BISMARCK - North Dakota senators debated the potential problems with allowing businesses to seize what they think is a fake ID but agreed to approve the bill on Tuesday.
In a 37-10 vote, Senate Bill 2133 passed and will now move to the House for debate.
The bill allows businesses to seize an ID if there is reasonable belief that it's been altered, falsified or is being used to unlawfully obtain alcohol.
The business must notify law enforcement within 24 hours, and law enforcement must respond within 24 hours.
Sen. Dwight Cook, R-Mandan, expressed concern about legitimate IDs being seized and asked what those people were supposed to do for 24 hours without identification.
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Sen. Curtis Olafson, R-Edinburg, said those with legitimate identification will stand there and protest.
"If it's fake, they're gone like lightning," he said.
Sen. Connie Triplett, D-Grand Forks, asked if there was discussion about penalizing an employee who seized a legitimate ID to harass someone.
"(The bill) puts a lot of power in the hands of bartenders," she said.
Sen. Stan Lyson, R-Williston, a former sheriff, said law enforcement could find a way to charge the employee if those instances occurred.
Sen. Ryan Taylor, D-Towner, said the bill "seems fairly heavy-handed" and also expressed concern about innocent people having their identification taken.
Sen. Tim Flakoll, R-Fargo, said the point of the bill is to get fake IDs off the streets.
"If they (bars) turn them down and can't take that (fake) ID, they just move on to the next bar or the next bar ... until they get in the door," Flakoll said. "It's not going to solve all the problems related to underage drinking or drinking inappropriately. This is just one method to help lessen that."
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PTO
A bill that would allow employers to withhold payment of employees' accrued paid time off has a do-pass committee recommendation.
The amended bill says employers would need to provide written notice to employees at the time of hiring that their PTO payment could be withheld without proper notice of quitting.
The bill is aimed at workers employed less than two years who give their employer less than 10 days written or verbal notice.
The bill now moves to the full Senate for a vote.
Concussions
The Senate unanimously passed a bill Tuesday aimed at better protecting student athletes against concussions.
Senate Bill 2281 would require school districts to follow a concussion management program if they sponsor or sanction athletic activities that require students to regularly practice, train and compete.
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Students would be removed from practice or competition if they exhibit or report any symptoms of a concussion. They then must be examined by a licensed health care provider and would need written clearance to return to the sport.
The bill also requires coaches to receive biennial training about the nature and risk of concussion, including the risk of play after a concussion or head injury.
The bill now moves to the House.
Finneman is a multimedia reporter for Forum Communications Co.
