Latest news with #SouthDakotaSenate
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Senate OKs oversight of property leases, projects
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — The South Dakota Senate has given unanimous approval for lawmakers to have more control over long-term property leases that state government enters, as well as state Department of Game, Fish and Parks projects and leases costing more than $2.5 million. Republican Sen. Chris Karr is prime sponsor of both measures. The 35-0 votes on Monday sends them forward to the House of Representatives for further action. They are in response to deals that were made in the past six years while Kristi Noem was governor. DOC official: No contingency if new prison plan fails Senate Bill 144 would require legislative approval for GFP works. Senate Bill 145 would require legislative approval for 'any proposed real property lease by the state where the initial term of the lease exceeds a commitment of fifteen years and the base rent due during the initial term either exceeds $5,000,000 in total for the rental payments due during the term of the lease or $50,000 per month during the term of the lease.' In recent years, state government entered into leases for One Stop centers in several cities that are costing significantly more than when the services in those communities were offered at various locations. Data provided in the past to the Legislature's Joint Committee on Appropriations showed: In Sioux Falls, the One Stop lease cost $7,648,618 per year. That was a $5,598,740 increase. In Rapid City, the One Stop lease cost $1,760,250 per year. That was a $1,125,056 increase. In Spearfish, the One Stop lease cost $382,610 per year. That was a $197,983 increase. In Huron, the One Stop lease cost $328,474 per year. That was a $211,154 increase. In Madison, the One Stop lease cost $113,738 per year. That was a $29,018 increase. Karr noted that state agencies in turn also needed $11 million of new furniture when they moved into the new locations. The Senate on Monday approved a third Karr measure, Senate Bill 146, that would further restrict financial transfers within state government. 'These would stop those things from happening,' he told reporters afterward about the three-bill package. Karr said the oversight would be required regardless if the project resulted from a gift. Had the legislation been in effect, it would have covered the One Stop leases as well as projects such as the shooting range complex outside Rapid City that GFP plans to open later this year, at an estimated cost of $19.5 million, and the Outdoor Campus East renovations in Sioux Falls that will cost an estimated $6.5 million. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
SD Senate rejects effort to boost Native American history, culture lessons in schools
State Sen. Tamara Grove, R-Lower Brule, testifies Feb. 18, 2025, on the South Dakota Senate floor at the state Capitol in Pierre. (John Hult/South Dakota) PIERRE — A bill to move Native American culture and history from a permitted to a required part of South Dakota's curriculum was loosened by its sponsor in the state Senate on Tuesday, but still failed its floor vote. In its original form, Senate Bill 196 would have mandated the teaching of the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings. The phrase 'Oceti Sakowin' refers to the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota people. The set of standards and lessons was adopted seven years ago by the South Dakota Board of Education Standards with input from tribal leaders, educators and elders. A survey conducted by the state Department of Education indicated use of the Essential Understandings by 62% of teachers, but the survey was voluntary and hundreds of teachers did not respond. Lawmakers advance bill requiring SD schools to teach Native American history, culture The bill from Sen. Tamara Grove, R-Lower Brule, passed the Senate Education Committee unanimously one week ago. On the Senate floor, Grove moved an amendment that tossed the requirement that the standards be taught in favor of a requirement that the state's Indian Education Advisory Council and heads of the education departments in the state's nine tribes be involved in the next rewrite of the understandings. 'This amendment addresses the concerns of the education department,' Grove said Tuesday. Education Secretary Joe Graves told the Education Committee last week that the state doesn't need additional mandates beyond math, science, social studies and English-language arts/reading. Grove said mandated deeper involvement by tribes and the advisory council would mean Native Americans would 'be at the table when the sausage is made.' Sen. John Carley, R-Piedmont, spoke against the amended bill. He called it 'a mandate of a mandate,' as portions of the understandings are already folded into the social studies standards created at the state level. The state's educators have more important things to worry about than Oceti Sakowin lessons, he argued. 'If we're going to remandate a mandate, I'd recommend we remandate math and reading,' Carley said. The Senate voted 28-7 to defeat the bill. Meanwhile, Gov. Larry Rhoden announced Tuesday that he signed related legislation into law that will require all certified teachers, rather than only new educators or those moving from out-of-state, to take a course in South Dakota Indian Studies. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Budget committee approves $3 million cut to SD's tobacco-use prevention fund
The South Dakota Senate convenes on Feb. 5, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) A South Dakota legislative budget committee advanced a bill on Tuesday at the Capitol in Pierre to reduce state funding for tobacco and vaping prevention efforts. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to decrease annual funding for the state's Tobacco Prevention and Reduction Trust Fund from $5 million to $2 million, going against the wishes of a previous committee that voted to set the funding at $3 million. South Dakota could still access an additional $1 million in potential federal tobacco prevention grants, said Bureau of Finance and Management Commissioner Jim Terwilliger. The fund sustains the South Dakota Tobacco Control Program, aimed at preventing South Dakotans from using tobacco products and helping residents quit through the South Dakota QuitLine. Terwilliger said the state needs to 'be smarter with tobacco prevention dollars' and make budget cuts to help cover a $62 million increase in Medicaid costs. He said the cut is justified by a decline in tobacco use in the last decade. South Dakota spends the highest amount per smoker on prevention efforts, Terwilliger said, at $20.19 while the national average is $10.53. He did not cite a source for that information. Tobacco tax revenues, which support the trust fund and the general fund, have declined because of less tobacco use in the state, dipping to a projected $41.1 million this fiscal year. But $75.5 million in Medicaid costs 'as a result of smoking' demonstrate the need for continued prevention, said Jennifer Stalley, a lobbyist for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. Stalley told lawmakers that the better solution to addressing the state's budget concerns while still prioritizing prevention would be to increase the tax rate on tobacco products and expand taxable tobacco products to include e-cigarettes and other nicotine products 'that did not exist' when the trust fund was created. Prevention groups fear consequences from Noem's proposal to reduce funding for anti-tobacco efforts 'We've not changed the rate of tobacco tax in nearly two decades,' Stalley said. 'Tobacco taxes are and still remain the most effective way to reduce tobacco use, but they're a declining source of revenue by design.' Another bill, introduced by Mitchell Republican Sen. Paul Miskimins, would implement both of Stalley's recommendations while retaining the annual $5 million for the trust fund. It would also create a $10 million annual health care workforce development fund if more than $60 million is collected in tobacco tax revenue. Miskimins' bill is scheduled to be heard Wednesday in the Senate Taxation Committee. The bill reducing funding for the tobacco trust fund will head to the Senate.
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.
