Appointments Announcement

Visitation Grant Advisory Group Vacancy

The State Bar is working with the SD Department of Public Safety to fill a vacancy in the Visitation Grant Advisory Group. Kylie Riggins’ second 3-year term has ended, thus creating the vacancy. Tressa Zharbock Kool is also currently serving a 3-year term, which ends in 2024. Thank you, Kylie and Tressa, for representing the State Bar on this Group.

Please let us know if you are interested in serving a 3-year term on the group. We will send a list of interested attorneys to the Governor for potential appointment to fill Kylie’s spot.

Cora Olson with SD DPS states that the Advisory Group meets once a year in late April or early May, and the attendees can participate via online platforms. The time commitment is fairly limited, and it involves reviewing Grant applications and participating in the meeting. The total Grant is worth approximately $100,000, and there are usually 7 agencies in SD that apply for Grant funds.

The attorney must be in good standing with the State Bar and have experience in the law of domestic relations, custody, and visitation. See SDCL 1-36-35. Please email Kylee Hoffman at kylee.hoffman@sdbar.net on or before February 24, 2023, expressing your interest and setting forth your background. Thank you for considering this opportunity.

1-36-35. Visitation Grant Advisory Group--Members--Terms.

There is hereby created the Visitation Grant Advisory Group to allocate funds received by the Department of Public Safety through Part D of Title IV (U.S.C. 651-669). The advisory group shall be composed of three circuit court judges appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, two members in good standing of the South Dakota Bar Association with experience in the law of domestic relations, custody, and visitation appointed by the Governor, two at large members appointed by the Governor, and two legislators, one appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate. The terms of the members of the first advisory group shall be:

(1) One-third selected for one-year terms;

(2) One-third selected for two-year terms; and

(3) One-third selected for three-year terms.

The term of each appointment to the advisory group is three years. No member may serve more than two consecutive three-year terms. The members may elect a chair from among the members. The advisory group shall be staffed by the Department of Public Safety.