SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2542        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2335

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Liz Miranda

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to protect Native American heritage.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Liz Miranda

Second Suffolk

 

Joanne M. Comerford

Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester

2/10/2025

Manny Cruz

7th Essex

2/12/2025

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

4/2/2025

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

20th Middlesex

4/9/2025

Paul W. Mark

Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire

4/9/2025

John F. Keenan

Norfolk and Plymouth

4/22/2025

Hannah Kane

11th Worcester

5/5/2025

Patricia D. Jehlen

Second Middlesex

5/14/2025

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

6/12/2025

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

10/15/2025

Pavel M. Payano

First Essex

10/21/2025


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2542        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2335

By Ms. Miranda, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2335) of Liz Miranda, Joanne M. Comerford and Manny Cruz for legislation to enforce penalties under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.  Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

_______________

 

An Act to protect Native American heritage.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings:–

"Native American" as defined in the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act in accordance with 25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.

"funerary objects" as defined in the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act in accordance with 25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.

"sacred objects" as defined in the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act in accordance with 25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.

"objects of cultural patrimony" as defined in the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act in accordance with 25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.

SECTION 2. The penalties and requirements of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act in accordance with 25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq. shall be enforced if an agency, organization, entity, or department receiving funds of any kind from the Commonwealth or any local government therein; or a trust, unincorporated association, nonprofit corporation organized under Chapter 180 of the Massachusetts General laws or public charity duly registered with the Office of the Attorney General moves to deacquisition any Native American funerary objects, human remains, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony.