Massachusetts S 2240: An Act to protect Native American heritage

Bill Text

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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1637 FILED ON: 2/18/2021
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2240

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Nick Collins
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to protect Native American heritage.
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PETITION OF:

NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS:
Nick Collins First Suffolk
Jason M. Lewis Fifth Middlesex 2/25/2021
Jack Patrick Lewis 7th Middlesex 2/25/2021
Adam G. Hinds Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and
Hampden
4/17/2021
David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf 17th Worcester 6/10/2021
James B. Eldridge Middlesex and Worcester 1/24/2022
Carmine Lawrence Gentile 13th Middlesex 1/24/2022

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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1637 FILED ON: 2/18/2021
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2240
By Mr. Collins, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2240) of Nick Collins, Jason M.
Lewis and Jack Patrick Lewis for legislation to protect Native American heritage. Tourism, Arts
and Cultural Development.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)
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An Act to protect Native American heritage.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:

1 SECTION 1. As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context
2 otherwise requires, have the following meanings:-
3 "Native American" as defined in the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation
4 Act in accordance with 25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.
5 "funerary objects" as defined in the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation
6 Act in accordance with 25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.
7 "sacred objects" as defined in the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation
8 Act in accordance with 25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.
9 "objects of cultural patrimony" as defined defined in the Native American Graves
10 Protection and Repatriation Act in accordance with 25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.

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11 SECTION 2. The penalties and requirements of the Native American Graves Protection
12 and Repatriation Act in accordance with 25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq. shall be enforced if an agency,
13 organization, entity, or department receiving funds of any kind from the Commonwealth or any
14 local government therein; or a trust, unincorporated association, nonprofit corporation organized
15 under Chapter 180 of the Massachusetts General laws or public charity duly registered with the
16 Office of the Attorney General moves to deacquisition any Native American funerary objects,
17 human remains, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony.