Governor Rounds Signs Bills into Law

Press Release

Governor Rounds Signs Bills into Law

Gov. Mike Rounds has signed several bills into law, including SB200 which is an act to establish a statewide trauma system.

The new law will create a predetermined, organized system that matches the needs of an injured person to the capabilities of the facility. Its intent is to get seriously injured individuals to the appropriate level of care more quickly to receive needed treatment instead of patients automatically sent to the biggest facilities. Hospitals will self-determine the level of designation for their facility and would be authorized by the South Dakota Department of Health and the Department of Public Safety. Hospitals would have to be designated by January 1, 2012.

"Statistics show that over 90% of all trauma care can be provided at the local hospitals," said Gov. Rounds. "Data from other states show a 15-20% decrease in trauma deaths when a comprehensive trauma system is in place. In South Dakota, this would mean over 80 lives could be saved each year."

Gov. Rounds credited the members of the trauma steering committee and their months of hard work prior to session for the bill's successful passage. The committee included representatives from hospitals, the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations, the South Dakota State Medical Association, the Indian Health Service, and state agencies.

Gov. Rounds has also signed the following bills into law:

SB0010 An Act to include Dakota and Nakota with certain requirements for instruction in the Lakota language.

SB0025 An Act to repeal certain provisions regarding the calculation of state aid to education.

SB0037 An Act to establish certain suitability requirements for annuities.

SB0040 An Act to establish certain requirements regarding the separation and protection of a gas and electric public utility's assets.

SB0043 An Act to revise the requirements regarding the siting of energy facilities.

SB0052 An Act to revise certain provisions regarding the regulation of franchises and business opportunities.

SB0055 An Act to authorize the Board of Regents to convey a tract of land in Pennington County to the United States Air Force and to declare an emergency.

SB0058 An Act to authorize the Board of Regents to demolish Seymour Hall at Northern State University.

SB0063 An Act to require local law enforcement officers to provide certain information to repossession businesses under certain circumstances.

SB0065 An Act to define intentional exposure to HIV infection by sexual intercourse as a sex crime subject to registry as a sex offender.

SB0084 An Act to revise certain miscellaneous provisions of the trust statutes.

SB0085 An Act to revise certain provisions regarding the trust business in banks and the trust company business.

SB0177 An Act to revise certain provisions regarding the disposal of abandoned tenant's property left on leased residential premises.

SB0202 An Act to prohibit certain military sales practices for life insurance and annuities.

For more information about this and other bills in front of the South Dakota Legislature, please visit www.legis.state.sd.us.

Source