2006 Session Laws Chapter 131

ENTITLED, An Act to establish a task force to study sexual assault and to provide for its composition, scope, and administration.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:

Section 1. There is hereby established the Task Force to Study Sexual Assault. The task force shall consist of fifteen members. Six members shall be appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, four of whom shall be legislators, and six members shall be appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, four of whom shall be legislators, and three members shall be appointed by the Governor. Not all members appointed by each appointive power may belong to the same political party. The initial appointments shall be made no later than thirty days after the effective date of this Act. If there is a vacancy on the task force, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. The appointments shall include a law enforcement official, victim advocate, medical personnel, survivor of sexual assault, and representative of the Division of Criminal Investigation, the Department of Health, and the Department of Social Services.

Section 2. The task force shall be under the supervision of the Executive Board of the Legislative Research Council and staffed and funded as an interim legislative committee. The Executive Board shall appoint the chair and the vice chair from among the legislators appointed to the task force.

Section 3. The task force shall gather the data and information regarding sexual assault cases in the following areas: reporting to law enforcement, number and types of cases, investigations, available medical treatment, collaboration among agencies, prevention efforts, and emergency responses. The task force shall make recommendations to assist local entities in responding to and preventing sexual assault cases. The task force shall submit its final report to the Governor and the Legislature no later than December 1, 2006.