A bill that gives preference to the open enrollment application of siblings was signed into law by Gov. Dennis Daugaard this week.

 

House Bill 1033 requires a sibling of an applicant be currently enrolled in the district in order for open enrollment application to receive preference when applications are reviewed.

 

S.D. Department of Education Attorney Bobbi Rank said the bill addresses what they believed to be a conflict in state law.

 

Sen. Chuck Welke told his peers the bill’s “intent is to keep families together” in school districts through application preference. An amendment introduced and eventually passed simply strengthened the preference provision.

 

ASBSD took a monitor position on the bill.

 

HB 1033 and other pieces of legislation will be reviewed as part of ASBSD’s Legislative Summary, which is scheduled for release following “Veto Day” on Monday, March 31.