A House panel is rejecting a bill that would allow a legislative group to directly subpoena people and documents.
The House State Affairs Committee on Friday voted down a measure granting the Government Operations and Audit Committee (GOAC) subpoena power in a 9-3 vote.
Subpoenas must be approved by a board comprised of top legislative leaders call the Executive Board.
Rep. Randy Gross, R-Elkton, is the chair of GOAC. He said subpoena approval takes longer when the legislature is not session.
“GOAC could request a subpoena. E-Board could either say thumbs up or thumbs down within a couple days and you could move on with business," Gross aid. "But, with infrequent meetings throughout the interim, it becomes a real issue in terms of getting business done from GOAC’s standpoint when we truly do need a subpoena.”
Lawmakers opposed to the bill say the subpoena process offers a check and balance to the process.
GOAC has only issued one subpoena in the last two years. That subpoena was for documents related to Gov. Kristi Noem’s daughter’s appraiser license upgrade.
