The bill amends South Dakota law to allow sheriffs to charge a fee for the service of process, regardless of whether the service is completed. Specifically, it modifies Section 7-12-18 to stipulate that for any summons, complaint, or other legal documents submitted for service, the fee can be up to fifty dollars, irrespective of the outcome of the service attempt. Additionally, it clarifies that only one fee may be charged for all processes served at the same time on the same individual, and a reduced fee applies for multiple processes served on different individuals at the same time and place.

The bill also outlines various fees for other services provided by sheriffs, including fees for serving subpoenas, traveling expenses, and commissions on money received and disbursed. It specifies that the fees collected must be used for law enforcement purposes and prohibits charging fees in certain specified actions. Overall, the legislation aims to standardize and clarify the fee structure for sheriffs' services in South Dakota.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 12/27/2024: 7-12-18
Senate Judiciary Engrossed, 01/16/2025: 7-12-18
Enrolled, 02/03/2025: 7-12-18