Dozens of recommendations from interim legislative committees were reported Thursday, giving a preview of the issues that should appear next session.

Those recommendations were heard by the Legislative Council, made up of House and Senate members, which also will meet today to report interim committee findings on energy development, transportation and workers compensation.

Among the recommendations reported Thursday include bills that would create more oversight of Workforce Safety and Insurance, an injection of $67 million to start the renovation and expansion of the State Penitentiary and a bill to change the relationship between the state's regulator body for pharmacies and the professional association for pharmacists.

"We're recommending a bill that would separate the two (pharmacy organizations) through statute," said Rep. Rick Berg, R-Fargo, who chairs the Industry, Business and Labor committee.

Sen. Tracy Potter, D-Bismarck, said penitentiary renovation legislation will be an important issue for Bismarck in the next session as the debate on a revamped prison continues.

"That was a key issue particularly for Bismarck," Potter said.

The Taxation Committee offered no recommendation for property or income tax relief, but Fargo Rep. Al Carlson, the House majority leader, said those issues will come up in the next session.

Other recommendations include:

n The Tribal and State Relations Committee said the Legislature should consider a bill to provide a sales and use tax exemption for purchases by an Indian tribe.

n The Commission on Alternatives to Incarceration recommended the governor include $500,000 in his budget for room and board expenses for faith-based programs that address addiction problems.

"It's all about keeping people out of prison and keeping people in the workforce," said Sen. Joel Heitkamp, D-Hankinson, chairman of the Alternatives to Incarceration Committee.

n The Education Committee recommended that every student in North Dakota complete at least one-half unit of health education in order to graduate from high school.

(Reach reporter Brian Duggan at 223-8482 or brian.duggan@;bismarcktribune.com.)