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S.B. 235

             1     

HUMAN REMAINS RELATED AMENDMENTS

             2     
2008 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Kevin T. VanTassell

             5     
House Sponsor: Douglas C. Aagard

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    defines terms;
             13          .    provides for administrative resolution of claims for Native American remains before
             14      an action may be filed in court;
             15          .    exempts certain actions from the Administrative Procedures Act; and
             16          .    makes technical and conforming amendments.
             17      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             18          None
             19      Other Special Clauses:
             20          None
             21      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             22      AMENDS:
             23          9-9-402, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 231
             24          9-9-403, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 231
             25          9-9-405, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1997, Chapter 35
             26          9-9-406, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1992, Chapter 286
             27          63-38f-415, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 148


             28     
             29      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             30          Section 1. Section 9-9-402 is amended to read:
             31           9-9-402. Definitions.
             32          As used in this part:
             33          (1) "Antiquities Section" means the Antiquities Section of the Division of History.
             34          (2) "Burial site" means [any] a natural or prepared physical location, whether originally
             35      below, on, or above the surface of the earth, into which as a part of the death rite or ceremony
             36      of a culture individual human remains are deposited.
             37          (3) "Cultural affiliation" means that there is a relationship of shared group identity that
             38      can be reasonably traced historically or prehistorically between a present day Indian tribe and
             39      an identifiable earlier group.
             40          (4) "Director" means the director of the Division of Indian Affairs.
             41          [(4)] (5) "Division" means the Division of Indian Affairs.
             42          [(5)] (6) "Indian tribe" means [any] a tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or
             43      community of Indians that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services
             44      provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.
             45          [(6)] (7) "Lineal descendant" means the genealogical descendant established by oral or
             46      written record.
             47          [(7)] (8) "Native American" means of or relating to a tribe, people, or culture that is
             48      indigenous to the United States.
             49          [(8)] (9) "Native American remains" means remains that are Native American.
             50          [(9)] (10) (a) "Nonfederal land" means land in the state that is not owned, controlled, or
             51      held in trust by the federal government.
             52          (b) "Nonfederal land" includes:
             53          (i) land owned or controlled by:
             54          (A) the state;
             55          (B) a county, city, or town;
             56          (C) an Indian tribe, if the land is not held in trust by the United States for the Indian
             57      tribe or the Indian tribe's members; or
             58          (D) a person other than the federal government; or


             59          (ii) school and institutional trust lands as defined in Section 53C-1-103 .
             60          [(10)] (11) "Remains" means all or part of a physical individual and objects on or
             61      attached to the physical individual that are placed there as part of the death rite or ceremony of
             62      a culture.
             63          (12) "Review committee" means the Native American Remains Review Committee
             64      created by Section 9-9-405 .
             65          [(11)] (13) (a) "State land" means [any] land owned by the state including the state's:
             66          (i) legislative and judicial branches;
             67          (ii) departments, divisions, agencies, boards, commissions, councils, and committees;
             68      and
             69          (iii) institutions of higher education as defined under Section 53B-3-102 .
             70          (b) "State land" does not include:
             71          (i) land owned by a political subdivision of the state;
             72          (ii) land owned by a school district;
             73          (iii) private land; or
             74          (iv) school and institutional trust lands as defined in Section 53C-1-103 .
             75          Section 2. Section 9-9-403 is amended to read:
             76           9-9-403. Ownership and disposition of Native American remains.
             77          (1) If Native American remains are discovered on nonfederal lands on or after April 30,
             78      2007, the ownership or control of the Native American remains shall be determined in the
             79      following priority:
             80          (a) first, in the lineal descendants of the Native American;
             81          (b) second, if the lineal descendants cannot be ascertained, in the Indian tribe that:
             82          (i) has the closest cultural affiliation with the Native American remains; and [that]
             83          (ii) states a claim for the Native American remains; or
             84          (c) third[, if cultural affiliation of the Native American remains cannot be reasonably
             85      ascertained and the land is recognized either by a final judgment of the Indian Claims
             86      Commission or through other evidence as the exclusive or joint aboriginal land of some Indian
             87      tribe,]:
             88          (i) in the Indian tribe that is recognized as aboriginally occupying the area in which the
             89      Native American remains are discovered, if:


             90          (A) cultural affiliation of the Native American remains cannot be reasonably
             91      ascertained;
             92          (B) the land is recognized either by a final judgment of the Indian Claims Commission
             93      or through other evidence as the exclusive or joint aboriginal land of some Indian tribe; and
             94          (C) that tribe states a claim for the Native American remains[,]; or
             95          (ii) in a different tribe if:
             96          (A) it can be shown by a preponderance of the evidence that that different tribe has a
             97      stronger genetic or cultural relationship with the Native American remains; and
             98          (B) that different tribe states a claim for the Native American remains.
             99          (2) Subject to Subsection (7), Native American remains discovered on nonfederal lands
             100      that are not claimed under Subsection (1) shall be disposed of in accordance with rules made
             101      by the division:
             102          (a) consistent with Chapter 8, Part 3, Antiquities[,]; and
             103          (b) in consultation with Native American groups, representatives of repositories, and
             104      the review committee established under Section 9-9-405 .
             105          (3) The intentional removal or excavation of Native American remains from state lands
             106      may be permitted only if:
             107          (a) the Native American remains are excavated or removed pursuant to a permit issued
             108      under Section 9-8-305 ;
             109          (b) the Native American remains are excavated or removed after consultation with and
             110      written consent of the owner of the state land; and
             111          (c) the ownership or right of control of the disposition of the Native American remains
             112      is determined as provided in Subsections (1) and (2).
             113          (4) (a) [Any] A person who knows or has reason to know that the person has
             114      discovered Native American remains on state lands after March 17, 1992 shall notify, in
             115      writing, the appropriate state agency having primary management authority over the lands as
             116      provided in Chapter 8, Part 3, Antiquities.
             117          (b) If the discovery occurs in connection with construction, mining, logging,
             118      agriculture, or a related activity, the person shall:
             119          (i) cease the activity in the area of the discovery[,];
             120          (ii) make a reasonable effort to protect the Native American remains discovered before


             121      resuming the activity[,]; and
             122          (iii) provide notice of discovery to the appropriate state agency under Subsection
             123      (4)(a).
             124          (c) Following notification under Subsections (4)(a) and (b) and upon certification by
             125      the head of the appropriate state agency that notification [has been] is received, the activity may
             126      resume after compliance with Section 76-9-704 .
             127          (5) (a) Scientific study of Native American remains may be carried out only with
             128      approval of the owner of the Native American remains as established in Subsections (1) and
             129      (2).
             130          (b) (i) If ownership is unknown, [prior study shall be] study before identifying
             131      ownership is restricted to those sufficient to identify ownership. [This study]
             132          (ii) Study to identify ownership shall be approved only in accordance with rules made
             133      by the division in consultation with the review committee [established under Section 9-9-405 ].
             134          (c) The Native American remains may not be retained longer than 90 days after the
             135      date of establishing ownership.
             136          (6) (a) Ownership of Native American remains shall be determined in accordance with
             137      this Subsection (6) if:
             138          [(6) If] (i) there are multiple claims of ownership under Subsection (1) of [any] Native
             139      American remains; and
             140          (ii) the division cannot clearly determine which [party making a claim] claimant is the
             141      most appropriate claimant[,].
             142          (b) If the conditions of Subsection (6)(a) are met, the appropriate state agency having
             143      primary authority over the lands as provided in Chapter 8, Part 3, Antiquities, may retain the
             144      remains until [the parties that make a claim]:
             145          (i) the multiple claimants for the Native American remains enter into an agreement
             146      concerning the disposition of the Native American remains [or];
             147          (ii) the dispute is [otherwise] resolved through an administrative process:
             148          (A) established by rules made by the division in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a,
             149      Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act; and
             150          (B) that is exempt from Title 63, Chapter 46b, Administrative Procedures Act; or
             151          (iii) after the administrative process described in Subsection (6)(b)(ii) is complete, the


             152      dispute is resolved by a court of competent jurisdiction.
             153          (7) The division may not make rules that impose any requirement on a person who
             154      discovers Native American remains or owns or controls nonfederal land that is not state land
             155      on which Native American remains are discovered that is not expressly provided for in Section
             156      9-8-309 .
             157          (8) For purposes of this part, if Native American remains are discovered on nonfederal
             158      land that is not state land, the Antiquities Section [shall be] is considered the state agency
             159      having primary authority over the nonfederal land.
             160          (9) This part does not modify any property rights of a person that owns or controls
             161      nonfederal land except as to the ownership of Native American remains.
             162          Section 3. Section 9-9-405 is amended to read:
             163           9-9-405. Review committee.
             164          (1) There is created a Native American Remains Review Committee.
             165          (2) (a) The review committee shall be composed of seven members as follows:
             166          (i) four shall be appointed by the [division] director from nominations submitted by
             167      Indian tribes; and
             168          (ii) three shall be appointed by the [division] director from nominations submitted by
             169      representatives of repositories.
             170          (b) Except as required by Subsection (2)(c), as terms of current committee members
             171      expire, the [division] director shall appoint each new member or reappointed member to a
             172      four-year term.
             173          (c) Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsection (2)(b), the [division] director shall,
             174      at the time of appointment or reappointment, adjust the length of terms to ensure that the terms
             175      of committee members are staggered so that approximately half of the review committee is
             176      appointed every two years.
             177          (d) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the [replacement shall be
             178      appointed] director shall appoint a replacement for the unexpired term.
             179          (e) (i) A member [shall] may not receive [no] compensation or benefits for the
             180      member's services, but may receive per diem and expenses incurred in the performance of the
             181      member's official duties at the rates established by the Division of Finance under Sections
             182      63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .


             183          (ii) A member may decline to receive per diem and expenses for the member's service.
             184          (f) The review committee shall designate one of its members as chair.
             185          (3) The review committee shall:
             186          (a) monitor the identification process conducted under Section 9-9-403 to ensure a fair
             187      and objective consideration and assessment of all available relevant information and evidence;
             188          (b) review[, upon the request of any affected party, any] a finding relating to the
             189      following, subject to the rules made by the division under Subsection 9-9-403 (6):
             190          (i) the identity or cultural affiliation of Native American remains; or
             191          (ii) the return of [these] Native American remains;
             192          (c) facilitate the resolution of [any disputes] a dispute among Indian tribes or lineal
             193      descendants and state agencies relating to the return of Native American remains, including
             194      convening the parties to the dispute if [deemed] considered desirable;
             195          (d) consult with Indian tribes on matters within the scope of the work of the review
             196      committee affecting these tribes;
             197          (e) consult with the division in the development of rules to carry out this part;
             198          (f) perform other related functions as the division may assign to the review committee;
             199      and
             200          (g) make recommendations, if appropriate, regarding [future] care of Native American
             201      remains that are to be repatriated.
             202          (4) [Any records and findings] A record or finding made by the review committee
             203      relating to the identity of or cultural affiliation of [any] Native American remains and the return
             204      of [any] Native American remains may be admissible in any action brought under this part.
             205          (5) The appropriate state agency having primary authority over the lands as provided in
             206      Chapter 8, Part 3, Antiquities, shall ensure that the review committee [have] has reasonable
             207      access to:
             208          (a) Native American remains under review; and [to]
             209          (b) associated scientific and historical documents.
             210          (6) The division shall provide reasonable administrative and staff support necessary for
             211      the deliberations of the review committee.
             212          (7) The review committee shall submit an annual report to the Native American
             213      Legislative Liaison Committee, created in Section 36-22-1 , on the progress made, and any


             214      barriers encountered, in implementing this section during the previous year.
             215          Section 4. Section 9-9-406 is amended to read:
             216           9-9-406. Savings provision.
             217          Nothing in this part may be construed to:
             218          (1) limit the authority of [any] a state agency to:
             219          (a) return or repatriate Native American remains to Indian tribes or individuals; or
             220          (b) enter into [any other] another agreement with the consent of the lineal descendant
             221      or culturally affiliated tribe as to the disposition or control over Native American remains;
             222          (2) delay actions on repatriation requests that are pending [on the effective date of this
             223      part] March 17, 1992;
             224          (3) deny or otherwise affect access to any court, except as provided in Subsection
             225      9-9-403 (6);
             226          (4) limit any procedural or substantive rights [which] that may otherwise be secured to
             227      individuals or Indian tribes; or
             228          (5) limit the application of any state or federal law pertaining to theft or stolen
             229      property.
             230          Section 5. Section 63-38f-415 is amended to read:
             231           63-38f-415. Indian tribes -- Application.
             232          (1) For purposes of this section:
             233          (a) "Indian reservation" is as defined in Section 9-9-210 .
             234          (b) "Indian tribe" is as defined in Subsection 9-9-402 [(4)] (6).
             235          (c) "Tribal applicant" means the governing authority of a tribe that meets the
             236      requirements for designation as an enterprise zone under Subsection [(3)](2).
             237          (2) Indian tribes may apply for designation of an area within an Indian reservation as an
             238      enterprise zone.
             239          (3) The tribal applicant shall follow the application procedure for a municipal applicant
             240      in this part except for the population requirement in Subsections 63-38f-404 (2)(a) and (b).





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