PIERRE - The South Dakota House approved a bill Thursday that sets up the framework to acquire land for a new West River higher education center but doesn't provide the money to build it.

HB1251 originally authorized up to $15.4 million in state bonding authority to build the center. The House Education Committee approved that measure. But the House Appropriations Committee deleted the funding in a subsequent meeting. The full House approved that amended bill Thursday.

Lobbyist Pat McElgunn of the Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce said the issue wasn't necessarily settled, however.

"It's somewhat of a vehicle to keep it alive," he said of HB1251. "We've got a couple of weeks to chase the money.

The bill does authorize the South Dakota Board of Regents to accept a donation of about 12 acres of land for the location of the center. Regent Kathy Johnson and her husband, Doyle Estes, of Rapid City are donating the land, south of Interstate 90 and east of Exit 61.

The bill also authorizes the regents to take preliminary steps to buy contiguous property at the site. But it doesn't provide any money and would require the regents to get legislative approval for that land acquisition.

"This year, it's very tough to find funding," McElgunn said. "That's what we'll be looking for."

Currently more than 1,600 students take classes at the existing West River Higher Education Center in Rapid City, which has classroom space at several locations.

A similar higher-education center in Sioux Falls serves more than 3,600 students. A new educational complex for the center is being built there at the northwest edge of town.

Contact Kevin Woster at 394-8413 or kevin.woster@rapidcityjournal.com.