Senate Bill No. 2212 Summary

• Royalty owners, assignees, or designated representatives may inspect and copy oil and gas production and royalty payment records upon written notice, with records made available at the obligated person's place of business within the United States.

• Royalty owners may bring court action to compel record inspection if the obligated person denies access or fails to respond within 30 days; successful royalty owners recover court costs, reasonable expenses, and attorney's fees.

• The Board of University and School Lands may file proceedings in either Burleigh County or the county where the well is located, and records must be sent electronically or in a manner acceptable to the board.

• If the board prevails in legal proceedings, the district court assesses a civil penalty of $2,000 per day for each day the obligated person failed to send records to the board, ceasing when proceedings are initiated.

• The district court awards the board court costs, reasonable inspection and copying expenses, and attorney's fees upon successful proceedings.