84th Legislative Session _ 2009

Committee: Senate Commerce
Thursday, March 05, 2009

                                            P - Present
                                            E - Excused
                                            A - Absent

Roll Call
P    Adelstein
P    Gant
P    Merchant
P    Nelson, Vice-Chair
P    Nesselhuf
P    Turbak Berry
P    Olson (Russell), Chair

OTHERS PRESENT: See Original Minutes

The meeting was called to order by Chair Senator Russell Olson.

MOTION:     TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2009

Moved by:    Nelson
Second by:    Merchant
Action:    Prevailed by voice vote.

        
HB 1219: allow a filing entity or qualified foreign entity to file a short form in lieu of an annual report under certain conditions.

Presented by:    Representative Marc Feinstein

MOTION:     TO TABLE HB 1219

Moved by:    Gant
Second by:    Merchant
Action:    Prevailed by roll call vote. (5-0-2-0)

Voting Yes:    Adelstein, Gant, Merchant, Nelson, Olson (Russell)



Excused:    Nesselhuf, Turbak Berry

        
HB 1176: clarify unemployment benefits.

Presented by:    Representative Brian Gosch
Proponents:    Representative Deb Peters
        David Owen, SD Chamber of Commerce & Industry
        Shawn Lyons, SD Retailers Association
        Bob O'Connell, Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
        Paul Aylward, SD AFSCME 59 Dakotas Public Employees Union
Opponents:    Mark Anderson, State Federation of Labor AFL-CIO, SD (Handouts #1 &2)

MOTION:     AMEND HB 1176

1176jd

     On the House State Affairs Committee engrossed bill, delete everything after the enacting clause and insert:

     "
     Section 1. That § 61-1-1 be amended to read as follows:

     61-1-1.   Terms used in this title mean:

             (1)      "Annual payroll," the total amount of taxable wages paid by an employer during a calendar year for employment;

             (2)      "Base period," the first four out of the last five completed calendar quarters immediately preceding an individual's benefit year. For an individual who fails to meet the qualifications of § 61-6-7 due to the receipt of temporary total disability payments under worker's compensation, the base period is the first four of the last five completed quarters preceding the disability if a claim for unemployment benefits is filed within twenty-four months of the date on which the individual's disability was incurred. For an individual who fails to meet the minimum requirements of §  61-6-7 due to insufficient wages, the base period is the four completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the individual's benefit year. However, no calendar quarter used in one base period of a valid claim may be used in a subsequent base period;

             (3)      "Benefit year," the one-year period beginning with the day on which a claimant files a valid new claim for benefits, or the one-year period beginning with the day on which a claimant files a valid new claim after the termination of his last preceding benefit year;

             (4)      "Benefits," the money payments payable to an unemployed individual, as provided in this title;

             (5)      "Calendar quarter," the period of three consecutive calendar months ending on March thirty-first, June thirtieth, September thirtieth, or December thirty-first;

             (6)      "Contributions," the money payments to the state unemployment compensation fund required by this title;

             (7)      "Department," the Department of Labor created by chapter 1-37;

             (8)      "Educational service agency," a governmental agency or governmental entity which is established and operated exclusively for the purpose of providing services to one or more educational institutions;

             (9)      "Employment office," a free public employment office, or branch thereof, operated by this state or maintained as part of a state or federal controlled system of public employment offices;

             (10)      "Employment security administration fund," the employment security administration fund established by this title;

             (11)      "Extended benefits," the benefits that are provided in §§ 61-6-29 to 61-6-35, inclusive;

             (12)      "Fund," the unemployment compensation fund established by this title;

             (13)      "Hospital," an institution which has been licensed, certified or approved by the State Department of Health as a hospital;

             (14)      "Institution of higher education," an educational institution which:

             (a)      Admits as regular students only individuals having a certificate of graduation from a high school, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate; and

             (b)      Is legally authorized in this state to provide a program of education beyond high school; and

             (c)      Provides an educational program for which it awards a bachelor's or higher degree, or provides a program which is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree, provides an educational program of postgraduate or postdoctoral studies, or provides an educational program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation; and

             (d)      Is a public or other nonprofit institution.

             Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this subdivision, all colleges and universities in this state are "institutions of higher education";

             (15)      "Insured work," employment for employers as defined in §§ 61-1-4 to 61-1-31, inclusive;

             (16)      "State," a state of the United States of America and the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands;

             (17)      "Wages," all remuneration paid for services, including commissions and bonuses. The term does not include remuneration described by §§ 61-1-32 to 61-1-35, inclusive. The term includes tips and other remuneration upon which a tax is imposed by the Federal Unemployment Tax Act and the reasonable cash value of remuneration paid in any medium other than cash determined in accordance with rules promulgated pursuant to chapter 1-26 by the secretary of labor;

             (18)      "Week," the period or periods of seven consecutive calendar days ending at midnight. The secretary of labor may promulgate rules pursuant to chapter 1-26 to prescribe that a week is in, within or during that benefit year which includes the greater part. For the purpose of § 61-1-4, if a week includes both December thirty-first and January first, the days of that week up to January first shall be considered one calendar week and the days beginning January first another week;

             (19)      "Weekly benefit amount," the amount of benefits an individual is entitled to receive for one week of total unemployment. An individual's weekly benefit amount determined for the first week of his benefit year shall constitute his weekly benefit amount throughout the benefit year. ".


Moved by:    Turbak Berry
Second by:    Nesselhuf
Action:    Was not acted on.

MOTION:     SUBSTITUTE MOTION AMEND HB 1176

1176ja

     On the House State Affairs Committee engrossed bill, delete everything after the enacting clause and insert:

     "
     Section 1. That § 61-1-1 be amended to read as follows:

     61-1-1.   Terms used in this title mean:

             (1)      "Annual payroll," the total amount of taxable wages paid by an employer during a calendar year for employment;

             (2)      "Base period," the first four out of the last five completed calendar quarters immediately preceding an individual's benefit year. For an individual who fails to meet the qualifications of § 61-6-7 due to the receipt of temporary total disability payments under worker's compensation, the base period is the first four of the last five completed quarters preceding the disability if a claim for unemployment benefits is filed within twenty-four months of the date on which the individual's disability was incurred. Effective July 1, 2010, for an individual who fails to meet the minimum requirements of §  61-6-7 due to insufficient wages, the base period is the four completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the individual's benefit year. However, no calendar quarter used in one base period of a valid claim may be used in a subsequent base period;

             (3)      "Benefit year," the one-year period beginning with the day on which a claimant files a valid new claim for benefits, or the one-year period beginning with the day on which a claimant files a valid new claim after the termination of his last preceding benefit year;

             (4)      "Benefits," the money payments payable to an unemployed individual, as provided in this title;

             (5)      "Calendar quarter," the period of three consecutive calendar months ending on March thirty-first, June thirtieth, September thirtieth, or December thirty-first;

             (6)      "Contributions," the money payments to the state unemployment compensation fund required by this title;

             (7)      "Department," the Department of Labor created by chapter 1-37;

             (8)      "Educational service agency," a governmental agency or governmental entity which is established and operated exclusively for the purpose of providing services to one or more educational institutions;

             (9)      "Employment office," a free public employment office, or branch thereof, operated by this state or maintained as part of a state or federal controlled system of public employment offices;

             (10)      "Employment security administration fund," the employment security administration fund established by this title;

             (11)      "Extended benefits," the benefits that are provided in §§ 61-6-29 to 61-6-35, inclusive;

             (12)      "Fund," the unemployment compensation fund established by this title;

             (13)      "Hospital," an institution which has been licensed, certified or approved by the State Department of Health as a hospital;

             (14)      "Institution of higher education," an educational institution which:

             (a)      Admits as regular students only individuals having a certificate of graduation from a high school, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate; and

             (b)      Is legally authorized in this state to provide a program of education beyond high school; and

             (c)      Provides an educational program for which it awards a bachelor's or higher degree, or provides a program which is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree, provides an educational program of postgraduate or postdoctoral studies, or provides an educational program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation; and

             (d)      Is a public or other nonprofit institution.

             Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this subdivision, all colleges and universities in this state are "institutions of higher education";

             (15)      "Insured work," employment for employers as defined in §§ 61-1-4 to 61-1-31, inclusive;

             (16)      "State," a state of the United States of America and the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands;

             (17)      "Wages," all remuneration paid for services, including commissions and bonuses. The term does not include remuneration described by §§ 61-1-32 to 61-1-35, inclusive. The term includes tips and other remuneration upon which a tax is imposed by the Federal Unemployment Tax Act and the reasonable cash value of remuneration paid in any medium other than cash determined in accordance with rules promulgated pursuant to chapter 1-26 by the secretary of labor;

             (18)      "Week," the period or periods of seven consecutive calendar days ending at midnight. The secretary of labor may promulgate rules pursuant to chapter 1-26 to prescribe that a week is in, within or during that benefit year which includes the greater part. For the purpose of § 61-1-4, if a week includes both December thirty-first and January first, the days of that week up to January first shall be considered one calendar week and the days beginning January first another week;

             (19)      "Weekly benefit amount," the amount of benefits an individual is entitled to receive for one week of total unemployment. An individual's weekly benefit amount determined for the first week of his benefit year shall constitute his weekly benefit amount throughout the benefit year. ".


Moved by:    Adelstein
Action:    Died for lack of a second.

MOTION:     AMEND HB 1176

1176jd

     On the House State Affairs Committee engrossed bill, delete everything after the enacting clause and insert:

     "
     Section 1. That § 61-1-1 be amended to read as follows:

     61-1-1.   Terms used in this title mean:

             (1)      "Annual payroll," the total amount of taxable wages paid by an employer during a calendar year for employment;

             (2)      "Base period," the first four out of the last five completed calendar quarters immediately preceding an individual's benefit year. For an individual who fails to meet the qualifications of § 61-6-7 due to the receipt of temporary total disability payments under worker's compensation, the base period is the first four of the last five completed quarters preceding the disability if a claim for unemployment benefits is filed within twenty-four months of the date on which the individual's disability was incurred. For an individual who fails to meet the minimum requirements of §  61-6-7 due to insufficient wages, the base period is the four completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the individual's benefit year. However, no calendar quarter used in one base period of a valid claim may be used in a subsequent base period;

             (3)      "Benefit year," the one-year period beginning with the day on which a claimant files a valid new claim for benefits, or the one-year period beginning with the day on which a claimant files a valid new claim after the termination of his last preceding benefit year;

             (4)      "Benefits," the money payments payable to an unemployed individual, as provided in this title;

             (5)      "Calendar quarter," the period of three consecutive calendar months ending on March thirty-first, June thirtieth, September thirtieth, or December thirty-first;

             (6)      "Contributions," the money payments to the state unemployment compensation fund required by this title;

             (7)      "Department," the Department of Labor created by chapter 1-37;

             (8)      "Educational service agency," a governmental agency or governmental entity which is established and operated exclusively for the purpose of providing services to one or more educational institutions;

             (9)      "Employment office," a free public employment office, or branch thereof, operated by this state or maintained as part of a state or federal controlled system of public employment offices;

             (10)      "Employment security administration fund," the employment security administration fund established by this title;

             (11)      "Extended benefits," the benefits that are provided in §§ 61-6-29 to 61-6-35, inclusive;

             (12)      "Fund," the unemployment compensation fund established by this title;

             (13)      "Hospital," an institution which has been licensed, certified or approved by the State Department of Health as a hospital;

             (14)      "Institution of higher education," an educational institution which:

             (a)      Admits as regular students only individuals having a certificate of graduation from a high school, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate; and

             (b)      Is legally authorized in this state to provide a program of education beyond high school; and

             (c)      Provides an educational program for which it awards a bachelor's or higher degree, or provides a program which is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree, provides an educational program of postgraduate or postdoctoral studies, or provides an educational program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation; and

             (d)      Is a public or other nonprofit institution.

             Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this subdivision, all colleges and universities in this state are "institutions of higher education";

             (15)      "Insured work," employment for employers as defined in §§ 61-1-4 to 61-1-31, inclusive;

             (16)      "State," a state of the United States of America and the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands;

             (17)      "Wages," all remuneration paid for services, including commissions and bonuses. The term does not include remuneration described by §§ 61-1-32 to 61-1-35, inclusive. The term includes tips and other remuneration upon which a tax is imposed by the Federal Unemployment Tax Act and the reasonable cash value of remuneration paid in any medium other than cash determined in accordance with rules promulgated pursuant to chapter 1-26 by the secretary of labor;

             (18)      "Week," the period or periods of seven consecutive calendar days ending at midnight. The secretary of labor may promulgate rules pursuant to chapter 1-26 to prescribe that a week is in, within or during that benefit year which includes the greater part. For the purpose of § 61-1-4, if a week includes both December thirty-first and January first, the days of that week up to January first shall be considered one calendar week and the days beginning January first another week;

             (19)      "Weekly benefit amount," the amount of benefits an individual is entitled to receive for one week of total unemployment. An individual's weekly benefit amount determined for the first week of his benefit year shall constitute his weekly benefit amount throughout the benefit year. ".


Moved by:    Turbak Berry
Second by:    Nesselhuf
Action:    Prevailed by voice vote.

MOTION:     DO PASS HB 1176 AS AMENDED

Moved by:    Nesselhuf
Second by:    Merchant
Action:    Prevailed by roll call vote. (6-1-0-0)

Voting Yes:    Gant, Merchant, Nelson, Nesselhuf, Turbak Berry, Olson (Russell)

Voting No:    Adelstein

MOTION:     AMEND TITLE OF HB 1176

1176jta

     On page 1, line 1, of the House State Affairs Committee engrossed bill, delete everything after "Act to" and insert "revise the earnings requirement for the purpose of receiving unemployment insurance benefits.".


Moved by:    Nesselhuf
Second by:    Merchant
Action:    Prevailed by voice vote.

        
HB 1212: revise certain requirements of written contract documents for public improvements.

Presented by:    Senator Kathy Miles (Handout #3)
Proponents:    Larry Zikmund, Associated General Contractors - Building Chapter
        Brian Perlberg, Associated General Contractors of America
        Deb Mortenson, Associated General Contractors of SD, Incorporated.

MOTION:     DO PASS HB 1212

Moved by:    Adelstein
Second by:    Merchant
Action:    Prevailed by roll call vote. (7-0-0-0)

Voting Yes:    Adelstein, Gant, Merchant, Nelson, Nesselhuf, Turbak Berry, Olson (Russell)

MOTION:     PLACE HB 1212 ON CONSENT CALENDAR

Moved by:    Turbak Berry
Second by:    Nesselhuf
Action:    Prevailed by voice vote.

        
HB 1264: provide for the utilization of conditional early release bonds in regard to certain furloughs and paroles.

Presented by:    Senator Jason Gant
Proponents:    Representative Brian Gosch
        Cheryl Burns, Bail USA, Incorporated
        Dan Lederman, Self, Dakota Dunes
        Roger Tellinghuisen, Bail USA ,Incorporated
Opponents:    Laurie Feiler, Department of Corrections
        Dennis Kaemingk, South Dakota Board of Pardons and Paroles
        Max Gors, Department of Corrections
        Keith Bonenberger, Board of Pardons and Paroles

MOTION:     DO PASS HB 1264

Moved by:    Gant
Second by:    Adelstein
Action:    Prevailed by roll call vote. (5-2-0-0)

Voting Yes:    Adelstein, Gant, Merchant, Nelson, Olson (Russell)

Voting No:    Nesselhuf, Turbak Berry

        
HB 1275: authorize electronic bingo devices.

Presented by:    Representative Roger Solum

MOTION:     DO PASS HB 1275

Moved by:    Turbak Berry
Second by:    Gant
Action:    Prevailed by roll call vote. (7-0-0-0)

Voting Yes:    Adelstein, Gant, Merchant, Nelson, Nesselhuf, Turbak Berry, Olson (Russell)

MOTION:     PLACE HB 1275 ON CONSENT CALENDAR

Moved by:    Nesselhuf
Second by:    Merchant
Action:    Prevailed by voice vote.

        
HB 1280: create reduced ignition propensity standards for cigarettes, to authorize the state fire marshal to monitor such standards, and to provide penalties therefor.

Presented by:    Senator Tom Hansen
Proponents:    Tim Dougherty, Homebuilders Association of the Sioux Empire
        Dave Nuss, NFPA, Denver (Handout #4)
        Dwight Neuharth, SD Home Builders Association
        Mitch Richter, Professional Firefighters of South Dakota, Sioux Falls
        Jeremiah D Murphy, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
        Mike Houdyshell, Department of Public Safety

MOTION:     AMEND HB 1280

1280fa

     On page 6 of the House Commerce Committee engrossed bill, delete lines 3 to 7, inclusive.

     On page 7, line 1, after "thousand" insert "five hundred".

     On page 10, between lines 19 and 20, insert:

"
     Section 20. Nothing in this Act prohibits any distributor, wholesaler, or dealer from selling its existing inventory of cigarettes on or after January 1, 2011, if the distributor, wholesaler, or dealer establishes that the state tax stamps were affixed to the cigarettes before January 1, 2011. In addition, the inventory of cigarettes must have been purchased in a comparable quantity to the inventory that was purchased during the same period for the preceding year.".



Moved by:    Turbak Berry
Second by:    Adelstein
Action:    Prevailed by voice vote.

MOTION:     DO PASS HB 1280 AS AMENDED

Moved by:    Merchant
Second by:    Adelstein
Action:    Prevailed by roll call vote. (7-0-0-0)

Voting Yes:    Adelstein, Gant, Merchant, Nelson, Nesselhuf, Turbak Berry, Olson (Russell)

MOTION:     PLACE HB 1280 ON CONSENT CALENDAR

Moved by:    Gant
Second by:    Nesselhuf
Action:    Prevailed by voice vote.

MOTION:     ADJOURN

Moved by:    Merchant
Second by:    Nesselhuf
Action:    Prevailed by voice vote.

Lois Henry

____________________________

Committee Secretary
Russell Olson, Chair