SDCL § 33-12-20: Suit for missing or destroyed property--Absence of fault--Release from liability.

The Governor shall cause suit to be brought whenever necessary to make good any injury, want of repair, or loss of any quartermaster or ordnance stores or supplies or other state property. However, if any such stores or property belonging to the state are lost, destroyed, or damaged without the fault or neglect of the officer responsible for the stores or property, the officer and sureties may, by order of the Governor, on the report of a board of survey or other satisfactory proof, be relieved of all liability for the stores or property.