Anti-nepotism bill introduced in South Dakota after governor appoints daughter to staff
PIERRE, S.D. -- Three South Dakota lawmakers have introduced a bill hoping to prevent state officials from employing family members to the state.
Senate Bill 39 was introduced Sunday, Jan. 6. If passed, it would bar state employees from hiring or appointing their "parent by birth or adoption, spouse, son or daughter by birth or adoption, stepchild, brother or sister by whole or half blood or by adoption, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, or son-in-law or daughter-in-law" to a state employment position that would report to them.
The bill comes after Republican Gov. Kristi Noem in December appointed her daughter Kennedy Noem to her staff to work as a policy analyst. Kennedy Noem graduated in fall 2018 from South Dakota State University with a degree in political science and earns a salary of $50,000 in her role.
If the bill passes and a relative as defined by SB 39 is hired and paid, three times the amount of that relative's compensation would be deducted from the violating state official's pay.
Read more: https://www.inforum.com/news/government-and-politics/947352-Anti-nepotism-bill-introduced-in-South-Dakota-after-governor-appoints-daughter-to-staff
