FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to  create the South Dakota Electric Transmission Assistance Authority.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
     Section  1.  Terms used in this Act mean:

             (1)    “Authority,” the South Dakota Electric Transmission Assistance Authority created by this Act;

             (2)    Board,” the board of directors of the authority.
     Section  2.  The authority is created and has a five-member board of directors. The Governor shall appoint the board members and not all members of the board may be of the same political party. The members of the initial board shall be appointed for staggered terms with two members for terms of one year each and the other members for terms of two, three, and four years, respectively, as designated at the time of appointment. Thereafter all members shall be appointed for four year terms. Members of the board may serve more than one term. The members shall elect from the membership a chair, vice-chair, and secretary. A majority of persons appointed and serving as members shall be qualified voters of the State of South Dakota and a majority of members shall possess special knowledge in the field of electric power or energy transmission or generation. The board members shall receive per diem set pursuant to § 4-7-10.4 and expenses at the same rate as other state employees while engaged in their official duties.
     Section  3.  The authority shall:

             (1)    Contact all owners of transmission lines in South Dakota and all generators and distributors of electricity to consumers in South Dakota by August first of each year to ask them if they need any assistance in creating or enhancing the transmission of electricity to, from, or within South Dakota;

             (2)    Report its findings and make recommendations to the Governor, the Legislature, and the South Dakota congressional delegation by December first of each year concerning what the private sector, the state, and the federal government can do to create and enhance the transmission of electricity to, from, and within South Dakota;

             (3)    Annually evaluate state laws and rules affecting electric transmission and make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature for improvements by December first of each year;

             (4)    Annually evaluate federal laws and rules affecting electric transmission and make recommendations to the South Dakota congressional delegation for improvements by December first of each year;

             (5)    Identify opportunities where owners of transmission lines in South Dakota and generators and distributors of electricity to consumers in South Dakota can cooperate to improve and increase electric transmission in South Dakota and communicate those opportunities to owners, generators, and distributors of electricity in South Dakota;

             (6)    Assist any entity or group of entities who wish to create or enhance electric transmission to, from, and within South Dakota by helping them develop a business plan and identify financing options; and

             (7)    Assist the electric transmission authorities of other states and any other federal or regional entity wanting to create additional transmission or enhance current transmission of electricity to, from, and within South Dakota.
     Section  4.  The authority shall be administered by the Department of Tourism and State Development.