(a) (1) As a condition for using state funds to handle and maintain Native American human remains and cultural items, the Regents of the University of California shall establish a systemwide Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Implementation and Oversight Committee, which shall also be known as the U.C. NAGPRA Committee.

(2) The membership of the committee shall be as follows:

Terms Used In California Health and Safety Code 8026

  • California Indian tribe: means a tribe located in California to which either of the following applies:

    California Health and Safety Code 8012

  • Commission: means the Native American Heritage Commission established pursuant to §. See California Health and Safety Code 8012
  • Museum: means an agency, museum, person, or entity, including a higher educational institution, that receives state funds. See California Health and Safety Code 8012
  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Health and Safety Code 23

(A) Three voting members of an Indian tribe as described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 8012, meeting the requirements of subdivision (c) of this section.

(B) One voting member of an Indian tribe as described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 8012, meeting the requirements of subdivision (c) of this section, or if none is available, a member of an Indian tribe as described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 8012, meeting the requirements of subdivision (c) of this section.

(C) Four voting members from the University of California. Not fewer than two of these members shall be affiliated with an American Indian or Native American Studies program and each of these members shall meet the requirements of subdivision (d).

(D) One nonvoting member from each campus of the University of California that is subject to the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. § 3001 et seq.). Each of these nonvoting members shall meet the requirements of subdivision (d).

(3) The regents or the regents’ designee shall appoint members to the committee upon nomination by the commission.

(b) (1) The Regents of the University of California shall not use state funds for the handling or maintenance of Native American human remains and cultural items unless each campus of the University of California that is subject to the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. § 3001 et seq.) establishes a campus Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Implementation Committee, which shall also be known as the NAGPRA Committee for that campus.

(2) The membership of the campus committee shall be as follows:

(A) Two voting members of an Indian tribe as described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 8012, meeting the requirements of subdivision (c) of this section.

(B) One voting member of an Indian tribe as described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 8012, meeting the requirements of subdivision (c) of this section, or if none is available, a member of an Indian tribe as described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 8012, meeting the requirements of subdivision (c) of this section.

(C) Three voting members from the University of California. At least one of these members shall be affiliated with an American Indian or Native American Studies program and each of these members shall meet the requirements of subdivision (d).

(3) The regents or the regents’ designee shall appoint members to the committees upon nomination by the commission.

(4) All claims for repatriation or claims of any violation of the policies and procedures adopted pursuant to Section 8025 shall be submitted to the campus Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Implementation Committee for determination.

(c) (1) A voting member of a California Indian tribe shall be an elder, spiritual leader, tribal leader, or tribal member, as designated by the governing body of the individual’s tribe, with a minimum of five years’ prior experience in any of the following:

(A) Repatriation of human remains and cultural items pursuant to the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. § 3001 et seq.).

(B) Cultural resources protection under tribal, state, and federal law.

(C) Consultation with state and federal entities and agencies.

(2) Preference shall be given to members of a California Indian tribe. If no members of a California Indian tribe meeting the qualifications of paragraph (1) are available, members of other tribes may serve.

(d) (1) A representative of the University of California shall meet the following criteria:

(A) Have a graduate degree in either Archaeology, Anthropology, Native American Studies, Ethnic Studies, Law, Sociology, Environmental Studies, or History, with a focus in California.

(B) Have a minimum of five years’ experience working in the applicable field of study.

(2) Preference shall be given to members who have demonstrated, through their professional experience, the ability to work in collaboration with Native American tribes successfully on issues related to repatriation or museum collection management.

(3) In the event that candidates from the University of California are not available or do not meet the criteria of paragraph (1), the University of California representative positions may be filled by retired emeriti of the University of California who meet the criteria of paragraph (1).

(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 167, Sec. 14. (AB 275) Effective January 1, 2021.)