This past week marked week 7 of the South Dakota legislative session. There were a few measures SDAHO testified on this past week worth mentioning, including several mental health bills, sponsored by Representative Taylor Rehfeldt from Sioux Falls.
- House Bill 1078 will make an appropriation to the Department of Human Services for the development and expansion of adult day services programs. SDAHO publicly supported the measure sharing with lawmakers, House Bill 1078 is an alternative care method that will help alleviate the pressures on our members facing capacity and staffing shortages. Committee members amended the bill lowering the appropriations from $5 million to $2 million dollars. It did pass out of committee unanimously.
- House Bill 1079 will make an appropriation to the Department of Health to provide grants to support mental health and suicide prevention programs. SDAHO testified in support the measure. The original appropriation of $4 million dollars was amended to $2 million dollars, the amendment passed and then committee members passed the newly amended bill on a 14 to 4 vote.
- Senate Bill 196 was brought by Senator Jean Hunhoff of Yankton and would have provided for the study of long-term care services in South Dakota. Unfortunately, the measure was tabled at the request of Senator Hunhoff, as she felt the measure needed additional work. The Executive Board has assured us this will be a priority when they set the schedule for the 2023 interim.
To stay up to date on the bills SDAHO is actively tracking, visit the SDAHO Bill Tracker on the advocacy page.
