The South Dakota House State Affairs Committee has passed a bill to require background checks of officers and employees of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. Representatives voted unanimously to support the measure. An amendment introduced in the committee hearing replaced the entire content of the bill. It previously called for the Legislature to oversee economic activities in the state without any specifics. The economic development agency has been under federal and state investigation because of allegations of misconduct. The bill would require criminal background checks by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Any employees of the agency who have access to account numbers or authorize financial assistance would be subject to the background checks.
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