N.D. Cent. Code § 11-10.3-02

11-10.3-02. Contents of plan - Limitations

1. A joint powers agreement or plan for combining the function of county elective offices

may specify:

a. The offices to be combined;

b. The selection, powers, duties, functions, qualifications and training, terms,

candidate residency requirements notwithstanding section 11-10-04, and

compensation of the combined office, and status of the office as elective or

appointive;

c. The manner of apportionment of the costs of the office;

d. Procedures for the selection, transfer, reassignment, or termination of personnel

associated with the affected offices;

e. Procedures for the transfer of powers, records, documents, and property;

f. Procedures for termination or modification of the arrangement;

g. The process for transition in implementing the office combination, including

delayed effective dates for implementation at the end of a current term or a future

term, upon the occurrence of a vacancy, or on a date certain;

h. A process for the limited application or temporary implementation of the plan,

including provisions that permit implementation on an experimental or pilot basis

such as the expiration of the plan on a date certain in the future, require

reapproval of the plan by the electors at a future date, or a phased-in

implementation of various components of the plan; and

i. Other provisions pertaining to the combined office that the affected boards of

county commissioners deem necessary or advisable.

2. A proposed plan for combining the functions of county elective offices may not diminish

the term of office for which a current county officer was elected, redesignate that

elected office during that term as appointed, or reduce the salary of the office for that

term. The plan may not diminish any general responsibility of county government to

perform any function or provide any service that is required by law to be performed or

provided by county government.

3. A proposed plan may not diminish the future term of office, or redesignate an elected

office as appointed, with respect to any person who, on August 1, 1993, holds an

elected county office and continues to hold that specific office for future terms on an

uninterrupted basis. This subsection does not apply after January 1, 2002, or if the

person holding the affected office consents in writing to the proposed plan, and files

that written document prior to the scheduled implementation of the plan with the district

court for each county.