WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor

OF AMERICAN INDIANS INDIGENOUS TO MARYLAND AND SHALL INCLUDE THE
FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

(I) THE PETITIONING GROUP HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED
FROM HISTORICAL TIMES UNTIL THE PRESENT AS "AMERICAN INDIAN" OR
"ABORIGINAL";

(II) THE MEMBERS OF THE PETITIONING GROUP ARE
DESCENDANTS FROM A TRIBE THAT EXISTED HISTORICALLY AND IS EITHER
INDIGENOUS TO MARYLAND OR DERIVED FROM HISTORICAL TRIBES
INDIGENOUS TO MARYLAND PRIOR TO 1790;

(III) THE MEMBERS OF THE PETITIONING GROUP ARE
DESCENDANTS OF AN INDIAN TRIBE THAT HISTORICALLY INHABITED A
SPECIFIC AREA IN MARYLAND PRIOR TO 1790;----------------------------

(IV)   THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE PETITIONING GROUP IS
COMPOSED PRINCIPALLY OF PERSONS WHO ARE NOT MEMBERS OF ANY OTHER
NORTH AMERICAN TRIBE, BAND, GROUP, OR CLAN; AND

[V)   ANY OTHER CRITERIA THAT THE COMMISSION
CONSIDERS NECESSARY THROUGH REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE
COMMISSION.

(C) (1) UPON THE COMMISSION'S DETERMINATION THAT A
PARTICULAR TRIBE, BAND, GROUP, OR CLAN HAS MET THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR RECOGNITION SET FORTH IN THE REGULATIONS, THE COMMISSION MAY
RECOMMEND FORMAL RECOGNITION TO THE GOVERNOR.

(2) A COMMISSIONER MAY NOT VOTE OR PARTICIPATE IN ANY
WAY IN THE DELIBERATIONS WITH RESPECT TO ANY APPLICATION FOR
FORMAL RECOGNITION OF MARYLAND INDIAN STATUS MADE BY AN INDIAN
TRIBE, BAND, GROUP, OR CLAN OF WHICH THE COMMISSIONER IS A
MEMBER.------------------------------------------------------------

(D) (1) IF THE GOVERNOR CONCURS WITH THE COMMISSION'S
RECOMMENDATION, THE GOVERNOR MAY PROPOSE BY EXECUTIVE ORDER TO
PROVIDE FORMAL RECOGNITION TO THE PARTICULAR TRIBE, BAND, GROUP,
OR CLAN.

(2) AN EXECUTIVE ORDER PROPOSED TO BE PROMULGATED
UNDER THIS SUBSECTION SHALL FIRST BE PRESENTED TO THE JOINT
COMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATIVE, EXECUTIVE, AND LEGISLATIVE REVIEW
FOR REVIEW BY THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. THE EXECUTIVE ORDER
SHALL TAKE EFFECT 30 DAYS AFTER SUBMISSION TO THE COMMITTEE.

(C) (E) (1) THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION ARE NOT INTENDED
TO CREATE ANY RIGHTS OF OWNERSHIP OR OTHER RIGHTS TO LAND OR TO
CREATE ANY BENEFITS OR ENTITLEMENTS OF ANY KIND, NOR ARE THEY
INTENDED TO IMPAIR VALID EXISTING RIGHTS, BENEFITS, OR
ENTITLEMENTS BELONGING TO AMERICAN INDIANS RESIDING IN THE STATE.

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