25.514.11 100th Legislative Session 1207
2025 South Dakota Legislature
House Bill 1207
Introduced by: Representative Ismay
Underscores indicate new language.
Overstrikes indicate deleted language.
An Act to revise and repeal provisions related to rape in the first degree and to 1
provide a penalty therefor. 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA: 3
Section 1. That § 22-22-1 be AMENDED: 4
22-22-1. Rape is an act of sexual penetration accomplished with any person under 5
any of the following circumstances: 6
(1) If the victim is less than thirteen years of age; 7
(2) Through the use of force, coercion, or threats of immediate and great bodily harm 8
against the victim or other persons within the victim's presence, accompanied by 9
apparent power of execution; 10
(3) If the victim is incapable, because of physical or mental incapacity, of giving 11
consent to such act and the perpetrator knows or reasonably should know of the 12
victim's incapacity; 13
(4) If the victim is incapable of giving consent because of any intoxicating, narcotic, or 14
anesthetic agent or hypnosis and the perpetrator knows or reasonably should know 15
the victim is incapable of giving consent; 16
(5) If the victim is thirteen years of age, but less than sixteen years of age, and the 17
perpetrator is at least three years older than the victim; or 18
(6) Without the victim's consent and the perpetrator knows or reasonably should know 19
the victim is not consenting. 20
A violation of subdivision (1) is rape in the first degree, which is a Class C B felony. 21
A violation of subdivision (2) is rape in the second degree, which is a Class 1 felony. A 22
violation of subdivision (3) or (4) is rape in the third degree, which is a Class 2 felony. A 23
violation of subdivision (5) or (6) is rape in the fourth degree, which is a Class 3 felony. 24
Notwithstanding the provisions of § 23A-42-2, no statute of limitations applies to 25
any charge brought pursuant to subdivision (1) or (2). Otherwise, a charge brought 26 25.514.11 2 1207
Underscores indicate new language.
Overstrikes indicate deleted language.
pursuant to this section may be commenced at any time before the victim reaches age 1
twenty-five or within seven years from the commission of the crime, whichever is longer. 2
Section 2. That § 22-22-1.4 be AMENDED: 3
22-22-1.4. The sentencing court may impose a sentence other than that which is 4
required by §§ 22-22-1.2 and 22-6-1.2 and 22-22-7 if the court finds that mitigating 5
circumstances exist which that require a departure from the mandatory sentence imposed 6
by §§ 22-22-1.2 or 22-6-1.2 or 22-22-7. The court's finding of mitigating circumstances 7
and the factual basis relied upon by the court shall be in writing. 8
Section 3. That § 22-22-7 be AMENDED: 9
22-22-7. Any person, sixteen years of age or older, who knowingly engages in 10
sexual contact with another person, other than that person's spouse if the other person is 11
under the age of sixteen years, is guilty of a Class 3 felony. If the victim is at least thirteen 12
years of age and the actor is less than five years older than the victim, the actor is guilty 13
of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Notwithstanding § 23A-42-2, a charge brought pursuant to this 14
section may be commenced at any time before the victim becomes age twenty -five or 15
within seven years of the commission of the crime, whichever is longer. 16
If an adult is convicted of a violation of this section and the victim is less than 17
thirteen years of age, the court must impose a minimum sentence of ten years for a first 18
offense. 19
Section 4. That § 22-22-1.2 be REPEALED. 20
If any adult is convicted of any of the following violations, the court shall impose 21
the following minimum sentences: 22
(1) For a violation of subdivision 22-22-1(1), fifteen years for a first offense; and 23
(2) For a violation of § 22-22-7 if the victim is less than thirteen years of age, ten 24
years for a first offense. 25