South Dakota Codified Laws
Chapter 13 - Human Rights
Section 20-13-1 - Definitions.

20-13-1. Definitions.
Terms used in this chapter mean:
(1)"Commission," the South Dakota State Commission of Human Rights;
(2)"Commissioner," a member of the commission;
(3)"Court," the circuit court in and for the judicial circuit of the State of South Dakota in which the alleged unfair or discriminatory practice occurred;
(4)"Disability," a physical or mental impairment of a person resulting from disease, injury, congenital condition of birth, or functional disorder which substantially limits one or more of the person's major life functions; a record of having such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment which:
(a)For purposes of §§20-13-10 to 20-13-17, inclusive, is unrelated to an individual's ability to perform the major duties of a particular job or position, or is unrelated to an individual's qualifications for employment or promotion;
(b)For purposes of §§20-13-20 to 20-13-21.1, inclusive, is unrelated to an individual's ability to acquire, rent or maintain property;
(c)For purposes of §§20-13-22 to 20-13-25, inclusive, is unrelated to an individual's ability to utilize and benefit from educational opportunities, programs and facilities at an educational institution.
This term does not include current illegal use of or addiction to marijuana as defined in subdivision 22-42-1(7) or a controlled substance as defined in subdivision 22-42-1(1);
(5)"Educational institution," any public or private institution of education and includes an academy, college, elementary or secondary school, extension course, kindergarten, nursery, school system, and any business, nursing, professional, secretarial, technical, or vocational school, and includes any agent of such institutions;
(6)"Employee," any person who performs services for any employer for compensation, whether in the form of wages, salary, commission, or otherwise;
(7)"Employer," any person within the State of South Dakota who hires or employs any employee, and any person wherever situated who hires or employs any employee whose services are to be partially or wholly performed in the State of South Dakota;
(8)"Employment agency," any person regularly undertaking, with or without compensation, to procure employees for an employer or to procure for employees opportunities to work for an employer and includes any agent of such a person;
(9)"Familial status," the relationship of individuals by birth, adoption, or guardianship who are domiciled together;
(10)"Intern," a student or trainee who works, sometimes without pay, at an organization, industry, trade, or occupation in order to gain work experience or earn academic credit;
(11)"Labor organization," includes any person, employee representation committee, plan in which employees participate, or other organization which exists wholly or in part for the purpose of dealing with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours, or other terms or conditions of employment;
(12)"Person," includes one or more individuals, partnerships, associations, limited liability companies, corporations, unincorporated organizations, mutual companies, joint stock companies, trusts, agents, legal representatives, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy, receivers, labor organizations, public bodies, public corporations, and the State of South Dakota, and all political subdivisions and agencies thereof;
(13)"Public accommodations," any place, establishment, or facility of whatever kind, nature, or class that caters or offers services, facilities, or goods to the general public for a fee, charge, or gratuitously. Public accommodation does not mean any bona fide private club or other place, establishment, or facility which is by its nature distinctly private, except when such distinctly private place, establishment, or facility caters or offers services, facilities, or goods to the general public for fee, charge, or gratuitously, it shall be deemed a public accommodation during such period of use;
(14)"Public service," any public facility, department, agency, board, or commission, owned, operated, or managed by or on behalf of the State of South Dakota, any political subdivision thereof, or any other public corporation;
(15)"Real estate broker" and "real estate salesman," real estate broker and real estate salesman as defined by §36-21A-6 or as licensed pursuant to §36-21A-47;
(16)"Real property," any right, title, interest in or to the possession, ownership, enjoyment, or occupancy of any parcel of land, any building situated thereon, or any portion of such building;
(17)"Service animal in training," any dog undergoing individual training to provide specific disability-related work or service for an individual with a disability. Dogs are recognized as being in training to provide disability-specific assistance only after they have completed basic obedience training and are housebroken;
(18)"Service animal trainer," any person who trains service animals for individuals with disabilities as an employee, contractor, or volunteer of a nationally recognized service animal training program
(19)"Unfair or discriminatory practice," any act or attempted act which because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, ancestry, disability, or national origin accords unequal treatment or separation or segregation of any person, or denies, prevents, limits, or otherwise adversely affects, or if accomplished would deny, prevent, limit, or otherwise adversely affect, the benefit or enjoyment by any person of employment, labor union membership, housing accommodations, property rights, education, public accommodations, and public services.

Source: SL 1972, ch 11, § 2; SL 1973, ch 142, § 1; SL 1986, ch 170, §§ 2-3A; SL 1991, ch 179, § 5; SL 1994, ch 351, § 40; SL 2020, ch 70, § 1; SL 2020, ch 71, § 2.

Structure South Dakota Codified Laws

South Dakota Codified Laws

Title 20 - Personal Rights and Obligations

Chapter 13 - Human Rights

Section 20-13-1 - Definitions.

Section 20-13-1.1 - Probable cause defined.

Section 20-13-2 - State Commission of Human Rights--Appointment of members--Terms--Vacancies--Removal.

Section 20-13-2.1 - Direction and supervision of commission by Department of Labor and Regulation--Independent functions retained by commission.

Section 20-13-3 - Quorum of commission--Rules governing meetings.

Section 20-13-4 - Per diem and expenses of commission members.

Section 20-13-5 - Employment of personnel by division.

Section 20-13-6 - Legal assistance to commission.

Section 20-13-7 - Investigation and elimination of discrimination by education and conciliation.

Section 20-13-8 - Cooperation with other agencies.

Section 20-13-9 - Funds and grants accepted--Accounting.

Section 20-13-10 - Unfair or discriminatory practices.

Section 20-13-10.1 - Blind or partially blind person--Employment discrimination restricted--Civil penalty.

Section 20-13-11 - Employment agency's unfair or discriminatory practices.

Section 20-13-12 - Labor organization's unfair or discriminatory practices.

Section 20-13-13 - Employment advertising deemed unfair or discriminatory.

Section 20-13-14 - Requiring security clearance not unfair or discriminatory.

Section 20-13-15 - Use of ability test by employer not unfair or discriminatory.

Section 20-13-16 - Seniority and merit preferences permitted--Place of work differentials.

Section 20-13-17 - Sex differentiation permitted when based on seniority, job description, merit or executive training systems.

Section 20-13-17.1 - Gender preference for hires at single-sex facility not discriminatory.

Section 20-13-18 - Qualification based on religious purpose not unfair or discriminatory.

Section 20-13-20 - Unfair or discriminatory housing practices by owner or agent.

Section 20-13-20.1 - Discrimination based on familial status--"Family" defined--Application to housing accommodations.

Section 20-13-20.2 - Unfair or discriminatory housing practices based on familial status--Exemptions.

Section 20-13-21 - Unfair or discriminatory housing practice by financial institution or lender.

Section 20-13-21.1 - Housing--Modifications on behalf of disabled persons unnecessary--Disabled persons not relieved of obligations.

Section 20-13-21.2 - Design or construction of multifamily dwellings--Access to housing units and common areas by disabled persons and wheelchairs--Prior approval of plans not required.

Section 20-13-22 - Educational institutions' unfair or discriminatory practices--Exemptions.

Section 20-13-22.1 - Programs and activities exempt when conducted for educational, social, or recreational purposes.

Section 20-13-22.2 - Selection of students to participate in exempt programs permitted--Conduct of programs.

Section 20-13-23 - Public accommodations--Unfair or discriminatory practices.

Section 20-13-23.1 - Right of disabled persons to equal treatment in public accommodations.

Section 20-13-23.2 - Disability--Service Animal--Liability--Violation as misdemeanor.

Section 20-13-23.4 - Right to keep guide dog in rented or leased residence--Violation as misdemeanor.

Section 20-13-23.7 - Good faith efforts made to accommodate disabled persons.

Section 20-13-24 - Public services--Unfair or discriminatory practices.

Section 20-13-25 - Advertising public accommodations or services--Unfair or discriminatory practices.

Section 20-13-26 - Concealing, aiding, compelling, or inducing unlawful discrimination--Threats or reprisals.

Section 20-13-27 - Regulations for enforcement of chapter.

Section 20-13-28 - Complaints acted upon by division.

Section 20-13-28.1 - Dismissal of charge if investigation shows no probable cause.

Section 20-13-29 - Charge filed with division--Requirements--Contents--Public officials may file charge.

Section 20-13-30 - Charge by employer or organization against employees or members.

Section 20-13-31 - Time for filing charge.

Section 20-13-32 - Service of charge--Investigation--Conference or conciliation to eliminate practice.

Section 20-13-32.2 - Investigative materials confidential--Access to material by parties following determination.

Section 20-13-34 - Notice to respondent to answer charge--Time for answer.

Section 20-13-35 - Notice to answer charge after investigating official's report--Time for hearing--Hearing examiner--Right to transfer matter to circuit court.

Section 20-13-35.1 - Right to proceed by civil action in lieu of hearing--Forms of relief available.

Section 20-13-36 - Administration of oaths--Depositions.

Section 20-13-37 - Evidence rules inapplicable at hearings--Cross-examination--Burden of proof--Preservation of testimony.

Section 20-13-38 - Presentation of case--Investigating official's participation limited.

Section 20-13-39 - Respondent's answer and appearance at hearing--Charging party's intervention.

Section 20-13-40 - Amendment of charge or answer.

Section 20-13-41 - Proceedings on default by respondent.

Section 20-13-42 - Finding of discriminatory or unfair practice--Cease and desist order--Affirmative action required.

Section 20-13-43 - Finding of no discriminatory or unfair practice--Dismissal of charge.

Section 20-13-44 - Majority of commission required for final orders.

Section 20-13-45 - Procedural rules.

Section 20-13-46 - Rules governed by general law on administrative rules.

Section 20-13-47 - Judicial review of commission--court order for enforcement of order.

Section 20-13-52 - Commission's appearance by attorney--Supervision--Exception in action against governmental agency.

Section 20-13-54 - Broad construction of chapter.

Section 20-13-55 - Severability of provisions.

Section 20-13-56 - Citation of chapter.