The Interim

State-Tribal Relations Committee

STRC to Decide Fate of 11 Legislative Proposals on September 7

Committee: State-Tribal Relations Committee
Author: Hope Stockwell
Posted on August 27, 2018

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On September 7, at its last meeting of the 2017-2018 interim, the State-Tribal Relations Committee will decide whether to move any of its 11 legislative proposals forward for consideration by the 2019 Legislature. The proposals range from providing $500,000 to school districts serving English Learners to improving reentry resources for American Indian offenders and shoring up gaps in the state’s missing persons programs.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. in Room 172 of the Capitol in Helena.

The legislative proposals include:

Related to the study of improving Indian student achievement:

  • LCELMS - providing funding for school district programs serving English Learners
  • LCMILP - extending the termination date of the Montana Indian Language Preservation Program to June 30, 2023
  • LCCICA - extending the termination date of the Cultural Integrity and Commitment Act to June 30, 2023

Related to the SJ 3 study of increasing access to reentry resources for American Indian offenders:

  • LCsj31 - creating the reentry cultural programming grant program
  • LCsj32 - requiring a percentage of supportive housing grant program funding to be awarded to those serving American Indian offenders

Related to missing persons in Indian Country:

  • LCdoj1 - establishing "Hanna's Act", authorizing the Department of Justice to assist with all missing persons cases
  • LCdoj2 - revising laws related to missing persons reports
  • LCdoj3 - a resolution requesting an interim study of options to break the cycle of youth who run away from home
  • LCdoj4 - requiring a missing child report to be filed in certain custodial interference cases
  • LCFOT2 - requiring the Office of Public Instruction to establish an electronic repository for school photos of children whose parents give permission for the photo to be held and shared with law enforcement if the child goes missing

The committee will also receive updates on preparation for the 2020 Census in tribal communities, work by a universal tribal gaming compact coalition, municipal infrastructure grant programs, and tribal college apprenticeship programs.

The meeting will be streamed live at www.leg.mt.gov and will be broadcast on Television Montana (TVMT). Please check your local channel listings to find TVMT in your area.

Senate members of the STRC are Jen Gross (D-Billings), Steve Hinebauch (R-Wibaux), Jason Small (R-Busby), and Frank Smith (D-Poplar). House members of the STRC are Alan Doane (Vice Chair, R-Bloomfield), James O'Hara (R-Fort Benton), Rae Peppers (D-Lame Deer), and Sharon Stewart-Peregoy (Chair, D-Crow Agency).

For more information, visit the committee’s website or contact Hope Stockwell, committee staff.

Committee Website: http://leg.mt.gov/tribal
Committee Staff: hstockwell@mt.gov or 406-444-9280

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