MINUTES OF THE
NATIVE AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE LIAISON COMMITTEE
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 • 9:00 a.m. • 450 State Capitol


Members Present:
Sen. David P. Hinkins, Chair
Rep. Christine F. Watkins, Chair
Sen. Luz Escamilla
Sen. Jen Plumb
Sen. Ronald M. Winterton
Rep. Rosemary T. Lesser
Rep. Angela Romero
Rep. Rex P. Shipp
Rep. Mark A. Wheatley
Rep. Tim Jimenez

Members Absent:
Rep. Dan N. Johnson

Staff Present:
Rachel Brooks, Policy Analyst
Patricia Owen, Associate General Counsel
Samantha Merrell, Administrative Assistant

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
1.Committee Business
Chair Hinkins called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m.
2.Navajo Mountain Road and Utah State University Monument Valley Center
6a. Presentation, Navajo Mountain Regional Transportation
6. Keith Heaton, Director, Seven County Infrastructure Coalition and Brian Barton, President and CEO, Jones and DeMille Engineering, Inc. proposed development of a new road to overcome transportation isolation to Navajo Mountain.
Keith Heaton and Brian Barton responded to questions from the committee.
3.Division of Indian Affairs Report
2. Presentation, Division of Indian Affairs Report
Dustin Jansen, Director, Division of Indian Affairs, and James Toledo, Program Manager, Division of Indian Affairs, presented on major points of the annual Division of Indian Affairs Report.
Dustin Jansen and James Toledo responded to questions from the committee.
Dustin Jansen and James Toledo continued presenting.
4.Committee Business
MOTION:Rep. Wheatley moved to approve the minutes of the November 15, 2022, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-3.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. D. Hinkins
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. R. Lesser
Sen. J. Plumb
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. M. Wheatley
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. L. Escamilla
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. A. Romero
5.Native American Health Reports and Issues
Ozzy Escarate, Director, Office of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Health and Family Services, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), introduced the Office of AI/AN Health and Family Services.
Jeremy Taylor, Tribal Health Liaison, Office of AI/AN Health and Family Services, DHHS, presented on the tribal health efforts of the Office of AI/AN Health and Family Services, DHHS, and on the annual Tribal Health Liaison report.
Ozzy Escarate spoke briefly about a project the Office of AI/AN Health and Family Services completed of delivering air purifiers to tribal communities.
Jeremy Taylor responded to questions from the committee.
Jamie Harvey, Indian Child Welfare Act Liaison, Office of AI/AN Health and Family Services, DHHS, presented on highlights of the annual Indian Child Welfare Liaison report.
Rachel Craig, Government Affairs Manager, Association for Utah Community Health (AUCH), presented on a proposed legislation for a traditional healing waiver.
Rachel Craig and Melissa Zito, Tribal Liaison, AUCH, responded to questions from the committee.
MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved that the committee would favorably recommend adding the traditional health services benefit waiver request to a bill file that she has open on a related issue.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-1.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. D. Hinkins
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. R. Lesser
Sen. J. Plumb
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. M. Wheatley
Sen. R. Winterton
Rep. D. Johnson
Ernest Harry Begay, traditional healer, Navajo Nation, provided public comment on the health waiver legislation proposal.
6.Native American Education Reports and Issues
4a. Presentation, Title VI Programs, Utah State Board of Education
Dr. Chuck Foster, American Indian Education Specialist, State Board of Education, presented an overview of Title VI programs of the Utah State Board of Education.
4b. Presentation, San Juan School District Quality Teacher Incentive Program
Christine Fitzgerald, Superintendent, San Juan School District, presented on the Quality Teacher Incentive Program in San Juan School District.
Christine Fitzgerald responded to questions from the committee.
4c. Presentation, Eagle View Elementary Teacher Recruitment and Retention Grant
Chris Jones, Principal, Eagle View Elementary, presented on the effect of the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Grant on Eagle View Elementary School.
7.Navajo Trust Fund
5. Report, Navajo Trust Fund Report
Maury Bergman, Financial Manager, Navajo Trust Fund, presented on data from the Navajo Trust Fund.
Maury Bergman and Tony Dayish, trust administrator, Navajo Trust Fund, responded to a clarifying question from the Chair and agreed to accelerate their presentation due to time constraints.
Maury Bergman continued presenting.
Tony Dayish responded to a question from the Chair about trust fund percentage allocation between state and federal organizations.
Marlo Oaks, State Treasurer, Chair, Navajo Trust Fund Board of Trustees, gave a brief statement on the good work the Navajo Trust Fund is doing in Utah and how it is an honor to be associated with it.
8.Navajo Mountain Road and Utah State University Monument Valley Center
Kristian Olsen, Senior Associate Vice President, Utah State University (USU) Blanding and Moab, updated the committee on the USU Monument Valley Academic Building facility project.
Jim Dandy, USU Grant Director, Native American Serving Nontribal Institutions, presented on the impact of the USU Monument Valley Academic Building.
9.Other Items/Adjourn
MOTION:Co-chair Watkins moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-1.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. D. Hinkins
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. R. Lesser
Sen. J. Plumb
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. M. Wheatley
Sen. R. Winterton
Rep. D. Johnson
Chair Hinkins adjourned the meeting at 11:22 a.m.