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SB250 INTRODUCED
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SB250
DGXFGHN-1
By Senators Barfoot, Sessions
RFD: Finance and Taxation General Fund
First Read: 03-Feb-26
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DGXFGHN-1 01/12/2026 EGC (L)bm 2026-162
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First Read: 03-Feb-26
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, the Alabama Indian Affairs
Commission has seven representatives from the seven
recognized Indian tribes, bands, or groups in the
state.
This bill would increase the number of tribes in
the State of Alabama that are represented on the
commission and recognize two additional tribes in the
state.
Under existing law, the commission may seek and
receive grants, funds, and other benefits from the
federal government.
This bill would authorize the commission to also
seek and receive appropriations and other funds from
the state.
This bill would provide that the commission may
not be compelled to provide certain tribal records to
membership organizations.
This bill would provide for the salary of the
executive director of the commission and set age and
residency requirements for the executive director.
This bill would also make nonsubstantive,
technical revisions to update the existing code
language to current style.
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A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to the Alabama Indian Affairs Commission; to
amend Sections 41-9-708, 41-9-710, 41-9-713, and 41-9-714,
Code of Alabama 1975, to increase the number of tribes
represented on the Alabama Indian Affairs Commission; to
recognize additional tribes in the state; to provide further
for the powers and duties of the commission; to provide for
the salary of the executive director of the commission; to
provide requirements for the executive director of the
commission; and to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to
update the existing code language to current style.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Sections 41-9-708, 41-9-710, 41-9-713, and
41-9-714, Code of Alabama 1975, are amended to read as
follows:
"§41-9-708
(a) There is hereby created and established the The
Alabama Indian Affairs Commission , hereinafter called the
commission, is created and established. whichThe commission
shall be administered under the direction and supervision of
the Joint Committee on Administrative Regulations, as provided
by Section 41-22-22.
(b)(1) The commission shall be composed of at least 11
members. All members of the commission must reside in Alabama.
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members. All members of the commission must reside in Alabama.
Members shall include a member of the State Senate, appointed
by the Lieutenant Governor ,; and a member of the House of
Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives ,; sevennine Indian representatives from the
sevennine tribes, bands, or groups in the State of Alabama ,
appointed by the Governor ,; one Alabama resident, appointed by
the commission; and one member at large at-large, appointed by
the Governor .
(2) The Governor shall appoint seven nine Indian members
appointed by the Governor shall be appointed from
recommendations submitted by each of the sevennine Indian
tribes, bands , or groups, principally geographically located
as follows: The Poarch Band of Creeks of Escambia County , one
member; the Mowa Band of Choctaws of southwest Alabama, one
member; the Star Clan of Muscogee Creeks of Pike
County Southeast Mvskoke Nation , one member; the Echota
Cherokees of Alabama, one member; the Cherokees of northeast
Alabama, one member; the Cherokees of southeast
Alabama Chero-Creek Intratribal Indians , one member; the Piqua
Shawnee Tribe of Alabama, one member; the United Cherokee
Ani-Yun-Wiya Nation, one member; and the Ma-Chis Lower Creek
Indian Tribe of Alabama , one member. Each of the sevennine
identified groups shall have one member appointed to the
commission .
(3) The commission shall appoint one Alabama resident
appointed by the commission shall be , who is a member of a
federally recognized Indian tribe, band , or group, that is and
not a member of any tribe represented on this commission.
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not a member of any tribe represented on this commission.
(4) The Governor shall appoint one member at
largeat-large appointed by the Governor , who may be Indian or
non-Indian ;. provided, however, However, that the majority of
the members of the commission shall always be Indian.
(5) All above stated tribes, bands, and groups shall be
state recognized upon passage of this article. The commission
shall have the power to may recognize additional Indian tribes,
bands, or groups. The commission shall adopt appropriate
procedure for suchthe recognition process. Any recognized
Indian tribe, band, or group shall be entitled to have one
representative on the commission who shall be appointed by the
Governor for an initial term of three years by the Governor
and subject thereafter to the same requirements and privileges
as specified in subsections (b) and (c) and any other
applicable sections the members described in subdivision (2),
and this . Said member shall be granted the same voting powers
accorded other members.
(c) The commission shall elect a chairman chair of the
commission from among its members. Members serving by virtue
of their office within state government shall serve so long as
they hold that office. The terms of office for all other
members shall be for four years each, except for the initial
appointments which shall be as follows: Four members for two
years; two members for three years; and two members for four
years. The initial term of office for persons individuals who
are granted membership upon the recognition of their tribe,
band, or group by the commission shall be as provided in
subsection subdivision (b)(5). The initial term and all
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subsection subdivision (b)(5). The initial term and all
subsequent terms of office of the member representing the
Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe of Alabama shall be four
years. Each member shall serve until his or her successor is
appointed. Members shall be eligible for reappointment. Upon
the death, disability, resignation, removal, or refusal to
serve of any member, the Governor shall appoint a qualified
member of that tribe, band, or group to fill the unexpired
term of office.
(d) The chairman chair shall submit any written
complaint of any tribal body that appoints members to the
commission, or any written complaint of any other appointing
authority that any commissioner member is negligent in the
performance of his or her commission duties to the Governor
for review. After reviewing the complaint, if the Governor
determines the commission member has been negligent, the
Governor may remove the commissioner member from the commission
and appoint a successor as provided in this section."
"§41-9-710
(a) It shall be the duty of the commission to The
commission shall:
(1) studyStudy, consider, accumulate, compile,
assemble , and disseminate information on any aspect of Indian
affairs;
(2) to investigate Investigate relief needs of Indians
of Alabama and to provide technical assistance in the
preparation of plans for the alleviation of such needs;
(3) to confer Confer with appropriate officials of
local, state , and federal governments and agencies of those
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local, state , and federal governments and agencies of those
concerned with Indian affairs to encourage and implement
coordination of applicable resources to meet the needs of
Indians in Alabama;
(4) to cooperate Cooperate with and secure the
assistance of the local, state , and federal governments or any
agencies thereof in formulating any such programs for Indians
in Alabama; , and
(5) to coordinate Coordinate such programs for Indians
in Alabama with any program federal programs regarding Indian
affairs adopted or planned by the federal government to the
end so that the Alabama Indian Affairs Commission commission
secure secures the full benefit of such the programs;
(6) provided, however, that such commission is hereby
authorized to directly seek and receive from the federal
government any grants, funds or other benefits which may be
available for Indians; to review Review all proposed or pending
legislation and amendments to existing state legislation
affecting Indians in Alabama; and
(7) to conduct Conduct public hearings on matters
relating to Indian affairs.
(b) The commission may directly seek and receive from
the federal or state government any appropriations, grants,
funds, or other benefits which may be available for Indians.
(c) The commission shall not be compelled to provide
any tribal roles, genealogy, or membership information of its
recognized tribes to any membership organization. "
"§41-9-713
The commission shall hire an executive director for the
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The commission shall hire an executive director for the
commission. The commission shall fix the executive director's
salary, and the salary shall be limited to the maximum step
authorized for pay grade 84 of the personnel Merit System pay
plan, as provided by the State Personnel Board under Section
36-6-5. The executive director shall be at least 30 years of
age and shall have been a citizen and resident of this state
for at least five years prior to employment. SuchThe executive
director shall serve as secretary of the commission and as
chief administrator and executive officer of the commission,
having general charge of the work of the commission under its
direction ,. and The executive director shall hire such other
personnel as may be necessary in carrying out the provisions
of this article. The executive director shall always serve at
the discretion of the commission."
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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