Committee passes bill to prohibit collective bargaining by Regents employees

PIERRE, S.D. (KJJQ) – The Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill (SB 147) to prohibit collective bargaining by employees of the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Among those speaking in favor of the bill, Tiffany Sanderson, senior policy adviser for Governor Kristi Noem. Sanderson says the governor supports this measure.

Among the opponents, former SDSU Economics Professor Bill Adamson.  He says eliminating collective bargaining means more job risk for professors, meaning you will have to pay more to be able to hire qualified candidates.

The measure passed 6-3 and now moves to the Senate floor.

A similar bill (HB 1266) has been introduced in the House, currently scheduled for a Wednesday committee hearing.