ND SCR4028

Creates a council of regents to oversee administration of the North Dakota university system, replacing the current state board of higher education structure.

Council composition includes three voting members (governor or designee as chairman, superintendent of public instruction, and agriculture commissioner) and eight nonvoting members (two appointed by governor, three by House majority leader, three by Senate majority leader).

Nonvoting council members serve two-year terms with a four-consecutive-year limit; council appoints a chancellor as chief executive officer who must be a college graduate with higher education experience.

Chancellor holds authority to appoint and remove institution presidents, establish uniform accounting and budgeting systems, and manage effective administration of the university system.

Proposed constitutional amendment requires voter approval at the 2014 general election and becomes effective January 1, 2015, if approved.