PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - A bill that would open up former governors and lieutenant governors' records has passed a Senate panel.
The bill clarifies that records like texts of speeches, reports and photos are state property and become open 10 years after the governor leaves office or dies, whichever takes longer.
The Senate State Affairs Committee voted Wednesday in its favor.
Gov. Dennis Daugaard requested the bill.
Spokesman Tony Venhuizen says the measure will help preserve records for history and ensure a clear system exists for handling them.
Records would get transferred to a successor or the state archivist, unless another person gets designated, and the chosen party would transfer records to a museum, academic institution or other repository within South Dakota.
Senators voted 9-0, sending it to the Senate floor for a vote.
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