Restricted use of money in certain political activities - Eligible uses of net proceeds
N.D. Cent. Code § 53-06.1-11.1
in effect53-06.1-11.1. Restricted use of money in certain political activities - Eligible uses of
net proceeds.
1. Except as provided in subdivision c of subsection 1 of section 53-06.1-03:
a. A licensed organization or an organization that has a permit may not use money
from any source for placing an initiated or referred measure on a ballot or for a
political campaign to promote or oppose a person for public office.
b. Except for a use related to an organization's primary purpose, a licensed
organization or organization that has a permit may not use net proceeds to
influence legislation or promote or oppose referendums or initiatives.
c. Any funds expended by a licensed organization or an organization that has a
permit to promote or oppose an initiated or referred measure that is on the ballot
or for any activities of a lobbyist under section 54-05.1-02, that are not
compensation or expenses paid to a lobbyist, and that are not required to be
reported under section 54-05.1-03 must be reported to the attorney general as
prescribed by the attorney general. A violation of this subsection subjects an
organization to a suspension of its license or permit for up to one year.
2. A licensed organization or an organization that has a restricted event permit shall
disburse net proceeds within the period prescribed by rule and for only these
educational, charitable, patriotic, fraternal, religious, or public-spirited uses:
a. Uses for stimulating and promoting state and community-based economic
development programs within the state which improve the quality of life of
community residents.
b. Uses for developing, promoting, and supporting tourism within a city, county, or
the state.
c. Uses benefiting an indefinite number of persons by bringing them under the
influence of education, cultural programs, or religion which include disbursements
to provide:
(1) Scholarships for students, if the disbursement is deposited in a scholarship
fund for defraying the cost of education to students and the scholarships are
awarded through an open and fair selection process.
(2) Supplementary assistance to a public or private nonprofit educational
institution registered with or accredited by any state.
(3) Assistance to libraries and museums.
(4) Assistance for the performing arts and humanities.
(5) Preservation of cultural heritage.
(6) Youth community, social welfare, and athletic activities.
(7) Adult amateur athletic activities within the state, including team uniforms and
equipment.
(8) Maintenance of places of public worship or support of a body of
communicants, gathered in common membership for mutual support and
edification in piety, worship, or religious observances.
(9) Scientific research.
d. Uses benefiting an indefinite number of persons by relieving them of disease,
suffering, or constraint which include disbursements to provide:
(1) Assistance to an individual or family suffering from poverty or
homelessness.
(2) Encouragement and enhancement of the active participation of the elderly in
our society.
(3) Services to the abused.
(4) Services to persons with an addicted behavior toward alcohol, gambling, or
drugs.
(5) Funds to combat juvenile delinquency and rehabilitate ex-offenders.
(6) Relief for the sick, diseased, and terminally ill and their physical well-being.
(7) Funds for emergency relief and volunteer services.
(8) Funds to nonprofit nursing homes, nonprofit day care centers, and nonprofit
medical facilities.
(9) Social services and education programs aimed at aiding emotionally and
physically distressed, handicapped, elderly, and underprivileged persons.
(10) Funds for crime prevention, fire protection and prevention, and public safety.
(11) Funds to relieve, improve, and advance the physical and mental conditions,
care and medical treatment, and health and welfare of injured or disabled
veterans.
e. Uses that perpetuate the memory and history of the dead.
f. Uses increasing comprehension of and devotion to the principles upon which the
nation was founded, including disbursements to aid in teaching the principles of
liberty, truth, justice, and equality. However, beauty pageants do not qualify.
g. The erection or maintenance of public buildings, facilities, utilities, or waterworks.
h. Uses lessening the burden of government which include disbursements to an
entity that is normally funded by a city, county, state, or United States government
and disbursements directly to a government entity or its agency.
i. Uses benefiting a definite number of persons who are the victims of loss of home
or household possessions through explosion, fire, flood, or storm and the loss is
not covered by insurance.
j. Uses benefiting a definite number of persons suffering from a seriously disabling
disease or injury causing severe loss of income or incurring extraordinary medical
expense which is not covered by insurance.
k. Uses, for community service projects, by chambers of commerce exempt from
federal income tax under section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code. A
project qualifies if it develops or promotes public services, including education,
housing, transportation, recreation, crime prevention, fire protection and
prevention, safety, tourism, and health. Uses that directly benefit a chamber of
commerce do not qualify.
l. Uses for or of benefit to efforts in support of the health, comfort, or well-being of
the community which include disbursements to provide:
(1) Funds for adult bands, including drum and bugle corps.
(2) Funds for trade shows and conventions conducted in this state.
(3) Funds for nonprofit organizations that operate a humane society, zoo, or fish
or wildlife reproduction and habitat enhancement program.
(4) Funds for public transportation, community celebration, and recreation.
(5) Funds for preservation and cleanup of the environment.
m. To the extent net proceeds are used toward the primary purpose of a charitable,
educational, religious, public safety, or public-spirited organization, or are used for
a veterans or public cemetery by a veterans organization, that has obtained a
final determination from the internal revenue service as qualifying for exemption
from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) of the Internal
Revenue Code, the organization may establish a special trust fund or foundation
as a contingency for funding or maintaining the organization's future program
services should the organization discontinue conducting games or dissolve.
n. Uses for a fundraising activity unrelated to an organization's primary purpose
provided that the gross revenue from the activity is disbursed to uses prescribed
by this subsection.
o. The administrative and program management expenses of a statewide veterans'
organization.
3. The eligible uses in subsection 2 do not include the erection, acquisition, property
taxes, special assessments, improvement, maintenance, or repair of real property
owned or leased by an organization unless the real property is used exclusively for an
eligible use, by a fraternal or veterans organization, or for office or storage space
under subsection 4.
4. A licensed organization or recipient of net proceeds may not use net proceeds for
administrative or operating expenses involving the conduct of games, but may
designate space within real property used for an organization's primary purpose as
office or storage space for gaming-related administration.
5. A veterans organization may use up to twenty percent of net proceeds per quarter for
the costs of food and beverages, including alcoholic beverages, incurred operating the
veterans organization's club. A veterans organization may operate one club in one
location.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t53c06-1.pdf#nameddest=53-06p1-11p1Fetched: 10/16/2026