25.519.9 100th Legislative Session 1214
2025 South Dakota Legislature
House Bill 1214
Introduced by: Representative Jordan
Underscores indicate new language.
Overstrikes indicate deleted language.
An Act to provide immunity for security personnel of a religious organization. 1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA: 2
Section 1. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 20-9: 3
Terms used in section 2 of this Act mean: 4
(1) "Religious organization," a body or community of persons united as individuals or 5
as an entity, under one form of government, by profession of the same faith and 6
the observance of the same rituals or ceremonies in a bona fide church, synagogue, 7
or house of worship; 8
(2) "Security personnel," a person who provides safety, security, or protection for a 9
religious organization, as authorized by the religious organization, to benefit 10
persons in attendance at a meeting or other gathering held at, or sponsored by, 11
the religious organization; and 12
(3) "Volunteer," a person who provides services without any express or implied 13
promise of renumeration. 14
Section 2. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 20-9: 15
No action may lie or be maintained for civil damages against any volunteer security 16
personnel of a religious organization, for providing safety, security, or protection services 17
for the religious organization, or against the religious organization for which the volunteer 18
security personnel provided safety, security, or protection services. 19
The immunity provided by this section applies to and includes safety, security, or 20
protection provided using deadly force, as defined in ยง 22-18-3.1, or force other than 21
deadly force. 22
The immunity provided by this section does not apply to or include any act or 23
omission that arises out of unreasonable, reckless, grossly negligent, or wanton actions 24
or conduct of the volunteer security personnel. 25