STATUS UPDATE ON NEW YORK UNMARKED BURIAL SITE PROTECTION ACT (NYS S5701) AND MONTAUKETT INDIAN NATION RECOGNITION ACT (NYS S6889)
June 11, 2022
From the President, Carol S. Weed
Many of our members, and others, have been tracking the status of two New York State legislative actions. These are the Unmarked Burial Site Protection bill and the Montaukett Indian Nation Recognition bill.
NYAC’s Spring Newsletter went to press the week of May 30th just as the status of both bills changed. Because of their importance, I asked that this special note be sent to membership. The note has been reviewed by the NYAC Board.
As some of you know, NYAC has reviewed earlier Unmarked Burial Site Protection versions since at least 2019 and has provided comment on them. On June 1 and 2, 2022, NYAC members reported to Doug Perrelli and me that a final version of the bill had passed both the New York State Assembly and the Senate. The bill was being advanced to the Governor’s Office. The link to the final bill follows.
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/S5701
The final bill is unchanged from versions NYAC reviewed in 2021. It still contains some items which NYAC members had highlighted in their reviews. I encourage all of our members to read this final version of the bill and let the Governor’s Office know if you do or do not support its passage.
On June 2, Allison McGovern reported that Bill S6889 supporting state recognition of the Montaukett Indian Nation had passed the NY Assembly and Senate. The bill also has been sent to the Governor’s Office for signing. The link to the bill follows.
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/S6889
Allison noted that the Montaukett recognition bill has passed the Assembly and Senate several times before, and that it was vetoed every time by Governor Cuomo. I encourage the NYAC membership to review the Montaukett Indian Nation Recognition bill and let the Governor’s office know if you do or do not support it.
The link to the Governor’s web site comment page:
https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form.
The office also accepts phone calls and snail mail. The contact information follows.
Telephone: 1-518-474-839 | Office hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm
USPS: The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York State, NYS State Capitol Building, Albany, NY 12224