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Politics
New Mexico: Bills Related to Native Americans


As of April 7, 2005, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has signed the following bills related to Native Americans into law. The bills were introduced during the first session of the 47th Legislature. Source: New Mexico Indian Affairs Department.

SENATE
SB 1 (Campos) Emergency Fund Grants To Indian Tribes, A bill to allow the Board of Finance to make emergency loans or grants to only those Indian Nations, Tribes or Pueblos located in whole or in part in New Mexico.

SB 123 (Cisneros) Strategic Water Reserve, A bill to establish the Strategic Water Reserve, to require the Interstate Stream Commission to coordinate with appropriate Indian Nations, Tribes and Pueblos to develop additional river reach or ground water basin priorities, and for other purposes.

SB 134 (Garcia) Cultural Properties Review Committee Members, A bill to increase the number of members of the Cultural Properties Review Committee from seven to nine, adding one person who is a member of a NM Tribe and one person who is a resident of NM and represents the general public.

SB 172 (Cisneros) Create Indian Rights Water Settlement Fund, A bill to create an Indian Water Rights Settlement Fund to be used to pay the state's portion of the costs necessary to implement Indian water rights settlements approved by the NM Legislature and the U.S. Congress, and for other purposes.

SB 214 (Tsosie) Cultural Needs for Indian Child Placement, A bill to require the Interagency Behavioral Health Purchasing Collaborative, in consultation with the Indian child's Tribe, to make reasonable efforts to place the Indian child in a setting that provides culturally competent care and access to traditional treatment.

SB 233 (Sanchez) Children's Code Revisions, A bill to amend the New Mexico Children's Code including increasing notification requirements to Indian Nations, Tribes and Pueblos with regard to proceedings against, placement, and disposition of Indian children, and for other purposes.

SB 669 (Sanchez) College Affordability Act, A bill to encourage New Mexico students with financial need to attend and complete educational programs at public post-secondary educational institutions in New Mexico, and for other purposes.

SB 225 (Tsosie) Clarify Safe Haven for Infants Act, A bill to make the definition of "Indian child" consistent with ICWA, to require hospitals to follow certain procedures and notification if an infant is a member of an Indian Tribe or eligible for membership, and for other purposes.

SB 313 (Griego) Create Governor's HIV & AIDS Commission, A bill to establish a Commission to consist of 23 members, including Native Americans and others appointed by the Governor to serve as a planning and advisory group to DOH's HIV/AIDS programs, and for other purposes.

SB 435 (Ortiz / Pino) Children's Cabinet Act, A bill to establish the Children's Cabinet comprised of the Governor and executive department heads, including the Department of Indian Affairs to study and make recommendations on the status and well-being of children and youth in the state, and for other purposes.

SB 473 (Komadina) New Mexico Telehealth Commission Act, A bill to create a Commission of 25 members appointed by the Governor, including representatives from Indian Nations, Tribes and Pueblos, to coordinate a telehealth system that provides and supports health care delivery in medically underserved areas of the state, and for other purposes.

SB 482 (Tsosie) Native American Resident Student Definition, A bill to expand the definition of "resident student," for the purpose of tuition payment at the resident student rates at state educational institutions, to include a member of an Indian Nation, Tribe or Pueblo located wholly or partially in NM, regardless of the residence of the member prior to acceptance to a NM post-secondary school.

HOUSE
HB 259 (Sandoval) Native American Behavioral Health Committee, A bill to make the Native American Subcommittee of the Behavioral Health Purchasing Collaborative a statutory standing committee, to designate the Secretary of the Indian Affairs Department or a designee as Chair, and for other purposes.

HB 337 (Miera) Pre-Kindergarten Act, A bill to establish a voluntary Pre-K program for 4-year old children and allows licensed, private providers, local education agencies, regional education cooperatives, charter schools and Tribes to apply for funding, and for other purposes.

HB 481 (Harrison) Intertribal Ceremonial Act, A bill to establish an Intertribal Ceremonial Office within the Tourism Department, creates an Intertribal Ceremonial Board of seven members appointed by the Governor, and establishes an Intertribal Ceremonial Fund, and for other purposes.

HB 867 (Lujan) Clarify Property Tax on Agricultural Lands, A bill to clarify portions of the property tax code that relate to the valuation of agricultural lands, to modify the definition of the term "agricultural use" to include the use of land for captive deer or elk, and for other purposes.

HB 868 (Lujan) Tribal Infrastructure Act, A bill to create a Tribal Infrastructure Trust Fund and a Project Fund to be used to finance infrastructure projects on tribal lands, to create a Board to oversee the Funds and authorize funding for tribal infrastructure projects, and for other purposes.