Bill Text: PA HR64 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Directing appointment of a special committee to study rights of Native Americans indigenous to this Commonwealth.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-02-10 - Referred to RULES [HR64 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HR64-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 348
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 64 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY BISHOP, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, DALEY, FRANKEL, MANDERINO, MYERS, PALLONE, PRESTON, SIPTROTH, THOMAS, WALKO AND YOUNGBLOOD, FEBRUARY 10, 2009
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, FEBRUARY 10, 2009
A RESOLUTION
Directing appointment of a special committee to study rights of
Native Americans indigenous to this Commonwealth.
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth was historically the homeland of
diverse groups; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth has a duty and responsibility to
foster the awareness, understanding and appreciation of the many
and varied contributions to the quality of life made by its
diverse ethnic communities, including Native Americans; and
WHEREAS, It is in the public interest for the Commonwealth
and its citizens to identify, conserve and perpetuate the
diverse cultural and ethnic heritage of this Commonwealth and to
promote greater awareness and understanding for the education,
inspiration and the general public welfare of all the people,
including future generations; and
WHEREAS, It is in the shared interest of the Commonwealth and
groups in Pennsylvania to avoid misrepresentation of Native
American identity, culture and heritage; and
WHEREAS, It is in the shared interest of the Commonwealth and
groups in this Commonwealth to recognize groups indigenous to
Pennsylvania and certify Native American organizations; and
WHEREAS, Recognition will enable the Commonwealth to provide
access to Federal programs to eligible groups; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That a Special Committee on Recognition of Native
Americans in Pennsylvania be established, consisting of four
representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and three representatives appointed by the
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the committee conduct a study of recognition
of the rights of Native American tribes, bands, groups and
clans, who are indigenous to this Commonwealth, who have been
identified as Native American from before 1790 until the present
and who have been part of a continuous Native American community
from before 1790 until the present; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the committee study historical documentation
on long-standing relationships of the group with the government
of the Commonwealth or the United States based on identification
of the group or the group's members as Native American,
documentation on repeated dealings of the group with a county or
other local government in a relationship based on the
identification of the group or group's members as Native
Americans, documentation on repeated dealings of the group with
other federally or State recognized groups or national Native
American organizations in a relationship based on identification
of the group as Native American, documentation on identification
of the group as Native American by scholars, documentation on
repeated identification of the group or group's members as
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Native American in official and unofficial records and
documentation identifying the name of the group or other term
recognizing the group as Native American with an approximate
location in this Commonwealth from before 1790 until the
present; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the committee study historical documentation
of membership criteria of the group which address membership
procedures adopted by the group and of a list of all individuals
included on the group's current and previous rolls and the
county in which each resides; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the committee study other evidence, including
affidavits from federally or State recognized tribal elders,
tribal leaders or tribal officials; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the committee make every effort to protect the
privacy of individuals; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the committee be empowered to hold hearings,
take testimony and make its investigations at such places as it
deems necessary in this Commonwealth and that each member of the
committee have power to administer oaths and affirmations to
witnesses appearing before the committee; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the committee be empowered to issue subpoenas
under the hand and seal of its chairperson commanding any person
to appear before the committee and to answer questions touching
matters properly being inquired into by the committee and to
produce records and documents the committee deems necessary; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That subpoenas be able to be served upon any person
and have the same effect as subpoenas issued out of the courts
of this Commonwealth and that any person who willfully neglects
or refuses to testify before the committee or to produce records
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or documents be subject to the penalties provided by the laws of
this Commonwealth in such case; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the committee make a report to the House of
Representatives making recommendations on legislation
recognizing the status and rights of Native Americans in this
Commonwealth; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the expenses incurred by the committee in
carrying out its responsibilities, including per diem and travel
expenses incurred by members and regular staff, stenographic
charges and other incidental expenses, be paid from appropriate
accounts under the control of the Chief Clerk of the House of
Representatives and be in addition to any other amount
authorized for expenses for contractors, consultants and staff;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the chairperson make a monthly report of all
expenses incurred by the committee to each member of the
committee and to the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader of
the House of Representatives and, within 30 calendar days after
the committee has made its report or the mandate of the
committee has expired, cause a record of all expenses incurred
by the committee, or the members thereof, which are payable at
Commonwealth expense to be filed with the Chief Clerk of the
House of Representatives.
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