A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, Prohibiting officials and employees of the South Dakota Department of Education and members of the South Dakota Board of Education from joining certain organizations or consortia that may present a conflict of interest.

    WHEREAS, it is the duty of the Legislature to adopt all suitable means to secure to the people the advantages and opportunities of education; and

    WHEREAS, the South Dakota Board of Education and the South Dakota Department of Education were created to assist in that mission; and

    WHEREAS, the South Dakota Board of Education and the officials and employees of the South Dakota Department of Education are first responsible to the citizens of the State of South Dakota; and

    WHEREAS, conflict of interest laws apply to state officers and employees who approve, award, or administer any contract as referenced in the South Dakota Bureau of Human Resource Employee Handbook; and

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    WHEREAS, the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium requires officials of the South Dakota Department of Education to bind the State of South Dakota to the decisions of the organization as a condition of membership on the governing board:

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-Second Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the Senate concurring therein, that the South Dakota Legislature does hereby declare it a conflict of interest for the secretary of education, members of the Board of Education, any employee of the Department of Education, or any other government official to participate in any organization or consortium that can exercise control over any aspect of education in the State of South Dakota.