Official Defends Flu Shot Bonus

     PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - South Dakota Health Secretary Doneen
Hollingsworth says bonuses given to department employees who worked
on the swine flu vaccination campaign were proper and legal.
     A state audit found that the $500 bonuses given to 155 Health
Department employees were not allowable under federal rules because
the department did not have a compensation plan that set rules for
giving bonuses in all programs.
     Hollingsworth told a legislative committee the bonuses were
allowable under federal guidelines that applied to the federal
grant South Dakota received for responding to the H1N1 flu threat
in 2009 and 2010.
     Hollingsworth says the bonuses were given to employees who
worked a significant amount of time on the flu campaign.
     Lawmakers questioned whether the bonuses were proper at a time
when state employee salaries were frozen.