Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
State Government Committee

HCR 4405

Brief Description:  Promoting state and tribal relations.

Sponsors:  Representatives Romero, Morris, Edwards, Ogden and O'Brien.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Creates the Joint Select Committee on Legislative/Tribal Relations.

Hearing Date:  3/26/01

Staff:  Jim Morishima (786‑7191).

Background: 

There are many federally recognized Native American tribes located within Washington with a combined population of approximately 91,000 people.  Native American tribes are sovereigns and are governed by a variety of legal authorities including the tribe's own sovereign law, treaty, and federal law.

Summary of Bill: 

The Joint Select Committee on Legislative/Tribal Relations is created.  The committee must review, study, and recommend how the Legislature and tribes may develop more effective relationships and work together on common interests and problems such as court jurisdiction, human services, gaming, tax and revenue, historic preservation, and environmental issues.  The committee must also study how other state legislatures and tribal governments handle their intergovernmental relationships. 

The committee consists of fourteen members, four members from the House, four members from the Senate, and six members from the tribes to be selected by the Association of Washington Tribes.  The Governor may appoint an ad hoc member to represent the executive branch. 

The committee must be co‑chaired by a legislative member appointed by the legislators on the committee, and a tribal member appointed by the tribal members on the committee.  Staff support for the committee must be provided by the Office of Program Research, Senate Committee Services, and the Northwest Indian Applied Research Institute.

The committee must submit its report and recommendations to the Legislature no later than December 1, 2001.  The committee terminates on December 15, 2001.

Rulemaking Authority:  No express authority.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.