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By Mr. Kennedy of Brockton, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3410) of Thomas P. Kennedy relative to the membership of the Indian Affairs Commission. Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.
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An Act to improve Indian representation within the Commission on Indian Affairs. |
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Chapter 6A, Section 8A of the General Laws is hereby
amended in its entirety to read as follows:—
Section 8A. There shall be in the executive office of communities and
development, a commission on Indian Affairs consisting of eleven members who
shall be appointed by the governor. All of the members shall be of American
Indian descent, and shall equitably represent all the major tribal groups of
the American Indian population located within the commonwealth. Each member
shall serve for a term of three years.
Equitable representation on the commission shall be assured for all residents
of the commonwealth which are of American Indian descent. To assure equitable
representation, no one American Indian tribe, group, sub-group, or organization
shall be granted more than one appointment or position on the commission at
anytime.
The commonwealth recognizes the following American Indian major tribal groups
as being located within the commonwealth as on record with the United States
Interior Department-Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA): Mashpee Wampanoag (BIA
#15); Nipmuck Nation — Hassanamisco Band (BIA #69a); Nipmuck Nation —
Chaubunagungamaud Band (BIA #69b); Wampanoag Tribal Council of Gay Head (BIA
#76); Cowasuck Band — Pennacook/ Abenaki People (BIA #151); and Pocasset
Wampanoag Indian Tribe (BIA #153).
Said commission shall meet at least four times annually, but may meet as often
as it deems necessary for the proper conduct of its affairs, and may elect from
its membership a chairman and such other officers as required. The chairman and
each officer shall serve for a term of one year.
The commission shall investigate problems common to Indian residents of the
commonwealth and to all residents of Indian descent. It shall assist tribal
councils, Indian organizations and individuals in their dealing with agencies
of state and local government, assist with social services, education,
employment opportunities, health, housing problems, civil rights, legal aid,
treaties, taking of a census of Indian residents, and any other rights or
services concerning Indian residents of the commonwealth.
The commission may make recommendations to the secretary of administration and
finance concerning programs and policies that will best serve the interest of
the Indian residents of the commonwealth and shall make an annual report of its
activities to the said secretary and file a copy thereof with the clerks of the
senate and house of representatives on or before the last Wednesday in January
of each year.
Said commission shall provide for the burial expenses, up to three hundred
dollars, for the remains of any person whose previously unknown grave has been
disturbed, forcing its relocation, and whose identity has been determined by
the state archaeologist to be of an American Indian.