TRIBAL ALERT!
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER SIGNS SB 678
October 2, 2006
On September 30, 2006, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 678 into law. SB 678 will take effect on January 1, 2007. SB 678 codifies the federal requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. §§ 1901, et. seq.) into the California Family, Probate and Welfare & Institutions Codes. This legislation applies in every California court and will impact every tribe in the nation should one of their minor Indian children be involved. This is one of the most important pieces of legislation to benefit Indian tribes, Indian families, and Indian children in California and CILS is proud to have played a key role in its passage.
CILS would like to thank the Pala Band of Mission Indians for sponsoring this legislation and for working with CILS to seek and obtain support from over 50 California tribes, Indian organizations, and individuals. A partial list of supporters 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
Bridgeport Indian Colony
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
Cachil Dehe Band of Wintun Indians of the Colusa Indian Community
Consolidated Tribal Health Project, Inc.
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
Karuk Tribe
Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria
La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians
La Posta Band of Mission Indians
Los Coyotes Band of Mission Indians
Manzanita Band of the Kumeyaay Nation
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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 Luiseño 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 Luiseño Mission Indians
San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians
Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Tribe
Santa Ysabel Band of Diegueño Indians
Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians
Sherwood Valley Rancheria
Smith River Rancheria
Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians
Southern California Indian Center
Southern California Tribal Chairmen's Association
Susanville Indian Rancheria
Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Indians
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 |
CILS sincerely regrets if any supporting tribe or organization was unintentionally omitted from this list.
CILS and the Pala Tribe also wish to extend our sincere gratitude to Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny, the author of SB 678. Senator Ducheny and her staff, particularly Kasey Schimke, worked tirelessly to achieve this victory. Finally, CILS would like to give special acknowledgment to Senior Staff Attorney Maureen Geary, as well as thanks to Joanne Willis-Newton, Kimberly Cluff, Michael Pfeffer, and Jenny Kim for their hard work on this legislation. We recognize and appreciate everyone’s support and patience as the bill made its way through the California Legislature. Enactment of SB 678 is a victory for all Indian children, their families, and for tribes in California and the nation.
To view the final version of the Bill, click here (opens in new window).
For additional information about SB 678, please visit CILS’ website at www.calindian.org, or contact Maureen Geary, Senior Staff Attorney in CILS’ Santa Rosa Office, at mogeary@calindian.org or (866) 251-8016.
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