The bill amends South Dakota's existing law regarding the classification of misdemeanors, specifically focusing on the exceptions to the imposition of a Class 2 misdemeanor when no other penalty is provided by statute. It clarifies that misdemeanors are categorized into two classes, with Class 1 misdemeanors carrying a maximum penalty of one year in jail or a $2,000 fine, and Class 2 misdemeanors carrying a maximum penalty of thirty days in jail or a $500 fine. Additionally, the court is mandated to order restitution to victims in accordance with existing provisions.

The bill also revises the list of titles under which certain acts, when prohibited by statute without a specified penalty, are classified as Class 2 misdemeanors. Specifically, it deletes the range of Titles 1 to 20 and replaces it with Titles 1 to 11, inclusive, and 13 to 20, inclusive, along with other specified titles. This change aims to clarify the scope of misdemeanors and ensure that individuals are held accountable for prohibited actions even when no explicit penalty is outlined in the law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/30/2025: 22-6-2