Even though there are still two weeks before the start of the 2019 Legislative Session, there are a number of prefiled bills. Subject matter encompasses a broad spectrum from special education to abortion.
- There is one house prefiled bill regarding the timing of the recalculation of the allocations for the disability levels in the state aid to special education.
- There are seven senate bills prefiled,
- three of which address issues related to special education,
- one codifies legislation enacted during the 2018 legislative session,
- one amends provisions regarding ag land classification,
- one discusses changes to prohibited activities near polling places and
- the final bill discusses physician protocol. Senate Bill 6 revises the provisions already in statute regarding sonogram and heart auscultation prior to an abortion. This bill is already on the Association’s watch list.
- The three draft bills from the Access to Mental Health Services Study have not yet been prefiled. The summer study committee was still amending the drafts from their last meeting in early December.
- Joint Appropriations Committee is scheduled to meet January 7th (one day prior to the first legislative day). The agenda is not available yet.
- The November Medicaid Eligibles report has been released. Insert Medicaid eligibles
- The number of South Dakotans enrolled in state medical services programs decreased by 364 to 116,366;
- Total monthly expenditures decreased by $6.7 million (9.3%) to $72,841,109;
- Fiscal year to date expenditures of $357,649,313 are $7.1 million (2.0%) greater than a year ago;
- 62 more adults were enrolled in Medicaid, 212 less children were enrolled in Medicaid, and 27 less children were enrolled in CHIP.
- One final update from the budget perspective, Governor Daugaard gave his budget proposal the first week in December; Governor-elect Noem is scheduled to give an updated budget proposal during her State of the State Address to the legislature on the first day of session, January 8th.
