Gov. John Hoeven's office should have a coordinator of faith-based initiatives, to help churches and religious groups land federal and private grants, a group of lawmakers believe.

The proposal, sponsored by Sen. Tim Mathern, D-Fargo, mimics a federal effort supported by President Bush, though the North Dakota project would be on a much smaller scale. In the Bush administration, "faith-based and community initiatives" is a separate office within the White House.

"I think churches are generally more aware of what is going on in a community," Mathern said during a Senate Political Subdivisions Committee hearing Thursday on his legislation. "They can connect people's faith with social action."

As drafted, Mathern's bill would authorize a position on Hoeven's staff as coordinator of faith-based and community initiatives, and establish an 11-member advisory board. Mathern agreed Thursday to amendments that would eliminate the staff addition, and shrink the board to seven members.

Duane Houdek, Hoeven's legal counsel, said the governor would support the bill if those changes were made. The coordinator's job will be assigned among Hoeven's existing staff, Houdek said.

The two-year cost of the measure was previously estimated at $221,300, but the amendments should reduce that figure dramatically. The estimate gave a $188,000 two-year cost for an office director and administrative support.

"North Dakota has long been known as a community-minded state," Houdek said. "It is important that we encourage private faith- and community-based organizations to continue that tradition. It is also important that we do not simply create another level of government bureaucracy to do so."

Sen. Robert Erbele, R-Lehr, and Reps. Jim Kerzman, D-Mott, and Lee Kaldor, D-Mayville, spoke in favor of the measure Thursday. Kaldor said the state office could help local organizations with larger projects, such as rehabilitating buildings for affordable housing.

Mathern said the coordinator would help smaller religious and civic organizations, including service clubs, apply for federal and private grants.

Christopher Dodson, director of the North Dakota Catholic Conference, said the person also could provide advice for navigating state and federal rules, if an organization wanted to establish a food pantry or soup kitchen.

"Maybe they weren't looking for money, but what they were looking for was, 'What are the health and safety regulations we have to do?'" Dodson said. "What are the laws? We don't want somebody to come shut us down, right when we're in the middle of something good."

More federal money is available to states, for later distribution to local initiatives, than is available directly from the federal government, Dodson said.

"Not a dime goes to proselytizing. It only goes to things that are constitutionally acceptable," Dodson said. "But what the government does not ask, is for an organization to give up their religious identity."

The bill is SB2349.