N.D.C.C. § 57-02-01.1 — Certification of assessors

The state supervisor of assessments shall certify assessors as provided in this section.
1. To be certified as a class I assessor, an individual must:
a. Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
b. Successfully complete one hundred eighty hours of assessment and appraisal
instruction approved by the state supervisor of assessments. The number of
hours of instruction determined necessary by the state supervisor of assessments
for each of the following topics is required:
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(1) Tax administration.
(2) Principles and theory of value.
(3) Residential property appraisal.
(4) Commercial property appraisal.
(5) Agricultural property valuation.
2. To be certified as a class II assessor, an individual must:
a. Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
b. Successfully complete eighty hours of assessment and appraisal instruction
approved by the state supervisor of assessments. The number of hours of
instruction determined necessary by the state supervisor of assessments for each
of the following topics is required:
(1) Tax administration.
(2) Principles and theory of value.
(3) Residential property appraisal.
(4) Commercial property appraisal.
(5) Agricultural property valuation.
3. The state supervisor of assessments may allow credit against required instruction in
any topic under subdivision b of subsection 1 and subdivision b of subsection 2 upon
receipt of documented training in this state or another state in the topic.
4. An individual appointed as an assessor must hold the required assessor certificate at
the time of appointment or obtain that certificate within two years after initial
appointment or by July 31, 2017, whichever is later. An assessor who does not obtain
the required certificate within two years after initial appointment or by July 31, 2017,
whichever is later, or who does not maintain that certificate in good standing is not
eligible for re-appointment.
5. An assessor certificate is valid for a term of two years from the first day of the calendar
year for which it becomes effective.
6. A class I assessor certificate may be renewed if the holder has completed twenty
hours of approved classroom instruction or seminars during the term of the certificate.
For purposes of this subsection, an assessor certificate holder is entitled to one and
one-half hours of credit for each hour spent as an instructor of approved classroom
instruction or seminars during the term of the certificate.
7. A class II assessor certificate may be renewed if the holder has completed ten hours of
approved classroom instruction or seminars during the term of the certificate.
8. The state supervisor of assessments shall notify the holder of an assessor certificate
of the time for application for renewal of the individual's certificate. The state
supervisor of assessments shall notify the governing body of the taxing district
employing an assessor whose certificate is not renewed or whose certificate is
suspended or revoked.
9. Any person who is denied a certificate under this section may appeal to the tax
commissioner for a hearing under chapter 28-32.
10. The tax commissioner may adopt rules under chapter 28 -32 for the administration of
this section.
57-02-01.2. Primary residence certification - Eligibility for primary residential property
classification - Application.
1. To be eligible for a primary residential property classification under this chapter, a
primary residence must be certified by the county director of tax equalization as
provided in this section.
2. A dwelling does not lose its character as a primary residence if the owner of the
dwelling does not reside in the primary residence because the individual is confined in
a nursing home, hospital, or other care facility, for as long as that confinement lasts
and the portion of the primary residence previously occupied by the individual is not
rented to another person.
3. To be certified as a primary residence and eligible for the primary residential property
classification under this chapter, an owner shall sign and file with the tax commissioner
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an application containing a verified statement of facts establishing the owner's property
meets the eligibility requirements to be considered a primary residence under this
section as of the date of the application on a form and in the manner prescribed by the
tax commissioner.
a. An application for primary residence certification must be filed by April first of
each year to request a primary residence certification for:
(1) The taxable year during which the application is filed for a primary residence
taxed as real estate under this title.
(2) The taxable year succeeding the taxable year during which the application is
filed for a primary residence taxed as a mobile home under chapter 57-55.
b. As soon as practicable after receiving the applications, no later than May thirty-
first of each year, the tax commissioner shall:
(1) Review the applications received under this subsection and determine which
applicants qualify for the primary residence certification; and
(2) Provide to each county director of tax equalization a copy of each approved
or rejected application received under this subsection which identifies
property located in the county.
c. Within fifteen days of receipt of the applications from the tax commissioner under
paragraph 2 of subdivision b, the county director of tax equalization shall notify
the applicant of the approval or denial of the application and reflect the
appropriate classification of the property on the assessment list.
d. The tax commissioner may request additional documentation from the applicant
when making the determination of eligibility.
e. Determinations of eligibility under this subsection may be appealed through the
informal equalization process and formal abatement process.
4. A primary residence certification under this section is valid for the entire taxable year
for which the application for certification was approved, without regard to any change
of ownership of the property which occurs after the application for certification was
approved.
5. The tax commissioner shall prescribe, design, and make available all forms necessary
to effectuate this section. Application forms must include the full name and address of
the applicant and any other information prescribed by the tax commissioner. The
county director of tax equalization shall make these forms available to applicants upon
request.
6. For purposes of this section:
a. "Owned" means the individual holds a present ownership interest, including
ownership in fee simple, holds a present life estate or other terminable present
ownership interest, holds a beneficial interest in a qualifying trust, or is a
purchaser under a contract for deed. The term does not include a mere right of
occupancy or a tenancy under a lease.
b. (1) "Primary residence" means a dwelling in this state, including the land,
appurtenances, and improvements used in the residential occupancy of the
dwelling, which is not exempt from property taxes as a farm residence and,
subject to subsection 2 and paragraph 2, as of the assessment date of the
taxable year, is:
(a) Owned by one or more individuals, either directly or through a
beneficial interest in a qualifying trust;
(b) Designed or adapted for human residence;
(c) Used as a residence; and
(d) Occupied as a primary place of residence by an owner, an individual
who has a life estate in the property, or, for property owned through a
beneficial interest in a qualifying trust, by a trustor or beneficiary of the
trust who qualifies for the certification.
(2) For purposes of the term:
(a) An individual may not have more than one primary residence.
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(b) A primary residence includes a primary residence taxed under chapter
57-55.
c. "Qualifying trust" means a trust:
(1) In which the agreement, will, or court order creating the trust, an instrument
transferring property to the trust, or any other agreement that is binding on
the trustee provides that the trustor of the trust or a beneficiary of the trust
has the right to use and occupy as the trustor's or beneficiary's primary
residence rent free and without charge except for taxes and other costs and
expenses specified in the instrument or court order:
(a) For life;
(b) For the lesser of life or a term of years; or
(c) Until the date the trust is revoked or terminated by an instrument or
court order that describes the property with sufficient certainty to
identify it and is recorded in the real property records of the county in
which the property is located; and
(2) That acquires the property in an instrument of title or under a court order
that:
(a) Describes the property with sufficient certainty to identify it and the
interest acquired; and
(b) Is recorded in the real property records of the county in which the
property is located.
d. "Trustor" means an individual who transfers an interest in real or personal
property to a qualifying trust, whether during the individual's lifetime or at death,
or the individual's spouse.