ND HB1026

Creates new section 49-23-04.1 establishing survey procedures for locating underground facilities for information or design purposes, requiring notice to notification center within five days before surveying and imposing cost responsibility on survey ticket holder for relocates.

Amends excavation notice requirements to reduce advance notice from 48 hours to 40 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) and allows operators to request 24-hour extensions; establishes that location requests are limited to three contiguous city blocks in urban areas or four contiguous quarter sections/five linear miles in rural areas during 21-day periods.

Requires excavators to provide additional site identification information (white marking, digital lining, project staking, GIS data, maps, or meeting with operators) unless location can be clearly identified by street address, platted lot number, or is an emergency excavation.

Establishes nine-member board of directors for North Dakota one-call, incorporated nonprofit corporation to govern the notification center, with representatives from telecommunications, gas, oil, electric utilities, rural water, cable television, cities of various sizes, counties, and excavators.

Makes excavators who damage underground facilities liable for all damages, repair costs, lost product, and service interruption; establishes class A misdemeanor penalty for knowingly damaging facilities and failing to notify operators or improperly backfilling.