(Continued from page 6)

sage of this bill will foster progress in understanding the disorder and the most effective methods by which to deal with the different challenges faced by those children and their families who are affected by autism.
• SB 90 sets forth a framework for the manner by which the SD High School Activities Association will conduct its business going forward.  There had been some disagreement as to whether they were a public or private entity and whether they were subject to the same open meeting laws that other public governing bodies operate under.  The number of area constituents who expressed an interest in this matter was tremendous.  Passage of this bill should provide a more definite structure as it relates to the deliberations and actions undertaken by the SDHSAA.
• One bill that passed late in the process that I could not support was SB 113.  This bill changed the minimum suspension from extracurricular activities for a drug conviction of a student.  In 2006, the legislature changed the law to go from a one-year suspension from extracurriculars for a first-time drug conviction (and a lifetime ban for a subsequent offense) to sixty days if an offending student entered a counseling program.  SB 113 allows for a reduction to thirty days for a first-time adjudication.  In fairness, it should be noted that prior to 2006, a first-offense adjudication could essentially be avoided if a school had a diversion program that the student entered into.  So, while it appeared a first offense landed the student a one-year suspension, that was not always the case.  In many cases, what appeared to be a first offense was actually a student's second drug-related run-in with the law.  Now, we will have a possible reduction to 30 days for a first offense, a 60-day suspension for a second offense and a lifetime ban for a third offense.  For upwards of three decades, we have had the D.A.R.E. program in our schools, telling students of the dangers associated with drug use.  This bill seems to undermine the teaching of that program by further reducing the penalty for committing a first drug crime and by allowing not just a second chance, but also a third chance.  Although some within our society are developing a more nonchalant attitude about drug use, I have not submitted to that notion.  The Senate passed SB 113, 35-0, while the House was slightly more reluctant to endorse the lesser penalty, as it passed 48-20.  In case I have left any doubt, I voted against the measure.  As somebody who regularly substitute teaches and coaches our youth, I could not, in good conscience contradict the message I espouse about the ills of chemical use and abuse.
• All-in-all, we did have a very good session.  Although some bills passed that I wished would have failed, and some failed that I would have liked to see passed, I felt common sense and the quest for good government prevailed more often than not.  We generally made solid fiscal decisions, and we had some great policy de

(Continued on page 8)