Senate Bill To Delay Implementation Of Ballot Measures Goes To House Floor

A senate bill that delays implementation of voter approved ballot measures to July first is heading to the House floor.
 
Proponents say current law hardly gives entities impacted by a ballot measure time to react. Opponents say it’s too long for implementing.
 
When voters approved the 36 percent interest rate cap in November, the payday loan industry had eight days to prepare for the change. The same for state agencies impacted by Marsy’s Law, the crime victims’ rights amendment, and Initiated Measure 22, a campaign ethics and lobbying reform package.
 
House Minority Leader, Spencer Hawley, says he likes the concept of delaying implementation of a ballot measure, but with a shorter time frame.
 
“Our normal timeframe of our bills when we pass them and they go into effect is 3 to 4 months out and we’re saying that gives agencies time to get ready for the new bill and the new year. And I’d have been totally fine if we’d have been willing to accept that, but I think July first is just way too far out.”
 
Hawley offered up an amendment preventing emergency clauses on legislation addressed at ballot measure. It was voted down.
 
An emergency clause was attached to the bill to repeal IM 22. The emergency clause prevents voters from referring the law to a public vote.
 
Speaker of the House, Mark Mickelson, says the delay means emergency clauses won’t be needed.
 
“One of the benefits of the July first date is then anything the legislature might deem to amend or alter or fix would not require an emergency clause.”
 
Mickelson says delaying the measure gives lawmakers a chance to fix any constitutional concerns a bill may have…
 
A separate bill requiring fifty percent of ballot measure signatures coming from at least 33 counties in South Dakota was tabled indefinitely.