Members of the Government Operations and Audit Committee of the South Dakota Legislature took hours this week debating and discussing findings around the controversial GEAR UP program. That federally funded program is at the heart of criminal charges against three former officials of the Mid Central Educational Cooperative in Platte.

Committee Co-Chair, Representative Jean Hunhoff of Yankton says they did get some new information…..

Hunhoff says the committee will propose some new ethics and conflict of interest bills…..

Education Department Secretary Melody Schopp declined to appear before the committee this week. Hunhoff says they will ask her to appear at their next meeting…..

The committee is scheduled to meet again in October.