Amendment #1384 to H5500

Banning Native Mascots

Mrs. Fluker-Reid of Boston moves to amend the bill by adding the following section: 

“SECTION X.

(a) For purposes of this section, the word “commission” shall mean the commission on Indian affairs.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of elementary and secondary education shall create and submit to the commission a list of all schools in the commonwealth and their athletic team names, logos and mascots.

(b) Within 3 months of receiving the list provided by the department pursuant to subsection (a), the commission shall identify schools with athletic team names, logos and mascots that refer to, represent, or are associated with Native Americans, and provide a list of said schools to the department. The commission and the department shall publish said list on their respective websites.

(c) Schools that are included in the list identified by the commission under subsection (b) shall not purchase or refurbish any uniforms or other materials, including banners, signs, scoreboards, displays or other materials bearing the athletic team name, logo or mascot until the school reaches an agreement with the department pursuant to subsection (d).

(d) Not later than 6 months following receipt of the list pursuant to subsection (b), the department shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with each school on said list concerning discontinuing the school’s use of their athletic team name, logo or mascot. Said memorandums of understanding shall include an implementation timeline not to exceed 3 years for full implementation.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of this act, a school may at any time inform the department of its plan to stop or phase out the use of school athletic team names, logos or mascots which name, refer to, represent or are associated with Native Americans.

(f) No public school may adopt a new athletic team name, logo or mascot which names, refers to, represents or is associated with Native Americans.

(g) The department may promulgate regulations to implement this section.

SECTION 2. The list required under subsection (a) of section 1 shall be completed and submitted to the commission on Indian affairs no later than 3 months after the effective date of this act.

SECTION 3. Subsection (f) of section 1 shall be effective upon the passage of this act.”

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #1384 to H5500

Banning Native Mascots