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make an appropriation for and the establishment of peer support and critical incident stress management training for first responder organizations, and to declare an emergency.

This bill establishes a new program to fund peer support and critical incident stress management training for first responders like police officers and firefighters to help them cope with traumatic events. The bill appropriates money for this mental health initiative and repeals several outdated sections of state law related to state employee benefits while updating various sections of law governing state employee programs. The bill is declared an emergency, meaning it takes effect immediately upon passage rather than waiting for the normal effective date.

create a peer support services program.

South Dakota's Department of Social Services will create a new peer support services program and establish licensing requirements for peer support specialists. The department will write rules covering what peer support specialists can do, how they become licensed, renewal procedures, continuing education, supervision standards, and ethical guidelines to protect people receiving these services. Funding for the program will be appropriated through the state's regular budget process.

provide for physician wellness programs.

South Dakota creates a new physician wellness program that doctors and physician assistants can voluntarily join to address career stress and burnout through counseling or other support services. Records of participation in these programs are kept confidential and protected from discovery in lawsuits or reporting to medical boards, unless the physician voluntarily releases the information or the disclosure involves reporting criminal conduct or professional misconduct. Tax-exempt medical associations in the state are authorized to establish and operate these wellness programs.

make an appropriation to provide grants for the creation of regional crisis diversion centers and to declare an emergency.

HB 1270 provides state funding for grants to create regional crisis diversion centers—facilities designed to help people experiencing mental health or substance use crises as an alternative to emergency rooms or jail. The bill amends existing law governing mental health services and crisis programs to establish how these centers will be funded and operated across South Dakota regions.

To encourage the Executive Board of the Legislature to reauthorize the Mental Health of First Responders Task Force interim legislative study.

HCR 6012 is a resolution asking the Executive Board of the Legislature to continue funding and overseeing an interim legislative study on mental health issues affecting first responders like police officers and firefighters. The resolution doesn't change any existing law itself, but rather encourages the Legislature to reauthorize this task force so it can keep studying and making recommendations on how to better support first responder mental health.

make an appropriation to provide for a crisis stabilization unit and to declare an emergency.

SB 144 appropriates state funding to establish a crisis stabilization unit, which is a facility designed to provide short-term mental health and behavioral support to people in crisis as an alternative to emergency room visits or hospitalization. The bill declares this funding an emergency appropriation, meaning the money becomes available immediately rather than waiting for the standard budget cycle.

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

South Dakota will appropriate funding to provide mental health insurance coverage for first responders through contracted insurance plans. The bill makes major changes to state employee health insurance laws and repeals several outdated sections of state law governing employee benefits. This legislation is declared an emergency, allowing it to take effect immediately.

make an appropriation for behavioral and mental health service support in crisis stabilization and to declare an emergency.

SB 186 appropriates state funding to support behavioral and mental health services focused on crisis stabilization programs. The bill repeals an existing statute (§7-8-16) and declares an emergency to allow the funding to take effect immediately rather than following the normal delayed implementation process.

revise certain provisions regarding the health professionals assistance program.

This bill revises South Dakota's health professionals assistance program to clarify that it serves health professionals whose mental health or substance abuse issues prevent them from practicing safely, and it updates the definition of "impaired" to specifically reference unmanaged mental health and substance use disorders. The changes also restructure how the program's key terms are numbered and defined in state law, making the language more consistent and precise about what conditions qualify professionals for assistance rather than disciplinary action.

make an appropriation to build a traumatic brain injury center in the Black Hills and to declare an emergency.

HB 1239 appropriates state funding to construct a traumatic brain injury center in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. The bill declares an emergency to enable immediate implementation of this appropriation.

establish provisions regarding dementia.

To reauthorize the Mental Health Services Delivery Task Force for the limited purposes of monitoring the growth and development of current initiatives in the delivery of mental health services, reviewing and proposing adjustments to the levels of funding, and ensuring that the statutory and regulatory framework complements intended outcomes.

HCR 6008 extends the life of the Mental Health Services Delivery Task Force, a state committee that monitors how mental health services are being delivered and developed in South Dakota. The task force will now focus on tracking progress of current mental health initiatives, recommending changes to funding levels, and making sure state laws and regulations support the intended outcomes of these services.

To encourage the Executive Board of the Legislature to create an interim legislative study on mental health education in this state.

House Concurrent Resolution 6015 asks the Executive Board of the Legislature to conduct a study on how mental health education is currently taught and delivered in South Dakota schools and programs. This resolution doesn't change any existing laws but instead directs legislative leadership to investigate the state of mental health education and likely recommend improvements.

provide protection for actions assisting an impaired lawyer or judge.

South Dakota law creates immunity from lawsuits for people who help a lawyer or judge get treatment for substance abuse, gambling addiction, or medical conditions that impair their ability to practice law or judge fairly. The law protects those who report concerns about an impaired lawyer or judge to the State Bar or courts, as long as they act in good faith to help the person get help rather than to cause harm. Healthcare providers who are paid for their treatment services are excluded from this immunity protection.

require the provision of information regarding perinatal hospice.

South Dakota's Department of Health must create and post information on its website about perinatal hospice—a type of supportive care for pregnant women and families facing a diagnosis that their baby will die shortly after birth. The brochure will explain what services are available, note that medical assistance may cover these services, and provide information about grief counseling and support programs. This is a new requirement that doesn't change existing law but establishes a state mandate to inform families about this care option.

appropriate money for the ordinary expenses of the legislative, judicial, and executive departments of the state, the current expenses of state institutions, interest on the public debt, and for common schools.

SB195 sets the state budget for fiscal year 2021, allocating funding across state government departments including the legislature, courts, and executive agencies, as well as public schools and state institutions. The bill specifies spending amounts for various programs, such as $12.3 million for Juvenile Community Corrections and $76.4 million for Developmental Disabilities services, along with the number of employees each department can hire. This is the annual appropriations bill that determines how much money each part of state government receives to operate.

transfer funds to the health care trust fund and to declare an emergency.

HB 1273 transfers funds into South Dakota's health care trust fund and declares an emergency to allow the transfer to take effect immediately rather than on the usual delayed timeline. The bill modifies the rules governing how money flows into this trust fund to ensure healthcare resources are available without waiting for standard implementation procedures.

make an appropriation to improve healthcare in South Dakota and to declare an emergency.

HB1173 appropriates $1 from South Dakota's general fund for healthcare improvements across the state and declares the funding an emergency so it takes effect immediately upon the governor's approval. Any portion of this appropriation not spent or committed by June 30, 2025 will be returned to the general fund following standard reversion procedures.

establish criteria for a regional nursing facility designation.

This bill creates a new process for nursing facilities to apply for a "regional nursing facility" designation from the Department of Human Services. To qualify, facilities must be in good standing with Medicaid, develop a detailed plan assessing aging and healthcare needs in their service area, offer home and community-based services, and either build a new facility or significantly remodel an existing one within a 30-mile radius of other healthcare facilities they're merging with.

revise certain provisions regarding the use of telehealth technologies.

SB 96 updates South Dakota's definition of telehealth to clarify what technologies qualify as telehealth services, including interactive video, audio with recorded data, and remote patient monitoring, while specifically excluding basic phone calls, emails, and text messages. The bill also expands the definition of "health care facility" to formally include laboratories and clarifies that telehealth doesn't include services delivered under separate pharmacy regulations or through simple electronic communication methods.