PIERRE, S.D. - Christine Hamilton is a life-long rancher and farmer who has never sought the limelight. That hasn’t stopped the limelight from finding her.

Hamilton’s passion and energy have brought her to positions of leadership in numerous projects she has undertaken. She is on the board of HF Financial, Home Federal Bank and the South Dakota State University Foundation. She is a general partner in PrairieGold, a new venture capital fund based in South Dakota, and she participates in her family’s philanthropic foundation.

Now she is not only the lone woman on the eight-member Game, Fish and Parks Commission, but she is also the commission chair.

The GFP Commission was formed in the late 1920s as a board of South Dakota citizens with broad oversight of the department. Among their authorities, the commission has rule-making powers. The rule-making process has been of particular interest to Hamilton.

"When I joined the Game, Fish and Parks Commission a few years back, I knew there was some feeling that there was a disconnect between Game, Fish and Parks and the citizens of the state," Hamilton said. "I joined the commission hoping that I could be a part of bridging that gap."

What she found surprised her.

"I discovered a rule-making process that directly connects the people with the department," she said. "I found that the GFP staff and the commission put a great deal of time and energy into gathering public comments, from which the commission proposes and ultimately finalizes rules.

"Rule-making may seem intimidating and impersonal to a lot of people; but, everyone should know the rules making process is very personal, very flexible and takes into account individuals as well as the big picture," she said.

"It involves an understanding of governance," Hamilton said. "Governance refers to the integrity that the process boards follow as they do their job. In an organization, there is technical expertise and there is managerial expertise. For Game, Fish and Parks, we can readily identify who does what. For the GFP Commission, the responsibility is one of governance, or the process the commission guides for maintaining and strengthening the link between the department and the stakeholders – the citizens of South Dakota and our visitors who enjoy our natural resources."

Hamilton noted that there are wildlife and park management activities that, for a variety of reasons, are necessary to regulate through law. However, many of these activities are too diverse or specific to be dealt with once a year by the state legislature and state law. Consequently, authority to deal with these matters has been delegated by the legislature to various boards, commissions and department secretaries. For example, setting hunting seasons, license numbers to be issued, restricted activities on parks and public lands and restrictions on hunting and fishing equipment are areas where the GFP Commission – with input from stakeholders – establishes and modifies rules.

Hamilton said a typical rule or rules modification begins with a suggestion or need from the public, from the commission or from the GFP staff. The department gathers facts that will provide pertinent information to the commission. They will also work through formal and informal channels to gather public input. This information can be through conversations with interested individuals and user groups or through science-based surveys.

Once information is gathered, it is presented to the commission in the form of a GFP staff recommendation. The commission then has the option to propose the idea as a formal rule, modify the recommendation or reject the idea completely. If the commission proposes the rule, the process is put in motion through a formal public notice in selected newspapers. The proposed rule is then open to public comment. It is circulated to the public through news releases and through contacts with any user groups or individuals who might be directly affected.

At the next commission meeting, generally the following month, public comments that have been gathered are shared with the commission at a formal public hearing along with comments that have been communicated directly to the commissioners throughout the month. In addition, any individual who wishes to provide oral testimony for or against the proposed rule is invited to personally address the commission.

After the conclusion of the public hearing the commission may take action on the proposed rule. The eight members vote, with a simple majority required to pass or amend a rule.

If the rule is passed, it begins a new journey before it goes into effect. The rule must be formally presented to an Interim Rules Review Committee of the legislature, which makes sure the commission has not exceeded their authority, all procedural steps have been followed and the public has been properly heard. This must be done within 75 days.

Upon approval by the Rules Review Committee, the rules are filed with the Secretary of State and take effect 20 days after filing.

"The number and complexity of rules the commission deals with still impress me, even after seven years," Hamilton said.

"Public testimony is a key element in maintaining proper balance for the many different, and often conflicting, interests in these natural resources," she said. "Dedication to a reasonable outcome helps, too.

"The process is very open and very available to the public," she said. "It is my hope that every citizen of the state who has an interest in these issues will take the opportunity to share their views with the commission."

Hamilton says her passion for her work as a GFP Commissioner rests in her working relationship with the GFP staff and stakeholder involvement. Issues such as fee increases and landowner relations have brought some of the greatest challenges, and participation in creating sound solutions can bring the greatest rewards.

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