SDCL § 26-6-25: Investigation by department of unlicensed and unregistered operations--Further action by department.

Whenever the Department of Social Services is advised or has reason to believe that any person is conducting or maintaining a child welfare agency without a license or registration certificate as required by this chapter, it shall have an investigation made. If the person is conducting a child welfare agency, it shall either issue a license or registration certificate or take action to prevent continued operation of the agency.