An Act to revise certain provisions regarding the submission process for ballot measures.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota:

Section 1. That § 12-13-25 be AMENDED:

12-13-25. Review and comment--Legislative Research Council--Contents.

The sponsors of each initiated measure or initiated amendment to the Constitution shall submit a copy of each version of the initiated measure or initiated amendment to the Constitution to the director of the Legislative Research Council for review and comment not more than six months before it may be circulated for signatures under § 2-1-1.1 or 2-1-1.2. The director shall review each version of the submitted initiated measure or initiated amendment to the Constitution to determine if the requirements of § 12-13-24 are satisfied and if the initiated measure or initiated amendment to the Constitution may have any impact on revenues, expenditures, or fiscal liability of the state or its agencies and subdivisions. Unless as otherwise provided under § 12-13-25.2, not more than fifteen work days workdays following receipt of an initiated measure or initiated amendment to the Constitution, the director shall provide written comments on the initiated measure or initiated amendment to the Constitution to the sponsors of the initiated measure or initiated amendment, the attorney general, and the secretary of state for the purpose of assisting the sponsors in complying with § 12-13-24. The director's written comments under this section shall include assistance regarding the substantive content of the initiated measure or initiated amendment in order to minimize any conflict with existing law and to ensure the measure's or amendment's effective administration. The sponsors may, but are not required to, amend the initiated measure or initiated amendment to the Constitution to comply with the director's comments.