ND committee unanimously signs off on proposal to limit bonuses to governor's staff, appointees

BISMARCK — A North Dakota legislative committee on Thursday, Jan. 12, signed off on a bill to limit the amount of bonuses offered to the governor’s staff and appointees.

With one member absent, the House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee gave a unanimous “do pass” recommendation to House Bill 1153. The bill would limit recruitment and retention bonuses given to employees in the governor’s office and state officers appointed by the governor to 10 percent of their annual salary or $5,000, whichever is less.

The bill came in response to some controversy in late 2015, when news broke that five staffers in then-Gov. Jack Dalrymple’s office received almost $100,000 in retention bonuses earlier that year. Two Cabinet members received more than $58,000 combined in retention bonuses.

Dalrymple defended the bonuses at the time as necessary to retain talented workers.

Read more: http://www.inforum.com/news/4197730-nd-committee-unanimously-signs-proposal-limit-bonuses-governors-staff-appointees