Senate Report by Bryan Breitling
Last Day to Introduce New Bills!
The upcoming week is the last week of introduction of new bills. As a result, with three days to go, we have 214 House bills and 211 Senate bills introduced, and expect a good number to be introduced this week as well.
In Joint Appropriations this third week, we began budget setting for six budget units that have very little change year to year. In addition, we heard budget reports from the Board of Regents (six regental universities and two regental schools), the Board of Tech Ed (four technical schools), Dept of Education and Department of Revenue. After three years of tuition freeze, a huge workforce initiative to make our post-secondary education more competitive than our neighbors, recruiting young people to our state, educating them, giving them an opportunity to love our state, and staying for a lifetime, we are seeing an uptick in students at our universities for two years in a row, up 2.02% this year. After four years of enrollment consistency, we had a 4.5% drop in tech ed enrollment this year.
On the Senate floor this week, we passed Senate Joint Resolution (SJR)501. SJR501 is a proposal to the voters to consider a constitutional amendment that imposes a work requirement for certain individuals on Medicaid Expansion. Medicaid Expansion was heavily touted as a workforce initiative, providing health care for those lower paid workforce industries that are highly needed in every state, but tend to have low employer health care coverage. I voted for this joint resolution.
Also passed this week were two bills from the Long-Term Care Summer Study. HB1015 social work licensure compact, and HB1013 advanced practice nurse compact. I supported both compacts, which enables licensure to cross state lines for any state who approves the compact. Each state continues their own scope of practice laws, so this allows increased flexibility to hire these occupation applicants from out of state easier.
In continuing the health care theme, SB87 updated the Board of Medical Examiners (BOME). The various disciplines under the BOME now have a seat on the board to have greater oversight and influence on their specific healthcare discipline. In addition, two EMS bills passed the Senate this week. SB63 updated some EMT statutory language and moved the licensure oversight from the Dept of Health to the Board of Medical Examiners. Now the EMTs are paired with paramedics under BOME oversight. SB64 updated several ambulance service issues, most notably, allowing an ambulance service who is having difficulty recruiting a medical director, can petition the Dept of Health to give them a hardship to allow an advanced practice provider to serve as ambulance program director for that service. I supported all three bills.
SB78 E15 fuel tax credit passed unanimously. This allows E15 to receive the same tax credit as E10, allowing this ethanol blend in gas pumps in SD. There were several election related bills, giving election workers some protections and rescinding some election laws passed last year that are being challenged as not complying with federal election law standards.
The upcoming cracker barrels are Feb 3 at Miller at 2 p.m., and Feb 10 in Aberdeen at NSU at 10 a.m. and Selby at 2 p.m. Thanks to the Herreid Junior and Senior classes for their visit this week!
As always, I can be reached at [email protected]. I look forward to continued conversations!
House Report by Scott Moore
I hope everyone had a good 2023 and planning for a successful 2024. I would like to start by closing 2023 legislation. In 2023 South Dakota Legislatures passed a bill appropriating five million dollars to South Dakota volunteer fire departments for personal protective equipment. Many may not know that bunker gear and other personal protective equipment have expiration dates. South Dakota Volunteer Fire Fighters Association accepted application for the grant money roughly fifteen million dollars was requested. They distributed the five million so I’m guessing this was good legislation. District 23 had twenty-six volunteer fire departments apply and received a total of $565,532.00 in grant money.
The 99th 2024 legislation has completed 12 of our 38 days, and we are on a fast pace which is good. LRC (Legislative Research Council) is organized and seems to be running smoothly. LRC employees are state full-time employees who keep proposed legislation in proper form and help wrangle the legislatures and answer questions. We couldn’t operate without them.
I am on the Education committee, Health and Human Services, and Military and Veterans Affairs committees. Throughout the past year I have had the opportunity to meet twice with about fifteen public school superintendents along with having conversations with the Secretary of Education, Dr. Graves. I have created a relationship and attended several programs with home schoolers, visited and attended programs at the South Dakota School of the Visually Handicapped, which is under the Board of Regents. District 3 legislatures invited, and I attend cracker barrels and Veteran Day programs at both Roncalli, and Aberdeen Christian Schools. I’m here to tell you there is room for all these learning opportunities in South Dakota. When I attend house education committee meetings there is a sense of tension and unnecessary comments. People/ parents want choice we have it in South Dakota but there seems to be tension mostly about money. We need to remember that the safety and education of all children should be our first concern. I believe students have a path to success and it is the parent’s job to make sure their kids are getting the education to be successful in life.
A big issue is work force shortage both with jobs that pay and with volunteer organization. Fire departments and ambulance services that rely on volunteers over the past thirty plus years have seen many mandatory regulations and training that have been put in place. Most regulations are for the safety of both responding personnel and patient. In rural South Dakota volunteering can mean the difference between having an ambulance or fire truck responding to an accident, fire, or medical emergency. I don’t have the answer, but I do know we need the services.
I can say this is an interesting job. In one moment, we can be discussing school lunch programs and within minutes discussing land-owner rights. I can guarantee I’m not an expert in all areas but each issue there is plenty to learn about.
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