Dennis Daugaard in 2013 Governor's State of the State speeches
On Budget & Economy:
Good stewardship achieves a structurally balanced budget
The best example of good stewardship is what we did together two years ago to achieve a structurally balanced budget. I am strongly committed to maintaining that structural balance. Some states are still struggling to achieve balance. Minnesota's deficit
is $1.1 billion. Mississippi is short. New Jersey is short. So are New York and Vermont. Illinois, Kentucky, and others face enormous pension shortfalls.Our current year's budget is running better than we projected, providing funds for one-time
projects in FY13. As other states are looking where to cut, we can look where shall we spend these dollars. I believe that good stewardship would employ one-time funds to improve our structural soundness by eliminating a liability, building or improving
an asset, or endowing a program for the future. Over the past two years, our state agencies have undertaken dozens of projects and initiatives to "reinforce the floor" of state government and to be good stewards of our tax dollars.
Source: South Dakota 2013 State of the State Address
Jan 8, 2013
On Crime:
Achieved Level 4 certification for Juvenile Corrections
Our Department of Corrections is doing good work. It has achieved Level 4 certification by the Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators. In 2011, we were the first state in the nation to do this, and last year we maintained this certification
for a second year. I have required our juvenile facilities to be certified by these national, performance-based measures, and I'm proud that DOC has reached this high standard.
Source: South Dakota 2013 State of the State Address
Jan 8, 2013
On Crime:
Justice reinvestment: focuses resources on proven tools
This past July, we formed the Criminal Justice Initiative Work Group. Top criminal justice leaders and stakeholders from both parties and all three branches of government, as well as law enforcement, treatment providers, prosecutors, and defense
attorneys all had seats at the table. The charge to this work group could not have been simpler:- Improve public safety.
- Hold offenders more accountable.
- Give us a better return on our criminal justice spending.
The workgroup did not have to reinvent the wheel. In more than 20 states, many of them very conservative states like TX, KY, and SC, have undertaken what they call "justice reinvestment." Justice reinvestment focuses resources on criminal justice tools
that are proven to work. It focuses resources on evidence-based practices--not based on antidotes, not based on intuition, not based on what we think will work, but which has been proven to work elsewhere, and the evidence shows works.
Source: South Dakota 2013 State of the State Address
Jan 8, 2013
On Drugs:
More funding for drug courts; a bargain compared to prison
South Dakota has fewer drug courts than any other state in the country, but the drug courts we do have produce impressive results. Fewer than 20% of the graduates of South Dakota drug courts and DUI courts over the last five years have committed new
felonies. That is a remarkable success rate, because these offenders are repeat offenders. They are not first-time law-breakers who simply need a wake-up call. These are usually people with serious addictions to drugs or alcohol who have committed a
number of crimes in recent years. Getting 80% of them back on the right track is a real success, and my budget contains funding for expansions of two existing alternative courts and adds two more. Drug and DUI courts may be expensive compared to routine
probation, but they are a bargain compared to the costs of imprisonment. By holding offenders more accountable and by giving them one more chance to avoid prison, alternative courts are changing behavior and improving public safety.
Source: South Dakota 2013 State of the State Address
Jan 8, 2013
On Drugs:
Swift and certain sanctions for drug addicts
Hawaii's HOPE program is a lot like our 24/7 program, but it works with those abusing drugs, rather than alcohol. The system works because of swift and certain sanctions. Each morning, participating offenders must call into an automated drug testing
hotline, which will inform them whether or not they have been selected that day to come in for a drug test. Failing to show for their drug test will trigger automatic jail time. Failing the drug test will trigger automatic jail time. Hawaii has used the
HOPE program on hundreds of meth addicts, and offenders in HOPE have been 55% less likely to be arrested for a new crime. They are 72% less likely to use drugs. Here in South Dakota, we would like to begin this program with one urban pilot project
and one rural pilot project. If these pilots are successful, we can implement the program statewide.
Source: South Dakota 2013 State of the State Address
Jan 8, 2013
On Energy & Oil:
Explore our potential for oil development
Another good example of our leaders working together has been in the area of oil and gas. This year I convened two work groups, and I know the Legislature did likewise. The first to explore our potential for oil development, and the second to examine
the areas where preparation may be needed in response to development in South Dakota and in North Dakota. At the same time, the Legislature formed an interim committee to study potential legislation to deal with these important issues.
Although our oil and gas production may not reach the level of our friends in North Dakota, the work of the Legislature, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and others will put
South Dakota in a better position to capitalize on our potential. If we can't pull oil out of our ground, let's help North Dakota do so with services and products in South Dakota.
Source: South Dakota 2013 State of the State Address
Jan 8, 2013
On Environment:
Invest $8 million to fight the mountain pine beetle
Our Department of Agriculture's investment of $6 million to fight the mountain pine beetle is paying off, already, as we have slowed the spread of this epidemic. Our efforts have been particularly successful in Custer State Park, where state crews,
inmates, and contractors have removed more than 100,000 pine beetle-infested trees. If you agree, we will invest still another $2 million next year to partner with counties on further beetle suppression efforts throughout the Black Hills.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has been working. They have continued to be a good steward of our environment, making
South Dakota only one of seven states in the nation to meet all federal air quality standards and one of only a few states implementing all National Primary Drinking Water Standards. Our air and water is clean.
Source: South Dakota 2013 State of the State Address
Jan 8, 2013
On Families & Children:
Infant Mortality Task Force: distribute safe sleep kits
Two years ago, I announced the Infant Mortality Task Force, an effort to reduce infant mortality in South Dakota, led by Linda and the Department of Health.
Following up on one of the task force's key recommendations, the state has distributed more than 500 safe sleep kits to families who do not have a safe place for their babies to sleep.
Source: South Dakota 2013 State of the State Address
Jan 8, 2013
On Government Reform:
Better Government Red Tape Review: eliminate 26,000 words
The "Better Government" initiative aims for less regulation, more openness, and more efficiency. This isn't glamorous, but it's important, and we've made progress this year.Let's talk about less regulation. Conversely, the proliferation of laws and
regulations. State government agencies have a tendency toward more laws. But we must push back. That's why I'm proud that our Better Government Red Tape Review had another strong year, finding obsolete and unnecessary statutes and rules that can be
eliminated. Last year, we eliminated 177 sections and over 26,000 words from the statutory code and the administrative rules. This year, we will propose eliminating 650 sections and more than 78,000 words.
Many executive orders are signed by governors
without a sunset clause, and technically remain in force long after their purpose has been served. I will be rescinding over 100 executive orders, dating back as far as Gov. Archie Gubbrud, and we are going to examine other executive orders as well.
Source: South Dakota 2013 State of the State Address
Jan 8, 2013
On Homeland Security:
Transfer professional license from other states for military
On my trip to Afghanistan and Kuwait, seeing our troops overseas is a reminder of the sacrifices they make to protect us all. There are other servicemen and women serving much closer to home--here in South Dakota. Many of them are stationed at Ellsworth
Air Force Base. My last proposal today is for these families. 35% of military spouses in the workforce are in professions that require professional licensure or certification. When a military family is transferred to our state, that family should not
lose earning power for an extended period while a spouse seeks licensure in South Dakota.I will be proposing a professional licensure portability bill for military spouses. This bill will streamline the process so that a military spouse with a license
or certificate in another state can easily transfer into South Dakota. Nearly half of our sister states have approved similar legislation, and I hope you will vote to have South Dakota join those states.
Source: South Dakota 2013 State of the State Address
Jan 8, 2013
On Jobs:
Help find jobs for those unemployed over 12 weeks
In May, the Department of Labor and Regulation instituted a new program to help those on unemployment for more than 12 weeks to find a job quickly.The program requires participants to be actively searching for work, honing old skills or learning new o
Source: South Dakota 2013 State of the State Address
Jan 8, 2013
On Jobs:
Dakota Roots: invite former South Dakotans back home to work
We redoubled our efforts to market Dakota Roots, a successful program to invite former South Dakotans back home to work. Through a focused campaign using social media, we had a record number of new job seekers enter the Dakota Roots program.
Last year alone, this program brought 536 South Dakotans back home to take a job here.We have also begun work on the New South Dakotans program, which partners with South Dakota companies to recruit skilled out-of-state workers into South Dakota.
The program has gotten off to a slower start than I had hoped, but it is beginning to show results. So far, businesses from across South Dakota, 35 of them have enrolled in the program, listing over 250 job openings. They have successfully attracted
55 out-of-state workers, to accept hard-to-fill positions that we couldn't fill after thirty days in South Dakota. I'm hopeful that as more businesses use the program, the success will grow.
Source: South Dakota 2013 State of the State Address
Jan 8, 2013
On Technology:
E-Government: government online, not standing in line
The "Better Government" initiative [includes] the implementation of e-Government. You may have heard me say this in the past, but it bears repeating. In our digital age, state government's motto should be "online, not standing in line."
For example, the Department of Revenue has installed self-service terminals throughout the state to make it easier for citizens to renew their vehicle license tags.
The Bureau of Human Resources has moved to an entirely electronic system for announcing job openings and accepting applications.
In the past year, the Bureau of Information and Telecommunications has worked with agencies to complete 22 different
e-Government projects, and have another 40 more in process. These efforts will make government more efficient and more accessible to our citizens. That is what good stewardship is about. We run state government efficiently to benefit the people we serve.
Source: South Dakota 2013 State of the State Address
Jan 8, 2013
Page last updated: Dec 05, 2018