Section 54-35-02.9 - Budget section - Appointment - Powers and duties1. To provide for flexibility in the management of state funds between regular sessions of the legislative assembly and to minimize the need for and the expense of a special session, the legislative management, during each biennium, shall appoint a budget section.2. The membership of the budget section must include: a. The majority leader and the assistant majority leader of the house of representatives;b. The majority leader and the assistant majority leader of the senate;c. The minority leader and the assistant minority leader of the house of representatives;d. The minority leader and the assistant minority leader of the senate;e. The speaker of the house of representatives; andf. Each member of the legislative assembly appointed to serve on the appropriations committees of the house of representatives and the senate.3. The legislative management shall designate the chairman of the budget section. The budget section shall operate according to the statutes and procedures governing the operation of other legislative management interim committees. The budget section shall meet at least quarterly upon the call of the chairman.4. The legislative assembly, by law, may provide the authority for the budget section to approve specific actions, projects, and transfers.5.a. When evaluating state agency requests, the budget section shall consider criteria applicable to the request, including whether: (1) The request is for a specific purpose;(2) The request is for a specific amount of funds and for a specific time frame, not to continue beyond the end of the current biennium;(3) The request conforms with legislative intent;(4) The request is consistent with related statutory provisions;(5) The request supports state priorities;(6) The request improves state efficiencies and promotes effective state government;(7) If the request is for a new program, the program does not extend beyond the current biennium; and(8) The request addresses a state emergency.b. The budget section shall gather documentation that addresses each of the applicable criterion included in subdivision a from the agency requesting budget section approval.Added by S.L. 2019, ch. 438 (SB 2055),§ 15, eff. 8/1/2019.