Make an appropriation for purchasing, storing, and distributing sexual assault kits.
Summary
Senate Bill 99 makes a one-time appropriation of $180,000 from the state general fund to the South Dakota Department of Health for the purchase, storage, and distribution of sexual assault kits to health care facilities. The bill ties the funding to the existing statutory definition of sexual assault kits in state law and directs the Department of Health to administer the expenditures through the normal voucher and warrant process.
The appropriation is available until June 30, 2028, after which any unspent or unobligated funds must revert under state budget procedures. The act becomes effective June 30, 2025, and does not create a new program or regulatory framework; instead, it provides targeted funding to support the supply chain and availability of kits used in responding to sexual assault cases.
Impact
SB99 affects state law by adding a specific general fund appropriation to the Department of Health for sexual assault kit procurement and distribution, while leaving the underlying definition and use of the kits in existing law unchanged. Its practical impact is to support health care facilities with access to kits used in evidence collection and sexual assault response, and to ensure state funds are available for storage and distribution through June 30, 2028.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad bipartisan support and moved through the Legislature with strong favorable votes at each stage, including a 69-1 final passage in the House. The available voting history suggests little opposition overall, indicating general agreement that funding sexual assault kits is a necessary public-safety and victim-support measure.
Contention
There is little visible contention in the available record, and no committee transcript excerpts are provided. The only notable point is that the bill is a direct appropriation from the general fund, so any disagreement would likely have centered on spending priorities rather than the purpose of the funding itself. The near-unanimous votes suggest that any concerns were limited and did not materially slow the bill.