There’s just a single legislative hurdle left for a bill that would provide school districts and other entities protection against certain lawsuits related to COVID-19.

 

Senate Judiciary committee members passed House Bill 1046, which limits liability for certain exposures to COVID-19, on a 5-0 vote.

 

ASBSD supports the bill, with ASBSD Executive Director Wade Pogany sharing details with committee members about the monumental task it has taken for schools to reopen” during the pandemic.

 

“Several questions about liability have hovered over our (school districts) heads,” Pogany told committee members. Now we’re here and asking for protection.”

 

“(HB) 1046 provides that protection.”

 

HB 1046 includes school districts in the list of entities who are not liable for damages due to exposure to COVID-19 on their premises, unless an individual or the entity has intentional transmitted COVID-19.

 

ASBSD joined a number of other groups in support of the bill, including the South Dakota Retailers, South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations among many others.

 

The bill now heads to the Senate floor for review and vote. If passed, it would then move to Gov. Kristi Noem’s desk for signature into law.

 

For updates on this bill and others, check the ASBSD Blog and Bill Tracker page.