FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Wednesday, March 21, 2018

CONTACT:  Sara Rabern (605) 773-3215 

PIERRE, S.D. - South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today an Attorney General Explanation for Constitutional Amendment Y has been filed with the Secretary of State. During the 93rd Legislative Session, 2018, the Legislature passed House Joint Resolution 1004, which is a proposed amendment that makes changes to South Dakota’s constitutional victim’s rights provisions known as Marsy’s Law. The proposed constitutional amendment will be placed on the June 2018 primary election ballot. 

The explanation is entitled “An amendment to the South Dakota Constitution revising certain provisions relating to the rights of crime victims.”   

Under South Dakota law, the Attorney General is responsible for preparing explanations for proposed initiated measures, referred laws, and South Dakota Constitutional Amendments.  Specifically, the explanation includes a title, an objective, clear and simple summary of the purpose and effect of the proposed amendment and a description of the legal consequences, as well as a recitation of the effect of a “yes” and “no” vote. The Attorney General Explanation is not a statement either for or against the proposed amendment.

Attorney General’s Statement for proposed constitutional amendment HJR 1004 (revising Marsy’s law)

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