An Act to make an appropriation to contract for mental health insurance for certain first responder organizations and to declare an emergency.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota:

Section 1. The South Dakota Firefighters' Association, Incorporated, shall contract to provide mental health insurance for volunteer members of first responder organizations for the State of South Dakota as provided by this section. The association shall award the contract to a provider who:

(1) Covers volunteer members of:

(a) Fire suppression organizations;

(b) Emergency medical services, including emergency medical technicians and paramedics; and

(c) Organizations providing emergency dispatch services to any eligible organization listed in subsections (a) or (b);

(2) Provides a minimum of ten thousand dollars of coverage per covered volunteer; and

(3) Provides coverage for a minimum of three years.

At the end the contract funded by this appropriation, the South Dakota Firefighters' Association, Incorporated, or the covered entities, shall be responsible for any financial obligations for continuing or establishing new coverage for mental health insurance.

Section 2. There is hereby appropriated from the general fund the sum of $200,000 $150,000 to the South Dakota Firefighters' Association, Incorporated, for the purposes authorized by section 1 of this Act.

Section 3. The president of the South Dakota Firefighters' Association, Incorporated, shall approve vouchers and the state auditor shall draw warrants to pay expenditures authorized by this Act.

Section 4. Any amounts appropriated in this Act not lawfully expended or obligated shall revert, in accordance with the procedures prescribed in chapter 4-8.

Section 5. Whereas, this Act is necessary for the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, and this Act shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval.