| Members Present: Sen. David P. Hinkins, Chair Rep. Christine F. Watkins, Chair Sen. Jen Plumb Rep. Rosemary T. Lesser Rep. Angela Romero Rep. Rex P. Shipp Rep. Mark A. Wheatley | Members Absent: Sen. Luz Escamilla Sen. Ronald M. Winterton Rep. Tim Jimenez Rep. Dan N. Johnson Staff Present: Rachel Brooks, Policy Analyst Patricia Owen, Senior Associate General Counsel Samantha Merrell, Administrative Assistant |
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| Chair Hinkins called the meeting to order at 10:01 a.m. |
| 1.Required Report: Division of Indian Affairs |
| 4 - Annual Report Presentation (Division of Indian Affairs) |
| James Toledo, Program Specialist, Division of Indian Affairs, and Donna Law, Director, Department of Cultural and Community Affairs, presented on the Division of Indian Affairs annual report. |
| James Toledo answered questions from the committee and Sen. Hinkins brought up two issues for the division's notice. |
| MOTION:Rep. Wheatley moved to approve the minutes of the June 24, 2024, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-5. | |||
| Yeas - 6 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 5 | |
| Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. R. Lesser Sen. J. Plumb Rep. A. Romero Rep. C. Watkins Rep. M. Wheatley | Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. T. Jimenez Rep. D. Johnson Rep. R. Shipp Sen. R. Winterton |
| 2.Required Report: Navajo Trust Fund |
| 6 - Utah Navajo Trust Fund (UNTF) Annual Report |
| Treasurer Oaks, Chair, Navajo Trust Fund Board of Trustees, presented on the status of the Navajo Trust Fund, including revenues, expenditures, and investments of the fund. |
| Melvin Capitan, Chair, Native Advisory Board, Navajo Trust Fund, presented on projects being funded by the Navajo Trust Fund. |
| Melvin Capitan responded to comments and questions from the committee. |
| Doug Seager, Office of the State Auditor, presented on the audit findings of the Navajo Trust Fund. |
| Tony Dayish, Trust Fund Administrator, recognized Jamie Harvey, member, Native Advisory Board, and offered clarifying comments regarding two of the projects discussed earlier. |
| 3.Required Reports: Health Liaison and ICWA Liaison |
| 5 - American Indian/Alaska Native Health Liaison Report (DHHS) |
| 5 - American Indian/Alaska Native Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Liaison Annual Report (Department of Health and Human Services) |
| Ozzy Escarante, Director, Office of AI/AN Health and Family Services, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), introduced his team and the work that the Office of AI/AN Health and Family Services does in the state of Utah. |
| Jeremy Taylor, Tribal Health Liaison, Office of AI/AN Health and Family Services, DHHS, spoke on the tribal health efforts of the Office of AI/AN Health and Family Services and on the annual Tribal Health Liaison report. |
| Jamie Harvey, Indian Child Welfare Act Liaison, Office of AI/AN Health and Family Services, DHHS, presented on the annual Indian Child Welfare Liaison report. |
| Jeremy Taylor responded to questions from the committee. |
| 4.Draft Legislation: Indian Family Preservation Act Amendments |
| 2 - Draft Legislation "Indian Family Preservation Act Amendments" (V004) |
| Rep. Romero presented on draft legislation, "Indian Family Preservation Amendments." |
| Ozzy Escarante gave comment to the bill. |
| Rep. Romero thanked Ozzy Escarante and his office, and recognized the Paiute Tribe. |
| Tamara Borchardt-Slayton, Family Advocate Coordinator, Paiute Tribe of Utah, spoke in support of the bill. |
| Rep. Romero answered questions from the committee. |
| Patricia Owen, Senior Associate General Counsel, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, answered a clarifying question regarding language in the bill. |
| MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to favorably recommend as a committee bill, "Indian Family Preservation Amendments."The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-4. | |||
| Yeas - 7 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 4 | |
| Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. R. Lesser Sen. J. Plumb Rep. A. Romero Rep. R. Shipp Rep. C. Watkins Rep. M. Wheatley | Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. T. Jimenez Rep. D. Johnson Sen. R. Winterton |
| 5.Draft Legislation: Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives Task Force Amendments |
| 3 - Draft Legislation "Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives Task Force Amendments" (V004) |
| Rep. Romero presented on draft legislation, "Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives Task Force Amendments." |
| The committee discussed the work of the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives Task Force. |
| MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to favorably recommend as a committee bill, "Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives Task Force Amendments." The committee discussed the motion and heard public comment from Tamara Borchardt-Slatyon, member, Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives Task Force, who spoke in favor of the bill.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 8 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. R. Lesser Sen. J. Plumb Rep. A. Romero Rep. R. Shipp Rep. C. Watkins Rep. M. Wheatley | Rep. T. Jimenez Rep. D. Johnson Sen. R. Winterton |
| MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 8 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. R. Lesser Sen. J. Plumb Rep. A. Romero Rep. R. Shipp Rep. C. Watkins Rep. M. Wheatley | Rep. T. Jimenez Rep. D. Johnson Sen. R. Winterton |
| Chair Watkins adjourned the meeting at 11:13 a.m. |