A bill aimed at promoting opportunities for high-risk students has died in Statehouse committee. House Bill 1256 supports the Jobs for America’s Graduates program, but lawmakers don’t approve the funding.
Students who are part of the program say it changes lives. Adam Cournoyer was the first in a line of students Friday addressing members of South Dakota’s legislature. In Wagner Community School, he’s president of the program called JAG – Jobs for America’s Graduates.
Cournoyer says his mom used to cry because she was disappointed in his violent, indifferent attitude.
"I live on a small Native American reservation that consists of about 70 people. Most of the people are unemployed and relying on government checks to help support themselves," Cournoyer says. "Today all of my former friends are locked away in institutions because they chose to do drugs and continue making wrong decisions. Every single day I think about how that could have been me."
Cournoyer says his mom now cries because she’s proud of him. He says JAG inspired him to accomplish more than he believed possible.
"So, against the odds, I made it. Now I’m going to be the first one in my family to go to college and make success out of my life, thanks to JAG," Cournoyer says.
Lawmakers on the House Education Committee Friday decided the Appropriations panel should discern whether JAG needs more money.
Monday’s hearing on House Bill 1256 drew a single opponent. Jim Terwilliger from the state’s Bureau of Finance and Management says the state still has some$95,000 left from last year’s JAG funding. Terwilliger says he doesn’t support the bill taking money from South Dakota’s economic development account called the Future Fund.
Members of the House Appropriations committee say they support the program but can’t approve funding for JAG. Monday’s vote killed House Bill 1256.