In wake of scandals, Legislature's investigative arm could get more authority

House State Affairs Committee gives first clearance to subpoena power measure

(Austin Goss/The Dakota Scout)

PIERRE — Legislation aimed at giving the Legislature’s joint Government Operations and Audit Committee more authority in obtaining witnesses and documents is on its way to the House floor.

The House State Affairs Committee voted 12-1 Monday morning to send House Bill 1204 to the full floor for further consideration. If adopted into law, GOAC — the legislative committee tasked with investigating potential fraud and abuses in state government - would no longer require the approval of the Legislature’s Executive Board to issue subpoenas. Instead, it would be able to summon witnesses and examine vouchers, documents, and records only by a simple majority vote of its membership.

The measure’s prime sponsor, Rep. Julie Auch of Yankton, told committee members that for most of the state’s history, GOAC was able to make subpoena requests without running them through the Executive Board — the legislative committee that is made up primarily of legislative leadership from each chamber.

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