A bill updating the conflict of interest statute is headed for the desk of Gov. Dennis Daugaard.

 

House members unanimously concurred with Senate amendments to House Bill 1170, which amends the conflict of interest disclosure law, sending the bill to the governor for review and signature.

 

ASBSD supports the bill.

 

Executive Director Wade Pogany said during the bill’s Senate committee hearing it was “going to do a tremendous job” ensuring board members and administrators were clear on the law’s requirements.

 

Primary adjustments to the conflict of interest law found in HB 1170 include:

• Establishment of a $5,000 financial threshold for conflict of interest disclosures;
• Required authorization from the governing board before a member can enter into a contract, which if extending over consecutive fiscal years would require annual disclosure;
• Notice of who must disclose a potential conflict, including a board member, business manager, chief financial officer, superintendent, chief executive officer or other person with the authority to enter into a contract or spend money;
• Development of a conflict of interest disclosure form by the state’s Attorney general;
• Permitting the official minutes of a board in which disclosure is made and approved to be the official document submitted to the state’s Attorney General.

If signed by Gov. Daugaard, the updates made to HB 1170 will take effect on July 1.

 

For updates from legislative session, check the ASBSD Blog, Twitter feed and Bill Tracker.