of the county who are residents of the area subject to taxation under section 11-11.1-04 equal in number to ten percent of the votes cast in the county in the area subject to taxation under section 11-11.1-04 for the office of governor in the last general election.b. The question to be voted on at the election must be submitted by ballot in substantially the following form: Should the (insert name of job development authority) Yes []
be terminated? No []
c. Only electors of the county who are residents of the area subject to taxation under section 11-11.1-04 may vote on the question to discontinue the authority. The question to discontinue the authority requires a majority of the electors voting on the question for passage.2. If the authority is created, a board of directors of not fewer than ten nor more than twenty members must be appointed by the county commissioners and must consist of representatives from the following groups, as they may exist: a. Two members from the county commission.b. One member from the city council or commission of each city within the county which has a population of five hundred or more.c. One member selected from among the city governments of the remaining cities of the county.d. If a majority of the townships in the county are organized townships, two members selected from the township governments of the organized townships in the county.e. The remaining members must be selected from a list of candidates from the following fields: (1) A representative of the local job service office nearest the county seat.(2) A member of the local airport authority.(3) A member of a local institution of higher education.(4) A member from among the school boards of the county.(5) A member from a local industrial development organization.(6) A member of the regional planning council serving the county.(7) A member of the legislative assembly representing a district within the county.(8) Members at large from the county.3. The county commissioners shall make appointments to the board from a slate of candidates submitted by the chambers of commerce within the county. If no chamber of commerce exists in the county, the nominations may be submitted by any civic or patriotic organization within the county. If names submitted are unacceptable, the county commission may request additional nominees. The members must be appointed without regard to political affiliation and upon their fitness to serve as members by reason of character, experience, and training. All members of the board who do not reside in the area subject to taxation under section 11-11.1-04 are nonvoting members of the board.4. The board of county commissioners in a county where an active industrial development organization exists may enter a contract with the industrial development organization for performance of the functions of a job development authority or joint job development authority as provided in this chapter and may use the proceeds of the levy authority under section 11-11.1-04 for that purpose.5. Notwithstanding any provision in this chapter, if a board of county commissioners elects to contract with an active economic development organization to perform the functions of a job development authority:a. The board of county commissioners may, as an alternative to subsections 2 and 3, authorize the board of directors of an active economic development organization to serve as the board of directors for the job development authority authorized under this chapter.b. The board of directors of the active economic development organization may elect to seat some or all of the organization's board of directors on the board of directors of the job development authority. The board of directors of the job development authority must be approved by the board of county commissioners.Amended by S.L. 2023 , ch. 112( SB 2306 ), § 1, eff. 8/1/2023.Amended by S.L. 2015 , ch. 439( SB 2144 ), § 15, eff. 1/1/2015.