Bill > SB2142

This bill creates an Office of Legal Immigration within the North Dakota Department of Commerce. The key provisions of the bill are: 1. It establishes the Office of Legal Immigration, which will develop and implement a statewide strategy to support businesses in recruiting and retaining foreign labor, including immigrants already in the United States, and promoting the integration of immigrants into the state to create economic opportunities. 2. The Office will advise and make recommendations to the governor, legislative assembly, and state agencies on immigrant integration and foreign labor issues. 3. The Office will develop a pilot program to support businesses pursuing or employing legal immigrants and to support communities in developing immigration integration plans and activities. 4. The Office may contract with other state agencies to develop and administer programs or services related to immigration integration and access to basic needs that promote entrance and movement throughout the workforce. 5. The bill appropriates $485,000 for the 2023-2025 biennium to provide salaries and benefits for two full-time equivalent positions to administer the Office of Legal Immigration. 6. The Department of Commerce is required to conduct a study during the 2023-2024 interim to determine immigration opportunities in the state, set goals for the Office, develop performance indicators, and create a structure for a pilot program to support businesses and communities pursuing legal immigration, and to develop a fee-based system for services to be implemented in the 2025-2027 biennium.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

https://www.ndlegis.gov/assembly/68-2023/regular/bill-overview/bo2142.html