BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem (STEN'-jehm) says the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System and the state Retirement and Investment Office can operate under current budget guidelines.
The Legislature adjourned in April before resolving the agencies' more than $13 million spending bill that affects public employee benefits.
Stenehjem says in an opinion issued Thursday that the agencies may still operate under their current budget when it ends June 30th. But he says "any expenditure of funds must be done prudently."
The Legislature couldn't agree on a measure meant to ensure public employees keep the same health coverage when their insurer changes in a month.
A committee is slated to meet Monday to try to negotiate a compromise. If an agreement is reached, the Legislature could reconvene June 16th to pass the measure.