Latest news with #SB60
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jackley pleased with legislation beefing up oversight and punishment
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — It's been a good year for South Dakota's Attorney General. Lawmakers passed six bills he championed that will toughen up the state's laws. Governor Larry Rhoden signed more than a 140 bills into law this year. Attorney General Marty Jackley says six new laws will strengthen penalties against people who are convicted and boost oversight of state workers. Jackley admits it took a slew of fraud and embezzlement investigations against state workers to get some lawmakers to take his requests seriously. Impeaching judges 'unusual, unique' law school dean says 'If you go back to EB5 and Gear up that should have been enough, in fact some of these laws, the whistleblower I brought back in the wake of EB5 and Gear up and just could not get the support,' said Jackley. 'This year we had the overwhelming support, between EB5, Gear Up, six criminal prosecutions, three ongoing investigations, lawmakers saw the need and they acted on it. SB 60 expands the investigative authority of the state auditor. SB 62 Establishes mandatory reporting related to crime and improper conduct by state employees 'Number one , we wanted to make sure the people's auditor had access to the records to try to prevent the frauds,' said Jackley. 'We also wanted to make sure there was internal controls to try to catch thefts early on, then there was a mandatory reporting not by the state employees but by their supervisors. What we were finding is in several instances, supervisors had been provided information from employees and didn't act on that information.'State lawmakers also approved protections for state employees who report improper government conduct. Another new law could mean jail time for anyone caught bringing items to prisoners at the state penitentiary. And SB 58 increases the prison time for those convicted of human trafficking in South Dakota. Jackley says these new laws are a big step in bringing trust back to state government. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alabama Senate passes bill increasing borrowing power by $500 million for prison construction
Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee Chair Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, speaks with a colleague on the floor of the Alabama Senate on Feb. 4, 2025 in Montgomery, Alabama. The Alabama Senate passed a bill that on February 18, 2025 that would allow the state to borrow an additional $500 million for state prison construction due to rising costs and increasing prison population. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama Senate Tuesday passed a bill that would allow the state to borrow an additional $500 million for state prison construction. SB 60, sponsored by Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, would increase the state's borrowing power for prison projects to approximately $1.28 billion. Albritton, who said the economy could be 'a little bit rocky,' said on the Senate floor Tuesday they don't have to borrow the whole amount, but with the increase in building costs and an economy that's expected to be 'a little bit rocky,' this will put them in a comfortable position to finish the projects. 'It's going to allow us to continue with the construction that's ongoing, without stopping and without letting up,' Albritton said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Lawmakers approved $1.3 billion in 2021 to build two 4,000-bed men's prisons in Elmore and Escambia counties. Lawmakers hope the new spaces will alleviate prison overcrowding, create safer environments for inmates and staff and increase space for rehabilitative programs. But costs of the project have soared well beyond initial estimates. The price tag for the Elmore facility, named for Gov. Kay Ivey last year, has risen to over $1 billion. The plan received Democratic support on the Senate floor, with Senate Minority Leader Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, saying that 'it's not like this is just a hobby for us and we just want to build some prisons.' 'We're here because we have a target on us, and we've seen in states like California and Carolinas, where the feds have gone in and taken over those prisons,' Singleton said. Singleton did ask what increasing the borrowing power would do to the state's credit rating. Albritton didn't directly answer the question but said that 'financially, we're capable and able to handle this.' 'Our credit rating has improved substantially on the national and international market. We have made huge improvements in our standings,' Albritton said. The Alabama Department of Corrections has been under scrutiny for prison conditions, staffing shortages and rising inmate populations. The U.S. Department of Justice sued Alabama in 2020, alleging violence in men's prisons violated inmates' Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment. Albritton said that although the new prisons won't address every lawsuit the Department of Corrections is in, it will be a 'huge step in being able to correct those ills that we have.' Singleton agreed, saying that Alabama has had 'some real inhumane facilities – facilities really not built for human capacity' and that what lawmakers are doing is 'number one, safety.' 'Not only safe for the inmate but safe for those people that we send in, those Alabamians that we send in there every day to do that job, which is not a sexy job,' he said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Senate wants to let state auditor investigate, too
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — The South Dakota Senate now agrees that the state auditor should have access to all financial records of all state government agencies. The 35-0 vote on Thursday sends Senate Bill 60 to the state House of Representatives for further consideration. Immigration bill is Rhoden's first new law as governor Several state government departments have been rocked in the past year by allegations of financial misdeeds on the parts of a half-dozen now-former employees. South Dakota already has the state Department of Legislative Audit that annually combs through state financial records and the state Division of Criminal Investigation, which operates as part of the state attorney general office. The Senate-passed version of SB 60 is noticeably different than the original legislation from state Attorney General Marty Jackley. Senators added more details to some parts while other pieces have been removed. An earlier version of SB 60 had stalled in the Senate on Wednesday. Republican Sen. Steve Kolbeck offered an amendment that had the attorney general's support, but other Republican senators wouldn't make the changes. The bill then failed to pass on a 16-17 vote. Republican Sen. Sue Peterson resurrected it Thursday, however, Republican Senate leader Jim Mehlhaff won approval for changes that were very similar to what Kolbeck had offered. The Senate-approved version directs the state auditor to 'employ a qualified with experience in accounting and auditing to monitor the state accounting system.' It further says the state auditor 'is entitled to access all digital and onsite accounts, books, records, reports, and vouchers, of every agency, pertaining to financial receipt and expenditure transactions of the state … as necessary for purposes of investigating transactions and identifying improper governmental conduct, and ensuring that effective internal financial controls are in place and maintained.' The legislation also now says, 'The state auditor shall report any improper government conduct, crime, fraud, misappropriation, or misfeasance to the auditor general and the attorney general.' That provides an additional check and balance. In addition to SB 60, Jackley brought three other bills dealing with corruption involving state government: The Senate on Wednesday approved Senate Bill 61 that seeks to make changes to the state Board of Internal Control. The House takes it up next. Senate Bill 62 awaits a first hearing in Senate Judiciary Committee. SB 62 proposes to establish mandatory reporting requirements related to crimes, improper governmental conduct, and conflicts of interest. Senate Bill 63 meanwhile would establish protections for state employees who report crimes, misconduct, or conflicts of interest. It too awaits a first hearing in Senate Judiciary. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
South Dakota Senate revives bill to expand powers for state auditor
South Dakota State Auditor, Rich Sattgast, briefs lawmakers on the state budget committee on Jan. 14, 2025. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight) The state Senate voted unanimously to grant the state auditor the right to access and investigate agency records on Thursday — 24 hours after shooting down the idea by a single vote. The Wednesday loss for Senate Bill 60 at the state Capitol in Pierre came amid confusion over a compromise amendment meant to appease the concerns of the governor's office. The bill was introduced by Attorney General Marty Jackley and supported by Auditor Rich Sattgast. Several lawmakers said Wednesday from the Senate floor in Pierre that all three offices had agreed to remove the audit and investigatory authority of the auditor from the original bill, so as not to duplicate the work of the attorney general. Others signaled that such a move would defang the bill, and that they preferred the attorney general-supported version that cleared a Senate committee on Jan. 27. The auditor and attorney general sat in the gallery for the second round of debate on the bill Thursday. Jackley brought it to lawmakers at the start of session in the face of the myriad scandals involving former state employees. Ex-Department of Social Services (DSS) employee Lonna Carroll is accused last July of embezzling $1.8 million from the state. Former Department of Revenue employee Sandra O'Day allegedly created 13 fake vehicles to help her secure $400,000 in loans before her death last year. Two more former revenue department employees, Lynne Hunsley and Danielle Degenstein, were later charged for malfeasance. Renee Strong faces felony charges for allegedly submitting falsified reports of food-service health inspections for the Department of Public Safety. Former DSS employee Amalia Escalante Barrientos pleaded guilty last month to a misdemeanor for using a voucher intended for a foster family to buy groceries for herself. After the Senate voted to reconsider SB 60 on Thursday, Sen. Jim Mehlhaff, R-Pierre, moved an amendment similar to the one he'd spoken against the day before. There was 'quite a bit of confusion' Wednesday about Jackley's position on the compromise amendment, he said, but 'this is very much supported by the attorney general,' as well as the governor's office and auditor. Currently, the state auditor doesn't have the authority to access agency records and assess their financial and operational fidelity. In its original form, SB 60 empowered the auditor with access to the financial and internal records of state agencies for the purposes of conducting audits, and to conduct investigations. The governor's office had argued that an elected state auditor doesn't necessarily have the professional expertise to conduct agency audits. There were also concerns about duplicating investigative efforts. Thursday's amendment still removed audit authority, but preserved access to records, as well as the ability to investigate financial transactions. In the event malfeasance or irregularities emerge, the auditor would report them to the attorney general. Senate President Pro Tempore Chris Karr, R-Sioux Falls, said he was pleased to see the state office-holders compromise with the legislature to ease their worries about the bill's value as a bulwark against misconduct. 'Do I still like the original bill? I do. Is this amendment, I think, a compromise we should move forward? I think it is,' Karr said. Wednesday's version of the bill died 17-18; Thursday's iteration passed 35-0. The Senate did vote Wednesday to advance another Jackley-backed transparency bill, Senate Bill 61, which seeks to strengthen the state's internal control board. Senate Bill 60 now moves to the state House of Representatives. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
South Dakota Senate revives bill to expand powers for state auditor
South Dakota State Auditor, Rich Sattgast, briefs lawmakers on the state budget committee on Jan. 14, 2025. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight) The state Senate voted unanimously to grant the state auditor the right to access and investigate agency records on Thursday — 24 hours after shooting down the idea by a single vote. The Wednesday loss for Senate Bill 60 at the state Capitol in Pierre came amid confusion over a compromise amendment meant to appease the concerns of the governor's office. The bill was introduced by Attorney General Marty Jackley and supported by Auditor Rich Sattgast. Several lawmakers said Wednesday from the Senate floor in Pierre that all three offices had agreed to remove the audit and investigatory authority of the auditor from the original bill, so as not to duplicate the work of the attorney general. Others signaled that such a move would defang the bill, and that they preferred the attorney general-supported version that cleared a Senate committee on Jan. 27. The auditor and attorney general sat in the gallery for the second round of debate on the bill Thursday. Jackley brought it to lawmakers at the start of session in the face of the myriad scandals involving former state employees. Ex-Department of Social Services (DSS) employee Lonna Carroll is accused last July of embezzling $1.8 million from the state. Former Department of Revenue employee Sandra O'Day allegedly created 13 fake vehicles to help her secure $400,000 in loans before her death last year. Two more former revenue department employees, Lynne Hunsley and Danielle Degenstein, were later charged for malfeasance. Renee Strong faces felony charges for allegedly submitting falsified reports of food-service health inspections for the Department of Public Safety. Former DSS employee Amalia Escalante Barrientos pleaded guilty last month to a misdemeanor for using a voucher intended for a foster family to buy groceries for herself. After the Senate voted to reconsider SB 60 on Thursday, Sen. Jim Mehlhaff, R-Pierre, moved an amendment similar to the one he'd spoken against the day before. There was 'quite a bit of confusion' Wednesday about Jackley's position on the compromise amendment, he said, but 'this is very much supported by the attorney general,' as well as the governor's office and auditor. Currently, the state auditor doesn't have the authority to access agency records and assess their financial and operational fidelity. In its original form, SB 60 empowered the auditor with access to the financial and internal records of state agencies for the purposes of conducting audits, and to conduct investigations. The governor's office had argued that an elected state auditor doesn't necessarily have the professional expertise to conduct agency audits. There were also concerns about duplicating investigative efforts. Thursday's amendment still removed audit authority, but preserved access to records, as well as the ability to investigate financial transactions. In the event malfeasance or irregularities emerge, the auditor would report them to the attorney general. Senate President Pro Tempore Chris Karr, R-Sioux Falls, said he was pleased to see the state office-holders compromise with the legislature to ease their worries about the bill's value as a bulwark against misconduct. 'Do I still like the original bill? I do. Is this amendment, I think, a compromise we should move forward? I think it is,' Karr said. Wednesday's version of the bill died 17-18; Thursday's iteration passed 35-0. The Senate did vote Wednesday to advance another Jackley-backed transparency bill, Senate Bill 61, which seeks to strengthen the state's internal control board. Senate Bill 60 now moves to the state House of Representatives. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
