TRIBAL ALERT: SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HEARING ON SB 678 SCHEDULED FOR AUG 16

TRIBAL ALERT!
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HEARING ON SB 678 (RE ICWA)
RESCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 23, 2005

UPDATE! SB 678 Passes! SB 678 was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee on August 23, 2005 by a vote of 5 in favor, 1 opposed (Ackerman) and 1 abstention (Morrow). The bill is scheduled for a vote before the Senate Committee on Appropriations on August 25, 2005. The goal is to have the bill voted on by the Senate before the legislative session ends on September 9, 2005, and then have it go before the Assembly when the Legislature reconvenes on January 4, 2006.

Despite this initial success, there is still a critical need for supporters to apply their efforts to the passage of this bill. Please continue to submit letters or resolutions in support of the bill and contact your local Senators and Assembly members to urge their support for the bill. Since the Senate will be voting on the bill some time between August 29 and September 9, it is important that you act quickly.

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Click here to view the bill summary. (Word document - opens new window)
Click here to view the white paper. (Word document - opens new window)
Click here to view the status of SB 678. (Word document - opens new window)
Click here to view the bill. (Opens new window)
If you'd like to receive automatic updates when there are updates to the SB 678, visit http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=sb_678&sess=CUR&house=S (opens new window) and click "Subscribe" at the bottom.

How can you help?

Mail or fax letters and/or resolutions of support to Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny at:

State Capitol
Room 4081
Sacramento, CA, 95814
Fax (916) 327-3522

Click here for a sample letter of support (Word document - opens new window); click here for a sample resolution (Word document - opens new window).

Contact your local Senators and Assembly Members to ask them to co-sponsor now or vote for the bill when it comes before them. Locate legislators serving your area at: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html (opens new window) and enter the zip code for your area. Click here to view a sample letter of support to submit to your legislator (Word document - opens new window).

Encourage tribal governments, tribal agencies and other organizations and persons to submit letters or resolutions in support of the bill to Senator Ducheny. Click here to view a sample letter of support (Word document - opens new window) or click here to view a sample resolution (Word document - opens new window).

Send representatives to the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on August 16, 2005, to show support for the bill. Even though only a limited number of persons can testify, there is an opportunity at the end for others to come forward to express their support on the record. If you can attend, please contact Kimberly Cluff at kcluff@calindian.org or (800) 829-0284, to be included in the planning process.

The list of supporters to date includes:

Advocates for American Indian Children
Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFL-CIO)
Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria
Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians
Blue Lake Rancheria
Buena Vista Rancheria
Cabazon Band of Mission Indians
Cahto Tribe, Laytonville Rancheria
Cahuilla Band of Indians
California Indian Legal Services
California Nations Indian Gaming Association
California Rural Indian Health Board, Inc.
Cedarville Rancheria
Cold Springs Rancheria
Consolidated Tribal Health Project
Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians
Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians
Fernando Tataviam Band of Mission Indians
Greenville Rancheria
Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake
Hands United Together
Hopland Band of Pomo Indians
Inaja-Cosmit Band of Mission Indians
Indian Child and Family Preservation Program
Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria
La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians
La Posta Band of Mission Indians
Los Coyotes Band of Mission Indians
Manzanita Band of the Kumeyaay Nation
Middletown Rancheria
Mooretown Rancheria
Morongo Band of Mission Indians
Native Student Alliance of SDSU
North Fork Rancheria
Owens Valley Board of Trustees
Pala Band of Mission Indians
Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians of California
Pauma Band of Mission Indians
Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians
Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians
Redding Rancheria
Redwood Valley Little River Band of Pomo Indians
Ramona Band of Cahuilla Indians
Rincon Band of Mission Indians
San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians
Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Tribe
Santa Ysabel Band of Diegueno Indians
Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians
Sherwood Valley Rancheria
Smith River Rancheria
Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians
Southern California Indian Center
Southern California Tribal Chairmen's Association
Susanville Indian Rancheria
Timbisha Shoshone Tribe
Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Tribe
Tule River Indian Tribe
Tyme Maidu Tribe of Berry Creek Rancheria
Tuolomne Me-Wuk Tribal Council
United Indian Health Services, Inc.
Viejas Tribal Government
Yurok Tribe

Those in opposition include:

Academy of California Adoption Lawyers
California Association of Adoption Agencies
Family Connections Adoptions

For more information

Watch our website for regular updates on the bill, including a regularly updated list of supporters. You may also contact Kimberly Cluff, Senior Staff Attorney in Oakland, at kcluff@calindian.org or at (800) 829-0284.

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