North Dakota Code 12.1-13-03 – Public servant’s interest in public contracts
1. Every public servant authorized to sell or lease any property, or to make any contract in his official capacity, alone or in conjunction with other public servants, who voluntarily becomes interested individually in the sale, lease, or contract, directly or indirectly, is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
Attorney's Note
Under the North Dakota Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class A misdemeanor | up to 360 days | up to $3,000 |
Terms Used In North Dakota Code 12.1-13-03
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
- Political subdivision: as used in this title and in any statute outside this title which defines an offense means a county, city, school district, township, and any other local governmental entity created by law. See North Dakota Code 12.1-01-04
- Property: includes property, real and personal. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
- Public servant: as used in this title and in any statute outside this title which defines an offense means any officer or employee of government, including law enforcement officers, whether elected or appointed, and any person participating in the performance of a governmental function. See North Dakota Code 12.1-01-04
2. Subsection 1 shall not apply to:
a. Contracts of purchase or employment between a political subdivision and an officer of that subdivision, if the contracts are first unanimously approved by the other members at a meeting of the governing body of the political subdivision, and a unanimous finding is entered in the official minutes of that body that the contract is necessary because the services or property contracted for are not otherwise obtainable at equal cost.
b. Sales, leases, or contracts entered into between school boards and school board members or school officers.