All policy issues point to the goal of ending child maltreatment in South Dakota. We understand that what is predictable is preventable. We need to strengthen what we know about, how we respond to, and how we prevent child maltreatment in our state. The following initiatives align with:

  • Strengthen sexual abuse prevention programs and laws.
  • Create holistic and culturally appropriate responses and strengthen laws and policies to address instances of abuse, neglect, and household disfunction.
  • Strengthen and support resources, laws, and initiatives to address the co-occurrence of child physical abuse and domestic abuse.
  • Support and strengthen laws focusing on the best interest of the child.

  • Increase training for mandatory reporters in South Dakota.
  • Increase public awareness for permissive reporting of child maltreatment.
  • Increase the list of professions included as mandatory reporters in SDCL.
  • Increase and support bystander awareness training.

  • Increase access services to families such as home visiting, early childhood education, and parent education.
  • Promote access to mental health services to parents and all those affected by childhood trauma.
  • Support efforts to increase safe, affordable childcare and early childhood education.
  • Increase funding for evidence-based family support services and other necessary resources so they can be established in all communities.
  • Promote the notion of a shared societal responsibility for investing in the healthy development of children and providing all families with the support and resources they need and deserve.
  • Support a task force on coordinating victim services.
  • Support a multi-agency coordination team for children’s mental health services.

  • Support data collection, analysis, and sharing to create opportunity within the community and the state for increasing protective and decreasing risk factors for children.
Mother and daughter smiling at one another.

Legislative Activity

Resources

Bills: To view a full listing of the 2023 Legislative Bills, visit the SD Legislative Research Council webpage.

Legislators: There are 70 Legislators serving in the House of Representatives and 35 Legislators serving in the Senate. You can find your Legislators on the SD Legislative Research Council webpage. A complete listing of 2023 Legislators can also be found on the SD Legislative Research Council webpage.

Committees: There are 26 total standing committees (13 in each house, divided by subject matter). The primary function of a standing committee is to consider each bill or resolution assigned to the committee and to make a specific recommendation on what action should be taken regarding the bill or resolution. Following the introduction and first reading of a bill in either house, the presiding officer assigns the bill to a committee based on the subject matter. Generally, bills dealing with certain subjects are assigned to the same committee. You can find out which committees your Legislators serve on by visiting the SD LRC  webpage.

Schedule: The regular schedule and room assignment for standing committees is located HERE. For an up-to-date listing of committee schedules and agendas, click HERE. The SD Chamber of Commerce and Industry provides the annual legislative handbook.

Visiting the Capitol: Members of the public are welcome to visit the State Capitol during legislative session. To view a guide for planning your trip and knowing what to expect, visit the LRC website HERE.