Fargo Senator Tim Mathern proposes bill to make elected officials mandated reporters for child sex crimes

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — With the recent revelations in the Ray Holmberg case, North Dakota legislators are looking making law to make reporting similar incidents mandatory.

State Senator Tim Mathern, of Fargo, held a press conference along with other fellow legislators to announce a bill that would require elected officials and those employed in higher education to report incidents of crimes against children.

During the press conference, Mathern also stressed the need for fully funding the state’s ethics commission, chiding new legislation that added a cut-off time for investigations done by the commission.

“This would be a step forward towards justice as we continue to process Holmberg’s vile crimes and uncover more information on what has become the most egregious scandal in our state’s history,” Mathern said.

A house resolution seeking a study on making elected officials mandatory reporters was already voted down this session. That resolution was sponsored by Representative Nico Rios.