Legislation

HB24-1444 Federal Indian Boarding School Research Program: Signed into law May 23, 2024.

In 2022, the general assembly enacted House Bill 22-1327, which created the federal Indian boarding school research program (program) in the state historical society, commonly known as history Colorado. House Bill 22-1327 required the program to conduct research regarding the physical abuse and deaths that occurred at federal Indian boarding schools in Colorado and required history Colorado, in consultation with the Colorado commission of Indian affairs, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe to develop recommendations to better understand the abuse that occurred and to support healing in tribal communities. Pursuant to the provisions of House Bill 22-1327, the program was repealed on December 31, 2023.

The bill recreates and reenacts the program and appropriates $1 million from the general fund divided in equal annual payments for fiscal years 2024-25, 2025-26, and 2026-27 with authority to carry forward any unexpended or unencumbered money at the end of the state fiscal year for which it was appropriated to subsequent fiscal years without further appropriation to implement the recommendations developed. The recommendations include:

• The continuation of the program until December 31, 2027;
  Authority for history Colorado, in partnership with the Colorado commission of Indian affairs, and the steering committee, to conduct ongoing research and tribal consultations with different tribes and engage in listening sessions with American Indian and Alaska native communities on the history and impact of federal Indian boarding schools in Colorado;
• The collection of confidential oral histories of survivors that highlight indigenous historically impacted American Indian narratives;
• Public-facing, joint quarterly updates from history Colorado to the Colorado commission of Indian affairs and the steering committee ;
• Developing further recommendations to the general assembly to address the impact of federal, state, and local schooling systems on native communities;
• Developing further recommendations to the Colorado department of education and Colorado department of higher education to support education for native American Indian communities;
• Conducting research related to objects, artifacts, and real or personal property;
• Developing further recommendations to the Colorado department of human services and other state agencies on how to address the health, mental health, economic, and other impacts of the boarding school system; and
• Funding for 2 term-limited FTE to support the recommendations.

The bill specifies that when the society or commission is considering contracting with a third-party entity, the society or commission must give preference to a third-party entity that consists of individuals who are of American Indian descent or are historically impacted American Indians. The bill establishes the steering committee in the society with the purpose of identifying and advising the society on areas of concern regarding Indian boarding schools and issues related to organizing or conducting research efforts related to graves at school sites, development of support groups, and other supportive efforts related to Indian boarding schools. The steering committee members serve without compensation and without reimbursement for any expenses incurred related to serving on the committee. The steering committee consists of the following members: 

• An individual who represents the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe;
• An individual who represents the Southern Ute Indian Tribe;
• 2 individuals who are citizens of other tribal nations identified as having members enrolled at any time in an Indian boarding school in Colorado;
• 3 survivors of Indian boarding schools in Colorado;
• 3 descendants of Colorado Indian boarding school survivors;
• One American Indian in the cultural resource management profession;
• One trauma-informed mental health professional;
• One American Indian employee of the society;
• One individual who has expertise in researching the history and impact of Indian boarding schools; and
• One tribal historic preservation officer from any of the identified tribal nations that had students attend a boarding school in Colorado.

SB24-193 Protect Tribal Lands from Unauthorized Annexation: Signed into law June 6, 2024

The bill makes any annexation of lands within the exterior boundaries of a reservation of a federally recognized Indian tribe located within the state into the boundaries of a municipality invalid unless there is a resolution or ordinance approving the annexation by the tribal council or other governing body of the federally recognized Indian tribe within whose reservation the annexation will occur.

HB23-202 Wearing Of Native American Traditional Regalia: Signed into law May 4, 2023 

The act requires a public school or school district to allow a qualified student to wear and display traditional Native American regalia at a school graduation ceremony and applies to pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, primary school, and secondary school graduation ceremonies.

The act requires public colleges and universities to allow a qualified student to wear and display traditional Native American regalia at a college graduation ceremony.

SB23-054 Missing And Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office: Signed into law June 2, 2023

The act requires the office of liaison for missing and murdered Indigenous relatives (office) in the department of public safety (department) to:

• Conduct case reviews of violent or exploitative crimes against an Indigenous person and publish a report about the case reviews annually;
• Communicate with relevant department divisions regarding investigations in cases involving missing or murdered Indigenous relatives;
• Seek a position for a representative of the Indigenous community on the sentencing reform task force of the Colorado commission on criminal and juvenile justice;
• Collaborate with Indigenous-led organizations and the Colorado district attorneys' council (CDAC) to assist CDAC in developing and providing training for victim advocates who work on missing or murdered Indigenous relatives cases; and
• Designate one employee of the office to serve as a point of contact for families in need of support regarding ongoing or completed missing or murdered Indigenous relatives cases.

SB23-211 Federal Indian Child Welfare Act Of 1978: Signed into law May 4, 2023 

The act adopts federal regulations concerning the "Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978" as state law so that Colorado will continue to ensure that Indian children are protected in cases of guardianship and adoption.

HJR23-1011 Native American Veterans: Signed by Speaker of the House and President of the Senate February 23, 2023

Concerning honoring and recognizing the military service and contributions of Native American veterans and communities.

HB22-1190 Supplemental State Payment to Urban Indian Organizations: Signed into law March 7, 2022

The act makes an appropriation and requires the department of health care policy and financing to distribute the money appropriated for supplemental, state-only payments to urban Indian organizations to address health-care disparities among the urban Indian community.

HB22-1327 Native American Boarding Schools: Signed into law May 24, 2022

The act establishes the federal Indian boarding school research program in the state historical society, known as History Colorado, to research and make recommendations to promote Coloradans' understanding of the physical and emotional abuse and deaths that occurred at federal Indian boarding schools in Colorado, including the victimization of families of youth forced to attend the boarding schools and the intergenerational impacts of the abuse. In addition to consultation with the Southern Ute Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe described in the act, History Colorado shall consult with the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs and may consult with any other federally recognized Indian tribe.

SB22-104 Tribal Governments Included In State Programs: Signed into law May 24, 2022

The act requires new and amended state statutes that enumerate or define local government entities or agencies that are eligible for state grant or benefit programs to also designate tribal nations with jurisdiction in Colorado as eligible recipients if legal and appropriate. The legislative council staff is required to submit a report to the legislative council by December 1, 2022, identifying state grant programs in statute and whether those programs include tribal governments as eligible recipients.

SB22-105 Tribal Governments Annual Address To Joint Session: Signed into law April 11, 2022

The speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate are required to invite representatives from the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe to give an address to a joint session of the general assembly on an annual basis. The date and time of the address is determined on an annual basis by the speaker, the president, and the designated representatives of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. 

SB22-148 Colorado Land-based Tribe Behavioral Health Services Grant Program: Signed into law May 24, 2022

The act creates the Colorado land-based tribe behavioral health services grant program to provide funding to one or more Colorado land-based tribes to support capital expenditure for the renovation or building of a behavioral health facility to provide behavioral and mental health services. The grant program repeals on July 1, 2027.

SB22-150 Missing And Murdered Indigenous Relatives: Signed into law June 8, 2022

The act requires the department of public safety to improve the investigation of missing and murdered indigenous relative cases and address injustice in the criminal justice system's response to the cases of missing and murdered indigenous relative cases. The act lists specific duties for the department, including assisting with missing indigenous persons investigations and homicide cases involving indigenous victims; coordinating with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and with other states regarding missing or murdered indigenous persons cases; developing and facilitating training related to missing and murdered indigenous persons issues; and providing assistance to families of victims. The executive director of the department may assign the duties to the department's divisions and offices, including the office of liaison for missing and murdered indigenous relatives created in the act. The department must publish on a public website information regarding missing and murdered indigenous persons.

HB21-1151 Indian Tribes To Certify Own Foster Homes: Signed into law May 15, 2021

Current law allows only a county department of human or social services or a child placement agency to certify foster homes. The act updates statute to allow for a federally recognized Indian tribe pursuant to applicable federal law to certify its own foster homes.

SB21-029 Colorado American Indian Tribes In-state Tuition: Signed into law June 28, 2021

Beginning with the 2021-22 academic year, the act requires a state institution of higher education to adopt a policy to offer in-state tuition classification to students who would not otherwise qualify for in-state tuition if the student is a federally recognized member of a federally recognized American Indian tribe with historical ties to Colorado, as designated by the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs in partnership with History Colorado.

SB21-116 Prohibit American Indian Mascots: Signed into law June 28, 2021

The act prohibits the use of American Indian mascots by public schools, including charter and institute charter schools, and public institutions of higher education as of June 1, 2022. The act imposes a fine of $25,000 per month for each month that a public school continues to use a mascot after such date, payable to the state education fund.