SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The House State Affairs Committee today referred a whistle-blower bill aimed at state employees to the 41st day of the 40 day session.
Brookings Representative and Minority Leader Spencer Hawley says some agency's policy is don't talk to lawmakers.
Hawley says legislators are sometimes unable to go to the lowest of state employees and discover if a policy they've approved has filtered down. "Our system is broke. The elected official of the State of South Dakota and they can't talk to us."
Committee Chairman, Republican Larry Rhoden of Union Center says while he favors the bill's concept, it's too broad.
Rhoden says the measure throws the doors wide open, there's no direction "here as far as whistle-blowing on what. It virtually covers everything under the sun."
Opponents argued there are regulations in place and a similar measure is being considered.
Democratic Representative Susan Wismer of Britton authored the bill recalling a handful of incidents where she felt she was being stonewalled by workers and department heads on simple fact-finding missions.
