SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) -The Senate State Affairs Committee sent to the floor a bill that moves the effective date of initiated measures and amendments passed by voters to the first day of July.
John Fiksdal of Media One in Sioux Falls says the current process allows plenty of time for citizens to weigh each issue's pros and cons.
Fiskdal told legislators that when they request "this delay, you're sending a fairly loud message, to the people of the state, that you want to have time to mess with the bills."
The prime sponsor of Senate Bill 59, Senator Jim White of Huron, says an effective date of July first is in unison with the legislature.
White says bills that the legislature passes come into play on July 1, the beginning of the fiscal year for the state of South Dakota. He says it's a common thread of how "we are going through the process."
Under current law, initiated measures and amendments take effect after the canvass about a week after the election.