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South Dakota lawmakers pass coronavirus emergency bills

Associated Press | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 9 months AGO
by Associated Press
| March 31, 2020 6:03 AM

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota lawmakers met into early Tuesday morning to pass temporary emergency measures as the state braced for the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, though conservative lawmakers shied away from granting broad powers to government officials during the crisis.

In an unprecedented move, legislators used conference calls to remotely convene and vote on legislation that laid out parts of Republican Gov. Kristi Noem's strategy for limiting the spread of the coronavirus while keeping some semblance of economic activity in the state.

Even as legislators debated, the deteriorating condition of one of their colleagues underscored the gravity of the crisis. Rep. Bob Glanzer, a Huron Republican, was hospitalized in critical condition Monday after contracting the coronavirus. On Monday night, House Majority Leader Lee Qualm told his colleagues that Glanzer's was “slipping.”

Legislators met most of the day Monday and early Tuesday to decide on the temporary emergency bills, which included measures to push local elections back until at least June, waive state requirements on schools this year and adjust the state budget to distribute $93 million in federal assistance.

Several bills passed unanimously, while conservative lawmakers amended several others to limit the powers they gave the governor during the crisis, including making sure she can't halt the purchase of firearms or decide to delay the June 2 primary election.

Health officials reported Monday they have confirmed 101 cases of COVID-19, more than doubling the number of cases since Thursday. So far, 34 people in South Dakota have recovered after contracting the coronavirus, while one has died.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. Older adults and people with existing health problems are among those particularly susceptible to more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The governor has so far stopped short of ordering businesses to shut down, and the bills she pushed to the Legislature seemed to show she would rather have someone else make that call. She has encouraged cities to enforce business restrictions as they see fit.

Noem's strategy has made vocal critics of the mayors of South Dakota's largest cities. Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken told lawmakers that mayors have been “hamstrung” by the lack of statewide mandates from Noem.

TenHaken has said ordering business closures could open cities up to lawsuits in the absence of clear state law. Faced with rising numbers of infections, some cities and counties have not waited for permission to close bars, restaurants, and other retail stores.

To avoid that situation, Noem pushed a bill that would make it clear municipalities can enforce those restrictions, but House lawmakers rejected it.

She also asked legislators to give the state Secretary of Health emergency powers, clarifying that the secretary could order businesses or other gathering spots to close in a public health emergency. But House lawmakers also killed that, with some legislators saying the governor should be the one to order closures in an emergency.

All the bills that passed Monday received the two-thirds majority vote needed to be put into effect immediately if the governor gives final approval. They are all temporary, expiring at various points this year.

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Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

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