HOUSE BILL NO. 412

INTRODUCED BY C. JUNEAU

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REQUIRING STATE LANDHOLDING AND LANDMANAGING AGENCIES TO COMPILE A LIST OF ALL GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES AND PLACES UNDER THEIR JURISDICTION AND IDENTIFY THOSE USING THE WORD "SQUAW"; AND REQUIRING THE AGENCIES TO REMOVE THE WORD "SQUAW" FROM ANY MAPS, SIGNS, OR MARKERS WHENEVER AGENCIES UPDATE MAPS OR REPLACE SIGNS AND MARKERS BECAUSE OF WEAR OR VANDALISM."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Naming of sites and geographic features -- replacement of word "squaw". Each agency of state government that owns or manages public land in the state shall:

(1) compile a list of all geographic features, including lakes, rivers, streams, mountains, and other features within its jurisdiction;

(2) compile a list of all recreation areas, management areas, public roads and trails, campgrounds, parks, fishing access sites, wildlife refuges, highways, and other places under its jurisdiction;

(3) identify any features or places under its jurisdiction that contain the word "squaw" and rename them with a more appropriate name;

(4) ensure that whenever the agency updates a map or replaces a sign, interpretive marker, or any other marker because of wear or vandalism, the word "squaw" is removed and replaced with a more appropriate name;

(5) notify the U.S. forest service, the Montana departments of commerce and natural resources and conservation, and any other entity that compiles information for and develops maps for the state of the name change so that it may be reflected on subsequent editions of any maps or informational literature produced by those entities; and

(6) place a formal request with the United States geological survey to render a decision on the proposed name change so that the new name will be reflected on all United States geological survey maps.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Notification to tribal governments. The secretary of state shall send a copy of [this act] to each tribal government located on the seven Montana reservations and to the Little Shell band of Chippewa.

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 2, chapter 15, part 1, and the provisions of Title 2, chapter 15, part 1, apply to [section 1].

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