Ch. 765                                          LAWS OF MARYLAND

CHAPTER 765

(Senate Bill 421)

AN ACT concerning

Commission on Indian Affairs - Recognition of Maryland's

American Indians

FOR the purpose of authorizing the Commission on Indian Affairs
to establish a process to provide formal State recognition
to certain native American tribes, bands, groups, or clans;
modifying the membership criteria for members of the
Commission; prohibiting a Commissioner from voting or
participating in certain ways with respect to certain
actions of the Commission; establishing an application
process for recognition; creating certain criminal
penalties; specifying certain requiring the adoption of
criteria which must be proven to the satisfaction of the
Commission on Indian Affairs; authorizing requiring the
Commission to adopt regulations and procedures to carry out
the provisions of this Act; providing for the adoption of a
certain executive order granting formal recognition;
providing for certain review of the executive order by the

Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and

Legislative Review; providing that this Act is not intended
to create any rights of ownership or other rights to land,
or to create any benefits or entitlements of any kind, or to
impair any existing rights, benefits, or entitlements
belonging to American Indians residing in the State;
providing that any action or failure to take action by the
Commission under this Act does not create a private cause of
action under the laws of this State; requiring members of a
petitioning group to submit a certain affidavit prior to
formal recognition of Maryland Indian status; providing that
certain provisions of this Act may not impair certain
judicial rulings of the State; and generally relating to
the recognition of Maryland's American Indians.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 41B - Department of Housing and Community

Development
Section 5-402(a) and 5-405(a)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1986 Replacement Volume and 1987 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article 41B - Department of Housing and Community

Development
Section 5-406

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