Native Americans: repatriation.

Existing law, the California Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 2001 (California act) , requires all agencies and museums that receive state funding and have possession or control over collections of California Native American human remains or cultural items to inventory those remains and items for repatriation of the items to the appropriate Indian tribes, as specified. The California act states the intent of the Legislature to apply the state's repatriation policy consistent with the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (federal act) and to facilitate the implementation of the provisions of the federal act with respect to publicly funded agencies and museums in California. Existing provisions of the California Constitution establish the University of California as a public trust under the administration of the Regents of the University of California. The California Constitution grants to the regents all the powers necessary or convenient for the effective administration of this public trust, subject to such legislative control as may be necessary to insure the security of its funds, compliance with the terms of the endowments of the university, and certain competitive bidding procedures. As a condition for using state funds to handle and maintain Native American human remains and cultural items, existing law requires the regents to establish a systemwide Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Implementation and Oversight Committee, known as the U.C. NAGPRA Committee, with specified membership. The committee is required to have 2 voting members from a tribe located in California that is an Indian tribe under the federal act. This bill would instead require that the U.C. NAGPRA Committee include 3 such voting members.