SDCL § 26-6-52: Monitor--Powers and duties.

The monitor designated as provided in § 26-6-51 shall:

(1)Investigate and resolve complaints related to the quality of care provided to youth placed in the custody or care of a facility, center, or program as provided in § 26-6-51;

(2)Access any youth in the custody or care of a facility, center, or program as provided in § 26-6-51 and any person in the employ of a facility, center, or program as provided in § 26-6-51;

(3)Access any records of or relating to any youth in the custody or care of a facility, center, or program as provided in § 26-6-51;

(4)Provide an annual report to the secretary of the Department of Social Services that reflects the number of referrals to the monitor, the number of investigations completed, and a summary of other activities performed by the monitor;

(5)Provide an annual report to the Government Operations and Audit Committee created in § 2-6-2 that, in addition to the information stipulated in subdivision (4), includes a confidential addendum. Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 26-6-54 and 26-6-57, the confidential addendum shall contain a description of each investigation, the specific findings and recommendations of the monitor, and the response of the Department of Social Services to the recommendations;

(6)Provide reasonable notification of the existence and role of the monitor to any youth in the custody or care of a facility, center, or program as provided in § 26-6-51, and to the youth's custodial parent or guardian; and

(7)Provide recommendations for corrective action to address any complaint received related to the quality of care provided to the youth.