February 26, 2025:
The South Dakota House State Affairs Committee has approved (Feb. 26, 2025) all four Government Accountability bills proposed by Attorney General Marty Jackley, including three by unanimous consent.
The bills are:
- Senate Bill 60 which expands the access and investigatory authority of the State Auditor.
- Senate Bill 61 which modifies the authority of the Board of Internal Controls.
- Senate Bill 62 which establishes mandatory reporting requirements related to improper government conduct and crime, and to provide a penalty.
- Senate Bill 63 which establishes protections for state employees who report improper governmental conduct and crime.
Senate Bills 60, 62, and 63 were passed unanimously and without changes. Senate Bill 61 was amended and then approved. All four bills now go to the House floor for future consideration. The four bills have already passed the Senate.
“This legislation protects taxpayer money and those state employees who report improper governmental conduct and crime,” said Jackley.
February 6, 2025:
The South Dakota Senate unanimously approved (Feb. 6, 2025) an amended bill that expands the State Auditor’s oversight over state spending.
Senate Bill 60 mandates that the auditor’s office hire qualified accounting staff and grants access to state agency financial records. It’s one of a handful of bills proposed by Attorney General Marty Jackley to address recent incidents of state employees stealing taxpayer money from the state government agency they worked for.
Senator and Majority Leader Jim Mehlhaff of Pierre spoke in favor of the bill saying, “This amendment is very much supported by the Attorney General who introduced Senate Bill 60, very much supported by the state auditor, very much supported by the Bureau of Finance and Management.”
The revised bill empowers the state auditor to investigate potential fraud and requires reports of misconduct to be made to the auditor and attorney general.
Sen. Chris Karr of Sioux Falls said, “This is the first step in getting accounting and some investigations properly overseen.”
Aimed at strengthening financial oversight after recent state employee fraud cases, the measure also requires all agency contracts to include language acknowledging the auditor’s access rights.
The bill now heads to the House for further debate.
The South Dakota Broadcasters Association contributed to this story.
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February 5, 2025:
The South Dakota Senate rejected legislation Wednesday (Feb. 5, 2025) that would have expanded the state auditor’s investigative authority.
Senate Bill 60, introduced to strengthen fiscal oversight following recent fraud cases by state government employees, aimed to grant the auditor broader access to agency records and enhance cooperation with the Bureau of Finance and Management. An amendment to limit the auditor’s investigative authority was narrowly defeated before the final vote.
Sen. Taffy Howard of R-Rapid City opposed the amendment, arguing it would weaken the bill’s effectiveness.
Republican Sen. Jim Mehlhaff from Pierre, initially supported the bill in committee, but ultimately urged its defeat.
The Senate did pass a companion bill by a 32-1 vote. Senate Bill 61 would require each state agency to designate an internal control officer to monitor financial transactions and conduct annual reviews of procedures. It also reorganizes the Board of Internal Controls within the Bureau of Finance and Management.
SB 61 now heads to the House for further action.
The South Dakota Broadcasters Association contributed to this story.
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January 27, 2025:
Senate Bill 60, which would expand the access and investigatory authority of the State Auditor and was introduced by Attorney General Marty Jackley, and supported by the State Auditor Rich Sattgast and State Treasurer Josh Haeder, was unanimously approved Monday (Jan. 27, 2025) by the South Dakota Senate State Affairs Committee.
“Protecting taxpayer dollars and restoring the public’s trust in government are among my priorities for this legislative session,” said Attorney General Jackley. “This bill gives the State Auditor the authority to review financial records of a state agency in an effort to keep that agency more accountable to the public.”
Senate Bill 60, as amended in committee, now goes to the Senate floor for final Senate consideration.
The bill can be found here: https://mylrc.sdlegislature.gov/api/Documents/Amendment/277511.pdf.
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January 9, 2025:
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is filing seven bills to be considered during the 2025 legislative session. The bills deal with government accountability, whistleblower protections, human trafficking and corrections.
Government Accountability: Four bills deal with the ability of state government officials and employees to address and report crimes and improper governmental conduct. Separate legislation would:
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Establish mandatory reporting requirements related to crimes, improper government conduct, conflicts of interest; and to provide a penalty;
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Establish protections for state employees who report crimes, misconduct or conflicts of interest;
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Expand the access and investigatory authority of the State Auditor; and,
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Modify the authority of the Board of Internal Control to create greater, transparency in government.
“Protecting taxpayer dollars and restoring the public’s trust in government should be given high priority,” said Jackley.
Human Trafficking: The legislation would revise provisions related to human trafficking laws and prohibit the obstruction of human trafficking enforcement.
“Human trafficking remains a national concern that we are not immune from, and this legislation strengthens victim protections and enhances our ability to hold offenders accountable,” said Jackley.
Corrections: The legislation would revise provisions related to the delivery, possession with intent to deliver and possession of unauthorized articles by inmates in a state correctional facility.
“The Attorney General’s legislation seeks to protect our correctional officers from devices being used to put our officers and other inmates in danger,” said Jackley.
Presumptive Probation: The legislation would revise presumptive probation.
“Sentencing courts need more flexibility to impose appropriate sentences for certain violent offenders, and those choosing to reoffend while on probation or parole,” said Jackley.
South Dakota’s 100th legislative session starts Tuesday (Jan. 14, 2025).
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