SENATE BILL 948

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

Leonard Tsosie

AN ACT

RELATING TO CULTURAL PROPERTIES; ESTABLISHING A STATE CULTURAL PROPERTY ON STATE OR FEDERAL LAND FOR REBURIAL OF HUMAN REMAINS AND FUNERARY OBJECTS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. A new section of Chapter 18, Article 6 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Reburial Cemetery Act"."

     Section 2. A new section of Chapter 18, Article 6 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Reburial Cemetery Act:

          A. "department" means the cultural affairs department;

          B. "descendant group" means persons related by consanguinity or by family affiliation or clan and includes a Native American nation, band, tribe or pueblo in New Mexico;

          C. "funerary object" means an object or artifact associated with a human burial;

          D. "remains" means a human body, skeletal remains or mummified remains discovered during construction and other projects or exposed through erosion, excavation or accident on state, federal and private lands and includes a funerary object or artifact associated with the remains;

          E. "reburial cemetery" means state or federal land set aside pursuant to the Reburial Cemetery Act that secures and preserves unmarked graves for remains not claimed by a descendant group; and

          F. "state land" means property owned, controlled or operated by a department, agency, institution or political subdivision of the state."

     Section 3. A new section of Chapter 18, Article 6 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] REMAINS DESIGNATED FOR REBURIAL.--Except as otherwise designated by the department, remains shall be reburied in the reburial cemetery unless a descendant group that demonstrates a relationship to the remains requests otherwise."

     Section 4. A new section of Chapter 18, Article 6 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] DESIGNATION OF REBURIAL CEMETERY SITE.--The department shall facilitate the designation of state and federal land for reburial of unmarked remains not claimed by a descendant group and shall:

          A. by September 1, 2005 organize a working group that includes representatives of the department, the Indian affairs department and the tribal-state workgroup on repatriation and sacred places to:

                (1) recommend rules for acquisition of remains and maintenance and preservation of the reburial cemetery;

                (2) distinguish between remains that can be reburied and remains that cannot; and

                (3) establish procedures and priorities for reburying remains held in state and private collections;

          B. by December 30, 2006 promulgate rules for:

                (1) platting remains placed in the reburial cemetery and ensuring that the information is confidential pursuant to Section 18-6-11.1 NMSA 1978;

                (2) accepting and acquiring remains and coordinating activities with the state historic preservation officer;

                (3) maintaining and preserving the natural environment of the reburial cemetery;

                (4) distinguishing between remains that can be reburied and those that cannot;

                (5) working with descendant groups that request access to the reburial cemetery for ceremonies; and

                (6) providing for security and confidentiality of the site; and

          C. by July 1, 2007:

                (1) accept the first remains for reburial, giving priority to the reburial of the remains currently at the museum of New Mexico, the museum of Indian arts and culture and the department; 

                (2) begin platting the reburial cemetery so that reburied remains are not disturbed by later burials and that the plat is confidential pursuant to Section 18-6-11.1 NMSA 1978; and

                (3) provide security."

     Section 5. APPROPRIATION.--One hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the cultural affairs department for expenditure in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 for establishing, staffing, securing and maintaining the reburial cemetery and reburying remains. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2007 shall revert to the general fund.

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