Associated School Boards of South Dakota

January30: No changes to executive session

Members of the Senate Local Government committee voted down a bill that would have required executive and closed sessions of government bodies be recorded and records maintained for one year. Senate Bill 167 was deferred to the 41st Legislative day on 4-3 vote this morning (Wednesday). ASBSD opposed the bill. Executive Director Wade Pogany testified the bill was unnecessary and

January29: Bills pass to start week

Three bills passed their original house to start week number three of legislative session. Representatives passed House Bill 1108 by 63-5 vote on Monday. The open meeting’s related bill initially placed sub- and advisory committees under the open meetings umbrella, but was amended by the House State Affairs committee removing the requirement. The bill’s main function now is to exclude advisory bodies from

January29: K-12 gets committee focus tomorrow

Wednesday’s committee schedule marks a big day for legislation related to K-12 education. House State Affairs committee members will hear two bills that would improve upon the current K-12 education funding situation. House Bill 1201 calls for an increase to the per-student allocation dollar amount for the next three years to balance the “funding shortfalls” school

January29: “Sentinel” bill passed, Open Meetings bill impeded by House

Votes on two bills connected to school boards by the House of Representatives yielded differently results this afternoon (Tuesday). Representatives voted 42-27 to pass House Bill 1087, which would allow school boards to “create, establish and supervise” a “sentinel” program that would arm staff, security or volunteers on school grounds. A lengthy debate preceded the vote with proponents arguing the

January28: Legistlative action from last week

House Bill 1113: A bill that would make digital text communication (i.e. email, text message, online conversations) an open record if it includes discussion of official business among a quorum of board members passed the House State Affairs committee by a 7-6 vote. The committee amended the bill to exclude the scheduling of meetings via digital communication official business.

January25: ASBSD Weekly Legislative Roundup

“Sentinel” bill passes committee Following almost three hours of testimony and discussion spread acrosstwo days, the House Education committee passed an amended version of House Bill 1087 by an 8-7 vote this morning. The bill moves to the House floor for hearing next week. The bill would allow school boards to “create, establish and supervise” a “sentinel” program that would arm

January08: Changes coming for open meeting laws?

During his State of the State Address, Governor Dennis Daugaard referenced the progress of his “Better Government” initiative, which includes more openness in South Dakota government. “Open government had a banner year in 2012 with the formation of the Open Meeting Task Force,” Daugaard declared during the address. The task force, appointed by