January23

Legislative news and notes

  Open meetings law bill amended   A bill that would have subjected appointed sub- and advisory committees to open meetings laws was amended by the House State Affairs committee today.   House Bill 1108 initially introduced an amendment placing sub- and advisory committees under the open meetings umbrella. The committee decided to strike the

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January23

Vote on “Sentinel” bill deferred

  The House Education committee deferred a vote until Friday on House Bill 1087, which would allow school boards to arm staff, security or volunteers on school grounds, following a lengthy hearing this morning.   Testimony from opponents and proponents of the bill was completed and committee members opted to continue discussion on the matter

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January22

Important bills face committee hearings

  Over the next two days, five legislative committees are expected to take up some key bills and issues.   This morning Senate Education will hold a hearing on Senate Bill 76, which would reinstate $500,000 in state funding for Educational Service Agencies. Executive Director Wade Pogany is expected to testify at the hearing in

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January22

Vote on ESA bill deferred until Thursday

  Senate Education committee members decided to defer a vote on a bill that would restore state funding for Education Service Agencies until their Thursday meeting.   The decision came after the committee heard testimony and discussion on Senate Bill 76 and determined further input from the Department of Education was needed. DOE Finance Director

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January21

A bill summary from the past week

The spotlight was placed firmly on House Bill 1087, which would allow school boards to arm school employees, when it was introduced last week during legislative session.   HB 1087, which ASBSD opposes, will no doubt garner much of the attention this week, but in addition to it there were 11 more bills were introduced

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January18

Are guns the answer to protect schools?

  That question is now up for debate with the introduction of House Bill 1087.   The bill would give a local school board “sole discretion” to create a sentinel – essentially an armed guard – program to “promote school safety.”   Boards would have the authority to arm employees, security personnel or any public

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January18

ASBSD Legislative Roundup

“Sentinel” program bill focus of week   The second week of legislative session started out slow, but finished in a flurry punctuated by the introduction of House Bill 1087, which would giveschool boards “sole discretion” to create a “sentinel” program arming school officials in an attempt to increase school safety.   ASBSD opposes the bill. The

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January17

BFT bills not expected to affect distribution

Two bills modifying the Bank Franchise tax (BFT) are not expected to change the percentage of revenue distribution provided to South Dakota counties. School districts located within a county receiving the revenue are allocated a percentage.   Senate Bill 56 defines a credit card bank (think Citibank) and sets the revenue split for the BFT

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January17

“Quotes” of Note from Senate Ed.

It’s been limited to this point, but at Tuesday’s (1/15) Senate Education committee meeting, three Senators broached the subject of and possible alternatives to school funding.   Senator Deb Soholt (14) said the current funding formula feels “like it’s in its own universe in relationship to where we really need to go with accountability.”   “Away from funding,

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January17

Two bills from morning committees

  Change possible for petition notarization   House Local Government committee members unanimously voted “do pass” on House Bill 1018, which would require independent notarization on an election candidate’s nominating petition.   Secretary of State Jason Gant testified the bill would make it clear for candidates that “yes you may or no you may not” notarize

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