Committee: State-Tribal Relations Committee
Author: Hope Stockwell
Posted on July 17, 2018
During its July 6 conference call, the State-Tribal Relations Committee moved several legislative proposals a step toward consideration by the 2019 Legislature by opening a formal public comment period for them. The topics range from student achievement to missing persons to improving reentry outcomes for American Indian offenders.
Comments should be sent by August 17 to Hope Stockwell at hstockwell@mt.gov (with the name of the proposal in the subject line) or to Legislative Services Division, Attn. Hope Stockwell, PO Box 201704, Helena, MT 59620.
The STRC will review the comments at its September 7 meeting in Helena as it decides which proposals, if any, will become committee-requested bills in the 2019 session.
The proposals include:
Related to the study of improving Indian student achievement:
Related to the SJ 3 study of increasing access to reentry resources for American Indian offenders:
Related to missing persons in Indian Country:
On July 6, the STRC also voted unanimously to send a letter asking the Bureau of Indian Affairs to address myriad issues related to criminal jurisdiction and enforcement in Indian Country, ranging from improving coordination with other agencies to increasing internal efficiency. The letter grew out of a panel discussion on enforcement and investigation of drug crimes, missing persons, human trafficking, and violence against women in Indian Country that the BIA did not attend in May in Great Falls.
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