LEGISLATIVE REPORTS
District 21 Senate Report
This past week the weather was in the deep freeze however, the activity in the legislature heated up. Many bills were heard Wednesday and Thursday, however they were deferred because the sponsors or people who were supposed to speak about them could not make it to Pierre.
I did enjoy meeting many of you from our district meet and greets last Saturday. I will say I learned a lot. One bill we pass out of the transportation committee was to exempt ambulances owned by the counties and cities from motor vehicle registration fees.
The Ag Committee passed an act to redirect funding to a collaborative rural veterinary medical education program for South Dakota residents. The program at SDSU (South Dakota State University) is a 2 x 2 initiative with the University of Minnesota for scholarships for 20 veterinarian students each year at state tuition rates. The students will take classes at SDSU for the first 2 years and the final 2 years at the University of Minnesota. Mowry is one of the students in this program who testified before the committee. He interned at the Animal Clinic in Winner.
I appreciate the Winner Chamberof CommerceandKarla Brozik the Chamber Director for bringing rolls and fruit for breakfast for the legislators. Everyone here looks forward to Winner day and the rolls from Winner Bakery. It definitely is appreciated.
This week in the Senate we passed legislation to finish the animal diagnostic lab at SDSU. Other legislation passed included: SB72 which provides a form a physician must use to obtain consent for an abortion.HB 1013 requires background checks for state employees who will be privy to private financial or other sensitive documents for the public.
SB 52, which would require an additional half credit of civics education for high school students, was deferred. I lobbied and voted for SB62 which would provide for the use of funds saved by coordinate care agreements between Medicare providers and IHS failed. The appropriations committee said they would take care of this in the new budget. We will hold them to that!
I met with the school administrators and called many in our district to get input on educational issues in our schools. The issues for school districts include teacher recruitment and retention, special education extraordinary costs and capitol outlay funding.
I met with the state forester about the emerald ash borer, which will kill every untreated ash tree in the state. A high percentage of trees in our shelterbelts in the state are ash. The state forester Dani Hanson would be happy to put on meetings in our communities about the problem and give assistance in what to do and replacement recommendations. The SD Dept of Ag has been working cooperatively with many cities and the Game, Fish and Parks service to tackle this problem. If you think you have an ash tree with infestation contact them, your city officials or local conservation service.
We met with the Leadership of South Dakota program which is designed to attract citizens from across the state to prepare for leadership positions in their communities, state, nationally or internationally.
HB 1040 was passed and it will allow home school students to qualify for the opportunity scholarship if they have a 24 on their ACT which is the same for public school students who take the appropriate course work.
NSU (Northern State University) is building a new sports complex with $33,000,000 all secured by donor funds. This is the last step in which NSU has raised over $120 million in donor funds to build a fine arts center, science education building, residency halls and school for the handicapped all without any taxpayer dollars.
Dakota State University (DSU) has been a shining light by adding resident halls, course work and 34 new faculty positions. They have become a national leader in cyber security and computer degrees, all without needing any taxpayer funding.
It is a privilege to serve you at the State Senate and I really enjoy hearing fro everyone.
Senator Rocky Blare