Section 32-12.2-04 - Notice required - Payment of claims1.a. A person bringing a claim against the state or a state employee for an injury shall present to the director of the office of management and budget within one hundred eighty days after the alleged injury is discovered or reasonably should have been discovered a written notice stating the time, place, and circumstances of the injury, the names of any state employees known to be involved, and the amount of compensation or other relief demanded.b. The time for giving the notice does not include the time during which a person injured is incapacitated by the injury from giving the notice. If the claim is one for death, the notice may be presented by the personal representative, surviving spouse, or next of kin within one year after the alleged injury resulting in the death.c. The time for giving the notice is waived for a claim for relief that resulted from sexual assault, sexual abuse, gross sexual imposition, or any other claim based on a sexual act or sexual contact as defined in chapter 12.1-20.2. After receipt of notice of a claim, the director of the office of management and budget shall, in a timely manner, notify the head of the state entity involved, the attorney general, and any insurer or self-insurance pool providing coverage for that state entity. For claims over ten thousand dollars, the director, in consultation with the head of the state entity involved and the attorney general, may settle claims covered by the state risk management fund if the claim is made in writing and settlement is approved by the attorney general. The director of the office of management and budget may independently settle any claim covered by the state risk management fund if the claim is made in writing and the settlement is for not more than ten thousand dollars.3. A claim shall be paid out of the risk management fund unless that claim is covered by insurance or participation in a government self-insurance pool. All necessary loss adjustment expenses must be included as a component of the claim and be paid out of the fund. Loss adjustment expenses include investigation costs and attorney's fees associated with a claim.4. The acceptance by the claimant of a settlement is final and conclusive on the claimant and constitutes a complete release of any claim against the state and the state employee whose act or omission gave rise to the claim.5. A person bringing a legal action against the state or a state employee for a claim shall deliver a copy of the summons, complaint, or other legal pleading in which the claim is first asserted in the action to the director of the office of management and budget at the time the summons, complaint, or other legal pleading is served in the action. This provision is in addition to any applicable rule of civil procedure.Amended by S.L. 2023 , ch. 297( SB 2282 ), § 6, eff. 8/1/2023.