15 hours Ago By Peyton Haug
BISMARCK — The North Dakota Senate rejected a resolution on Friday, April 18, urging the next Legislature to enact laws that would hold elected officials to a higher standard when it comes to reporting and penalizing child exploitation crimes.House Concurrent Resolution 3037 asked the next Legislature to draft laws that would make public officials mandatory reporters. It also demands "heightened accountability" for officials who engage in child exploitation crimes through criminal penalties and permanent removal from public office.
Crafted by the North Dakota Young Republicans, the resolution was introduced late into this session in response to the sentencing of Ray Holmberg, the state's longest-serving state senator who pleaded guilty in March to engaging in child sex abuse abroad during some of his 45 years in office. Holmberg represented parts of Grand Forks County from 1977 to 2022."It's a political knee-jerk reaction that accomplishes nothing," Sen.
Janne Myrdal, R-Edinburg, said of the resolution, calling it "virtue signaling." Myrdal provided the chamber with a list of related issues addressed through legislation in the session thus far, ranging from human trafficking to child sex abuse materials.Unlike bills, resolutions don't propose immediate changes to law.
Sen. Kristin Roers, R-Fargo, and Sen. Tim Mathern, D-Fargo, are both mandatory reporters within their work professions and shared concerns similar to those raised by Myrdal.
There are times where lawmakers hear stories in testimony of "horrific" abuses that have already been reported, Roers said."If I were a mandated reporter through my elected official position, would I then be required to report that?" Roers said. "That's one of the challenges with the way that our mandated reporter laws are: If I hear it, I have to report it, too.
" Differentiating potential cases of child abuse isn't simple, Mathern added — "people need training," he said.The resolution failed on Friday by a voice vote. Resolutions are voted upon using a voice vote unless a motion is passed to take a roll-call vote.
Have something to say? Readers with thoughts about this issue can contact their local legislators, testify in person, submit written testimony online, write a letter to the editor, leave a comment below or email Forum News Service reporter Peyton Haug at [email protected]. To track this bill, readers can download North Dakota Legislative Daily — a free app available on Google Play and the Apple App Store.
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