House wants refugee reports restarted

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — Five years after they went away, refugee resettlement reports might be required again in South Dakota.

The state House of Representatives on Thursday voted 56-12 to require them again. House Bill 1106 now heads to the Senate for further action.

Republican Rep. Julie Auch, the legislation’s prime sponsor, said South Dakota required refugee resettlement reports from 2017 through 2020. “So we’re just bringing it back,” Auch said.

The reporting requirement was part of a state law that stopped the state Department of Social Services from entering agreements related to the federal Refugee Act of 1980. The 2017 legislation was sponsored by then-Sen. Brock Greenfield and Republican Rep. Liz May. It contained a provision that said the reports weren’t required after December 31, 2020.

The new legislation calls for the reports to go to the governor and the Legislature. Democrat Rep. Kadyn Wittman asked Auch whether the information would be available to the public too. Auch said it would be, through the governor’s office.

Wittman tried to raise doubt about the purpose of restarting the reports. “I’m not really sure what the intention of this bill is,” Auch said.

‘Failure is not an option’ Rhoden says of new prison

Republican Rep. Brandei Schaefbauer said she operates a food pantry for her church parish. Schaefbauer said the information could help people who work with refugees to personalize their welcome kits.

May said that she and Greenfield had community members coming to them with concerns about being prepared for the arrival of refugees. “There’s nothing nefarious about this bill,” May said.

Democrat Rep. Erik Muckey asked whether the information had ever been used. Auch said it was when her community was short on housing. She said Lutheran Social Services, an organization that has helped refugees resettle in South Dakota, already assembles an annual report.

According to Auch, many community groups and organizations don’t know how to otherwise get the information. “So this would give them a pathway,” she said.

Muckey said his concern was that the information be put to use. “If we’re going to create a report, I want to be sure we’re not creating a report to create a report,” he said.

Republican Rep. Greg Jamison said Sioux Falls city government used information for reaching budget decisions. He served on the Sioux Falls city council. “It’s really good data to have,” Jamison said.