SB 122

 26.433.11  101st Legislative Session  122
                                          2026 South Dakota Legislature
                                                   Senate Bill 122
                                                    SENATE JUDICIARY ENGROSSED
                                This bill has been extensively amended (hoghoused) and may no longer be
                                            consistent with the original intention of the sponsor.
 Introduced by: Senator Perry
1 An Act to establish the crime of failure to summon aid for a suicide attempt and
2provide a penalty therefor.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
4 Section 1. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 22-16:
5A person commits the offense of failure to summon aid for a suicide attempt if the
6     person:
7     (1)      Is physically present at the scene of the attempt;
8     (2)      Knows that another individual is attempting suicide or has inflicted self-harm that
9creates an imminent risk of serious bodily injury; and
10     (3)      Intentionally fails to promptly summon assistance by contacting law enforcement,
11medical personnel, or another person reasonably likely to secure immediate
12emergency assistance.
13A violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
14 Section 2. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 22-16:
15It is a defense to section 1 of this Act if:
16     (1)      The person:
17(a)    Reasonably feared imminent harm to self or others;
18(b)    Reasonably believed aid had already been summoned; or
19(c)    Is under the age of eighteen; or
20     (2)      It was otherwise not reasonably possible for the person to summon aid.
                                                                                      Underscores indicate new language.
                                                                                    Overstrikes indicate deleted language.