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Native American Legislative Liaison Committee

MINUTES OF THE

        NATIVE AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE LIAISON COMMITTEE
        Thursday, November 20, 1997 - 9:00 a.m. - Room 403 State Capitol



Members Present:     Members Excused:
    Sen. Alarik Myrin, Cochair    Rep. Judy Ann Buffmire
    Rep. M. Keele Johnson, Cochair    Rep. John L. Valentine
    Sen. R. Mont Evans
    Sen. Millie M. Peterson     Staff Present:
    Rep. Eli H. Anderson    John Q. Cannon, 111,
    Rep. Beverly A. Evans    Research Analyst
    Rep. James R. Gowans    Patricia Owen,
    Sen. Pete Suazo    Associate General Counsel
    Rep. Jordan Tanner    Junie G. Anderson,
             Committee Secretary

Note: A list of others present and a copy of materials distributed in the meeting are on file in the Office of
Legislative Research and General Counsel.

1.     Call to Order - Chair Myrin called the meeting to order at 9:12 a.m.

2.     Committee Business - Chair Myrin briefed the committee on the current situation in the Uintah Basin. He introduced Forrest Cuch, the new director of Utah Division of Indian Affairs. Mr. Cuch said that education and understanding are needed. He said there is a lack of communication between the residents of the Uintah Basin.

    MOTION: Rep. Beverly Evans moved to approve the minutes of the July 17, 1997 and
September 19, 1997 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Evans and Rep.
Johnson absent for the vote.

3.     Taxation Issues - Patricia Owen, Associate General Counsel, gave a brief background on taxation issues. Steve Simpson, Counsel for Goulding's Lodge, Monument Valley, distributed a binder containing the following: (a) an area map, (b) subject photographs, (c) a notice of Navajo Hotel occupancy tax, (d) Goulding's Monument Valley Trading Post and Lodge tax summary, (e) a comparison of room tax in selected U.S. cities and towns, (f) Navajo Nation Supreme Court decision - Occupancy Tax, (g) New Mexico legislation, (h) San Juan County Unemployment Rates memorandum, and (i) Goulding's Lodge employment figures. Mr. Simpson detailed the contents of the material distributed.

In response to Rep. Tanner's question, Ms. Owen clarified that the sales tax legislation would not be for the Navajo Nation only, but would be statewide. She said that, at this time, the Navajo Nation is the only tribe that imposes this tax.

John Harja, Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, spoke about the double-taxation issue and answered questions pertaining to other tax issues.

Ed Alter, Utah State Treasurer, also gave input on the sales tax issue.

Chair Myrin suggested that discussion on this issue be delayed until more information is gathered on the taxation of the Navajo Nation.

Chair Johnson, Sen. Suazo, and Rep. Evans suggested that the committee study the tax issues more in-depth during the next interim.

4.      Navajo Revitalization Fund Report - Keith Burnett, Division of Community
Development, distributed two reports titled, "Navajo Revitalization Fund, Legislative Report,
November 1997," and "Uintah Basin Revitalization Fund, Legislative Report, November 1997." He summarized the contents of the reports.

Staff distributed draft legislation titled, "Navajo Revitalization Fund Board." Patricia Owen, Associate General Counsel, briefed the committee on the bill.

     MOTION: Rep. Tanner moved to recommend draft legislation titled, "Navajo
Revitalization Fund Board," as a committee bill. The motion passed unanimously with Sen.
Evans absent for the vote.

5.     Utah Division of Indian Affairs - Forrest Cuch, Director, Utah Division of Indian Affairs, introduced himself. He distributed a handout titled, "Division of Indian Affairs, FY97 Accomplishments," and reported on the accomplishments and future endeavors of the division for all Utah Indian tribes.

6.    Centralized Programs for Urban Native Americans (Circle of Wellness) - Sen. Pete Suazo updated the committee on the effort to centralize Urban Indian programs and agencies known as the Circle of Wellness.

    Chair Johnson suggested that Fred Logg, Congressman Cannon's office, be included as
part of the group working with Sen. Suazo for the Circle of Wellness.

Robert Doren, Indian Walk-In Center, spoke in support of the Circle of Wellness. He asked that the urban Indian be allowed time on future agendas.

Sen. Suazo asked that the consulting firm provide reports to the committee on its research.

7.     State Native American Coordinating Board - Mr. Forrest Cuch, Director, Utah Division of Indian Affairs, distributed a handout titled, " 1 996-1997 Annual Report to the Native American Legislative Liaison Committee, State Native American Coordinating Board," and summarized the report.

Perry Matthews, Grants Coordinator, Utah Division of Indian Affairs, distributed a handout titled, "American Indian Economic Development Summit," and reported on the conference. He also distributed a brochure titled, "Juvenile Justice Issues Facing American Indian Youth, Symposium Report," and went over the report with the committee. Ms. Beaudry handed out a "Conference Agenda - October 28-30."

    John Cannon, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, briefed the
committee on draft legislation titled, "Native American Coordinating Board Membership."

     MOTION: Rep. Evans moved to adopt draft legislation titled, "Native American
Coordinating Board Membership" and to add the Tax Commission, Department of Natural
Resources, Department of Transportation, and the Department of Agriculture and Food to the
State Native American Coordinating Board. The motion passed unanimously with Rep,
Anderson and Sen. Peterson absent for the vote.
    
MOTION:    Rep. Evans moved to expand the next interim meeting of the committee to include time to hear a report concerning the Economic Development Summit. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Anderson and Sen. Peterson absent for the vote.

8.     Native American Remains Review Committee - Steve Rosen, Vice-Chair, Native American Remains Review Committee, distributed a handout titled, "Native American Remains Review Committee - Annual Report 1997," and briefed the committee on the contents of the report.

Preservation of Land Near the State Prison - Sen. Mont Evans reported on preserving
land near the state prison that holds the remains of a large encampment of Native Americans.

10.     Montezuma Creek Health Clinic - Ed Alter, State Treasurer, Chair, Navajo Trust Fund of Trustees, gave a status report concerning the clinic, its needs, and recent efforts in Congress to provide additional funding to the clinic. John Harja, Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, also spoke on the subject.

11.     Adjourn -

    MOTION: Rep. Tanner moved to adjourn the meeting at 12:24 p.m. The motion passed
unanimously.

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