By: Zwiener H.B. No. 5248
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to the establishment of a task force to provide
recommendations for the repatriation and disposition of Indigenous
objects held by state institutions and agencies.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle D, Chapter 442, Texas Historical
Commission is amended by adding section 442.0066. to read as
follows:
Sec. 442.0069. NATIVE AMERICAN PROTECTION AND REPATRIATION
TASK FORCE. (a) The Texas Historical Commission shall establish a
task force to investigate and provide recommendations for the
repatriation and disposition of Native American and indigenous
human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and other objects
of cultural patrimony that are held by state institutions and
agencies.
(b) The task force shall operate for no more than two years
from the date of which it is established by the commission.
(c) The task force shall consist of representatives from the
following groups:
(1) Federally recognized indigenous tribes who have
ancestral ties to Texas.
(2) Non-federally recognized indigenous tribes who
have ancestral ties to Texas and have requested remains or other
objects through the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation process previously.
(3) The Texas Historical Commission.
(4) The State Archeological Program.
(d) The Texas Historical Commission may include other
non-federally recognized indigenous tribes at their discretion.
(e) The Task Force shall provide an annual report with their
recommendations to the Legislature no later than December 31 each
year they are active.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.