[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6343364,"mediaKeyId","2252396-2cd49c653c71e0186487b6b5720a52e7","parentId",2252396,"title","Chair proposes Armstrong baseline as starting point for Protection and Advocacy Project budget","audioSeconds",817,"startMs",397000,"endMs",1214000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2252396-2cd49c653c71e0186487b6b5720a52e7&start=397&end=1214","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2252396-2cd49c653c71e0186487b6b5720a52e7/thumbnail_397000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6343364/North-Dakota/Chair-proposes-Armstrong-baseline-as-starting-point-for-Protection-and-Advocacy-Project-budget","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6343364-0ae21e740978d28ceb8182eaff8b8a21/orig.mp4?Expires=1771064793&Signature=fKJq4H29lRDJlALQylOccdOM1df0EBc0sETbc3ad5qaSRfy1dFwFLfxdds~mcRIDcOsnUx8YQgZP6K0~wx1tdHwcGiThLBqdNPYd-yoUuzzbkS2qGAhPlPwwqpl7IJW4Wd-BOf8YEWNli6NX1ks37wE5jJ0zxrWDOGiOTG1mWgi7WMZ0w9gOaKablYIP8Wd8dnGrgLMrsX~uAHgGhdDhSgOqyS~3PBvbQK2~ePr6qAaJO-SN3IU3Tii7~N6eM5I~GzZ2HKuWjwEX4sVD39CYbiKJPlzUcN5BB6azL40pjUBozBdzNVK8Mwi7n6I4xdEY9qFS2i-pjUM6zvxwi7Z4og__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","House Appropriations - Human Resources Division","date","2025-02-07T00:00:00Z","article","Chairman Nelson convened the Human Resources Division section of the House Appropriations Committee to review the Protection and Advocacy Project budget and asked staff to explain differences between the competing executive proposals and how the committee will handle amendments.

Legislative staff summarized why the two executive budgets differ and what items the committee will routinely treat the same going forward. \"In this case, really the only difference would be with the, salaries and wages increase,\" staff member Adam said, and he identified standard adjustments—salary and health insurance increases and a new-and-vacant FTE pool—that will appear across agency worksheets.

The committee was told the Armstrong version of the executive recommendation is the simplest baseline for the panel to adopt now, subject to any member amendments. Chairman Nelson said using the Armstrong figures as a baseline would allow the legislative staff to draft amendment language and accompanying documents for the committee to review and vote on at its next meeting.

Key provisions discussed included:

- Salary and health insurance adjustments: staff flagged two line items commonly shown together on the statement of purpose for amendments (SPA). The worksheet included separate entries listing a roughly $246,000 figure and a roughly $180,000 figure; staff said those amounts are normally presented as a combined SPA total with a footnote detailing each component.

- One new FTE: staff said the budget adds one workforce-technology-services FTE, funded by a roughly 50/50 split of general fund and federal dollars. Chairman Nelson and staff cited a figure of $237,880 in connection with that position as included in the Armstrong worksheet.

- New-and-vacant FTE pool: the staff noted the 2025–27 new-and-vacant FTE pool is a separate line that is not yet shown on this worksheet and that the pool will affect totals once the committee decides which positions to include.

- Federal funding adjustment: both executive versions show a roughly $24,000 reduction in federal fund authority that the agency requested based on its expectation it will not need that authority in 2025–27. Adam said that if additional federal funds materialize during the biennium, the Emergency Commission or the budget section could authorize extra spending authority later.

- One-time payouts: the agency requested one-time funding to cover anticipated accrued-leave payouts tied to retirements; staff cited an amount in the $19,000 range for that one‑time request.

Committee members asked how adopting the Armstrong baseline would affect the new-and-vacant pool and whether individual items (the new FTE, IT rate increases, federal adjustments and one-time payouts) would be carried forward automatically. Adam said the pool and the Armstrong choices would be included if the committee directs staff to proceed with the Armstrong recommendation, and that the legislative staff will prepare amendment language and the SPA that will document each component in the footnotes.

Representative Steeman and Representative Murphy asked whether the $24,000 federal reduction was a firm cut or a projection; staff replied it came from the agency's anticipation and could be restored later if federal funds arrive. Members were also reminded that legislative counsel will draft any member amendments and that full amendment packages (long sheet, bill version, and SPA) will be available for the committee when it reconvenes.

The chair closed by asking members to submit any amendment requests before the next session. Legislative staff said the Protection and Advocacy Project amendment packet will be ready first thing Tuesday morning for committee review and that the committee will vote on any member amendments at that time.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations - Human Resources Division Feb 7, 2025\t","oneSentenceSummary","Chairman Nelson convened the Human Resources Division of the House Appropriations Committee to review the Protection and Advocacy Project budget and asked staff to explain differences between competing executive proposals and how amendments will be handled.","taxTitle","Appropriations - Human Resources Division, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28888,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6343359,"Refugees testify on resettlement challenges, urge licensing and integration support",3508,1857000,5365000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2252396-2cd49c653c71e0186487b6b5720a52e7&start=1857&end=5365","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2252396-2cd49c653c71e0186487b6b5720a52e7/thumbnail_1857000.jpg","/articles/6343359/North-Dakota/Refugees-testify-on-resettlement-challenges-urge-licensing-and-integration-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6343359-db44fb7bfb6d7766f14d4fec47d84f6d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771064793&Signature=TfEKUXTWT~BBH1Tu7Vec67Kn2R8oY4FgRWpftQvEFGGXe33EVbMEAc1V~M01iQ5Jx9HD4qmiWgnlHIRXnHu8OthVPDZTRqLIrIBne7S7334wzVlw~BZ2oaL51XnC8gkSUcwjNlGeLBd1SA01ZkF1A83y5YqZWsSnLWSt7Z10jblTJ8WUe7T87EbMnSLgBRLmjgcyzWQOpy20v~tR1BsnmdtswWPekwJuWh8JFmJfDg3Sn5AIMjNl90~0nkUqHXx0sCGmvnooZ7Iz7Ih7ebWGfcfcCbtivHG96F3gTqatf~EHltowpy1yekOYhHzSxv-TG11fdt892Dtt6cWSvSkJOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Holly Trisca Dolly, North Dakota’s state refugee coordinator, brought four recently resettled residents to the House Appropriations Committee’s Human Resources Division to share personal accounts of arriving and rebuilding lives in North Dakota.

\"These are all individuals that went through The US Refugee Admissions Program,\" Holly Trisca Dolly said, explaining the witnesses had undergone months of screening and obtained legal refugee status prior to resettlement. The panel heard testimony from Donald Moncada, a physician from Nicaragua now working as a certified nursing assistant and health navigator; his son Samuel Moncada; Natalia Ostapchak, a long-time Bismarck resident who described home-buying and family hardships; and Joy Quicero, an integration specialist and emergency-room nurse.

The witnesses described barriers that affect workforce integration and community stability: licensing recognition for foreign-trained professionals, lack of credit history and difficulty accessing loans, language and transportation challenges, and the need for hands-on mentoring and local sponsorship. Representative O'Brien flagged a pending Senate measure and invited one witness to testify on it: \"We have a senate bill. It is 2270, and that's relating to international physicians,\" O'Brien said, and invited Dr. Moncada to provide testimony at the bill's next hearing.

Donald Moncada described the professional transition after resettlement. \"Bismarck is now our home,\" he said. He told the committee he trained and worked in his country’s Ministry of Health and, after five years in Costa Rica, resettled in Bismarck with his family. He obtained a certified nursing assistant certificate, works at Bismarck Global Neighbors as a health navigator and said he aims to pursue a master's in public health to improve access to care.

Nineteen‑year‑old Samuel Moncada described cultural adaptation and early work experience: \"Truly in America, everything is possible,\" he said, and recounted learning English on the job at Starbucks and seeking economic opportunities.

Natalia Ostapchak recounted the difficulty of obtaining a mortgage without U.S. credit history and described a long process that included multiple bank refusals and reliance on a community loan program to buy a home. She urged the committee to \"believe in us,\" adding, \"Refugees are cake, are cherry on top. We bring a new culture...\" (testimony excerpt).

Joy Quicero, who works as an integration specialist, described the practical help that resettled families need: over-explaining processes, step-by-step support for forms and appointments, transportation help, and mentors to introduce newcomers to everyday tasks. She said many refugees downplay prior professional credentials because of a belief their foreign qualifications are “useless” in the United States.

Members praised the witnesses’ resilience and suggested practical follow-up. Representative Murphy and Representative Nelson encouraged witnesses interested in medical careers to engage with state programs and medical-school contacts; Representative Nelson said staff would share contact information with higher‑education and health‑system representatives. Committee members also noted the role of local nonprofits, mentoring programs and job‑service offices in helping new residents obtain certifications and employment.

Holly Trisca Dolly closed by asking the committee to remember the stories when considering refugee‑related programs and funding. Committee members said the testimony was useful and suggested more such panels could be scheduled during the session.

Votes or formal actions were not taken on policy measures during the testimony; one bill (Senate Bill 2270, relating to international physicians) was mentioned and a witness was invited to testify before that bill's hearing.","Refugee coordinator Holly Trisca Dolly and four resettled residents told the Appropriations — Human Resources Division about housing, licensing, employment and credit barriers and volunteered to participate in legislation on international physicians and workforce support.","actionData","errors"]

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Chair proposes Armstrong baseline as starting point for Protection and Advocacy Project budget

Refugees testify on resettlement challenges, urge licensing and integration support