Senate adopts Bolin's bills limiting terms on ed panels

The regents govern South Dakota's public universities and special schools. SB 80 would limit a new appointee to two consecutive six-year terms. The Senate voted 32-3 in favor.

The education-standards members set many of the rules for South Dakota's public schools. SB 89 would limit a new appointee to three consecutive four-year terms. The Senate voted 34-0 in favor.

Both measures now move to the House. They apply to any person newly appointed by the governor after July 1; partial terms wouldn't count against the limits; and the limits don't apply to current members.

The governor's office, the regents and the state Department of Education sent lobbyists to testify in favor of the restrictions.

Gov. Dennis Daugaard already applies term limits as a matter of policy to many state boards and commissions.

The passage of Bolin's two measures came one day after the Senate rejected another from Bolin.

SB 78 would have given seats on the education-standards board to the chairpersons of the House and Senate education committees. But senators killed it Tuesday, as 15 said yes and 19 said no.

Bolin told senators Wednesday the regent term-limits bill didn't have any opposition in the Senate Education Committee hearing. He chairs the panel.

Sen. Bob Ewing, R-Spearfish, asked Bolin: "Does that mean they're on it forever?"

Bolin said the longest-serving current regent has been on the board nine years.

Since 1950, Bolin said, the proposed term limits would have applied to four regents who served longer than 12 years.

Bolin said the intent of his regent bill is the current members could continue to serve as many terms as a governor re-appoints them.

Voting no were Ewing; Phil Jensen, R-Rapid City; and Al Novstrup, R-Aberdeen.