“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
Calls Needed to Gov. Daugaard on the Student Privacy Bill
HB1008 is currently on the Governor’s desk awaiting his signature. Urge him to sign HB1008, the student privacy bill.
The Governor has until Tuesday, March 1 at midnight to sign the bill or allow it to become law without his signature.
We are pleased that HB1008, the student privacy bill, passed in the Senate with a vote of 20-15. You may check the votes here. Click here for the House votes. If your legislators voted YES, please thank them. If they voted NO, respectfully express your disappointment.
You may e-mail Gov. Daugaard here.
Phone the Governor’s office and leave a message at (605) 773-3212.
Mailing Address:
Office of the Governor
500 E Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501
Pain Capable Bill Passes in the Senate
SB72, An Act to prohibit the abortion of an unborn child who is capable of experiencing pain and to provide a penalty therefor. After many amendments and much debate, SB72 finally was voted on in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and sent to the full Senate where it was further amended and voted on. We are pleased that SB72 passed with a vote of 21-14. Check the votes here.
SB72 recognizes the humanity of the unborn child who is capable of feeling pain. It has been well documented that unborn babies experience pain during abortion (something we pro-lifers have known for a long time). Because the unborn child’s pain inhibitors have not been fully developed, their pain is even more excruciating. Although we believe abortion at any stage of development is a monumental injustice to the unborn, the pain capable prohibition is set at 20 weeks gestation.
If your senator voted Yes, please thank him. If he voted No, respectfully express your disappointment. SB72 now heads to the House.
Human Trafficking Bill
SB168, An Act to revise provisions related to human trafficking and to provide a penalty therefor, passed unanimously in the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday, February 23. SB168 adds that no person may “receive” another person to be used in trafficking. The bill also tightens up our trafficking laws by raising the age from sixteen to eighteen complying with federal law. We expect this good bill to pass in the full Senate.
Child Pornography Bill
SB169, An Act to revise provisions related to child pornography and to revise the penalty therefor, passed unanimously in the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday, February 23. SB169 changes the penalty relating to child pornography from a Class 6 to a Class 4 felony, making the penalty more severe. We expect this good bill to pass in the full Senate.
Require Testing Rape Kits
HB1132, An Act to require the submission of sexual assault kits for testing passed unanimously in the House (HB1132 is similar to SB130.)
Without prompt testing of rape kits, criminals remain on the streets able to commit additional rapes, and victims are denied justice. CWA’s national office worked to obtain federal funds to test back-logged rape kits.