Commerce and Regulation, Department of

In 1985, the Department of Tourism and Commerce (formerly designated as the Department of Commerce from 1979 to 1982, and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs from 1973 to 1979) was renamed the Department of Commerce and Regulation.

The department was organized into eight major divisions: Division of the Secretary, Division of Banking, Division of Insurance, Division of Securities, Division of Commercial Inspection and Regulation, Division of Human Rights, Division of Highway Patrol, and Division of Professional and Occupational Licensing. The Division of Commercial Inspection and Regulation was made up of the Driver Licensing Program and the State Fire Marshal's Office. The Division of HIghway Patrol consisted of three programs: Law Enforcement, Dealer Inspection, and Motor Carrier Enforcement. The Highway Safety, Support Services, Appraiser Certification, and Petrolium Fund programs were located within the Division of the Secretary. The Division of Professional and Occupational Licensing consisted of twenty-two boards and commissions attached to the division for reporting purposes.The Gaming Comission, Cement Plant, South Dakota Housing Authority, and Public Utilities Commission were also administratively attached to the department.

In 2003, the State legislature abolished the department and divided its functions and programs between the newly recreated Department of Public Safety, the Department of Revenue and Regulation, the Department of Health, the Department of Labor, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Agriculture (Chapter 272, Sections 19-20 of 2003 Session Laws; Executive Reorganization Order No. 2003-01).