BISMARCK - Nearly 30 applicants who have applied to be commissioner of the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands will remain confidential under a new state law.
The law took effect on Aug. 1. It shields names of applicants for state government jobs from the open records law, though the names of job finalists will be made public.
The department oversees the permanent educational trust funds and assets under the Land Board's control.
Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem is a member of the Land Board and doesn't like the new law. He says the "public is always interested in who applies."
The North Dakota Broadcasters Association also dislikes the law. Association attorney Jack McDonald says the law deprives the public of knowing who's applying and leads to less participation.