(a) On or before January 1, 2021, the commission shall develop a list of all California Indian tribes and their respective state aboriginal territories. The commission shall notify in writing all agencies, museums, and California Indian tribes that the commission maintains that list. This list is solely for the purpose of the repatriation of Native American tribal human remains and cultural items.

(b) (1) On or before January 1, 2022, each agency or museum that has possession or control of California Native American human remains and associated funerary objects shall complete an inventory, or update a preliminary inventory, of all these remains and associated funerary objects and, to the extent possible based on all information possessed by the agency or museum, do all of the following:

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(A) Identify the geographical location, cultural affiliation, aboriginal territory, and the circumstances surrounding their acquisition.

(B) Consult, prior to new or additional inventory work being conducted, with affiliated California Indian tribes on any protocols to be used in the inventory process, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(i) Minimizing handling.

(ii) Using a lot approach with a minimum number of individuals set at one.

(iii) Identifying human remains and associated funerary objects, burial site, or ceremonial items with tribal expertise receiving deference.

(C) (i) List in the preliminary inventory the human remains and associated funerary objects that are clearly identifiable as to state cultural affiliation with California Indian tribes. These human remains and cultural items shall be listed first to expedite the repatriation of these items.

(ii) Tribal traditional knowledge shall be used to establish state cultural affiliation and identify associated funerary objects. The museum also shall record any identifications of cultural items that are made by tribal representatives. The identifications may include broad categorical identifications, including, but not limited to, the identification of everything from a burial site as a funerary object.

(D) List the human remains and associated funerary objects that are not clearly identifiable by state cultural affiliation but that, given the totality of circumstances surrounding their acquisition and characteristics, including the unique circumstances of California history, are determined by a reasonable belief to be human remains and associated funerary objects with a state cultural affiliation with one or more California Indian tribes. Consult with California Indian tribes reasonably believed to be culturally affiliated with the items, during the compilation of the preliminary inventory as part of the determination of affiliation. If the agency or museum cannot determine which California Indian tribes are believed to be culturally affiliated with the items, tribes that may be culturally affiliated with the items, in consultation with the commission, shall be consulted during the compilation of the preliminary inventory. The consultation shall be with California Indian tribes whose state aboriginal territory includes the area from which the human remains and associated funerary objects were removed.

(E) List the human remains and associated funerary objects that are not identifiable by state cultural affiliation, but, given the totality of the circumstances, including the unique circumstances of California history, are determined by a reasonable belief to have been removed from an area identified as the state aboriginal territory of one or more California Indian tribes.

(2) The museum or agency shall engage in consultation with California Indian tribes as part of the completion of the inventory required by this subdivision. The commission may assist with the identification of California Indian tribes, but the agency or museum bears the obligation to contact and consult with the California Indian tribes.

(F) Provide the original and any updated catalogues to the consulting California Indian tribes.

(c) (1) On or before January 1, 2022, an agency or museum that has possession or control over a California Indian tribe‘s unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony shall provide a written preliminary summary of the objects based upon available information held by the agency or museum. Because it may not be clear whether Native American objects are cultural items, all museum collections of Native American ethnographic or archaeological objects shall be included in the preliminary summary. The preliminary summary shall describe the scope of the collection, kinds of objects included, reference to geographical location, means and period of acquisition, state cultural affiliation, and state aboriginal territory, where reasonably ascertainable. The preliminary summary shall be in lieu of an object-by-object inventory to limit unnecessary handling and damage to the items. Each agency or museum, following preparation of a preliminary summary pursuant to this subdivision, shall consult with California Indian tribes and tribally authorized government officials and tribally authorized traditional religious leaders.

(2) The agency or museum shall engage in consultation with California Indian tribes as part of the completion of the preliminary summary required pursuant to this subdivision and shall defer to tribal recommendations for appropriate handling and treatment. The agency or museum also shall record any identifications of cultural items that are made by tribal representatives. The identifications may include broad categorical identifications, including, but not limited to, the identification of regalia objects as sacred objects or the identification of everything from a specific site as a sacred object because that site is a sacred site. The commission may assist with the identification of California Indian tribes, but the agency or museum bears the obligation to contact and consult with California Indian tribes.

(d) Within 90 days of completing the preliminary inventory and summary specified in subdivisions (b) and (c), the agency or museum shall provide a copy of the preliminary inventory and summary to the commission. The commission shall, in turn, publish notices of completion of preliminary inventories and summaries on its internet website for 30 days, and make the preliminary inventories and summaries available to any requesting potentially culturally affiliated California Indian tribe.

(e) The inventory and summary specified in subdivisions (a) and (b) shall be completed by all agencies and museums that have possession or control of Native American human remains or cultural items, regardless of whether the agency or museum is also subject to the requirements of the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. § 3001 et seq.). Any inventory or summary, or any portion of an inventory or summary, that has been created to meet the requirements of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. § 3001 et seq.) may be used to meet the requirements of this chapter, if appropriate.

(f) An agency or museum that has completed an inventory and summary as required by the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. § 3001 et seq.) shall be deemed to be in compliance with this section provided that the agency or museum provides the commission with both of the following:

(1) A copy of the inventory and summary.

(2) Preliminary inventories and summaries to comply with subdivisions (b) and (c).

(g) (1) Upon the request of a lineal descendent or California Indian tribe, an agency or museum shall supply additional available documentation to supplement the information required by subdivisions (b) and (c). This section does not authorize the initiation or completion of any academic, museum, or scientific study of human remains or cultural items.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “documentation” means a summary of agency or museum records, including inventories or catalogs, relevant studies, or other pertinent data for the limited purpose of determining the geographical origin, cultural affiliation, and basic facts surrounding the acquisition and accession of human remains and cultural items subject to this section.

(h) If the agency or museum determines that it does not have in its possession or control any human remains or cultural items, the agency or museum shall, in lieu of an inventory or summary, state that finding in a letter to the commission at the commission’s request.

(i) Following completion of the preliminary inventory and summary specified in subdivisions (b) and (c), each agency or museum shall update its inventory and summary within 90 days of receiving possession or control of human remains or cultural items that were not included in the preliminary inventory and summary. Upon completion, the agency or museum shall provide a copy of its updated inventory and summary to the commission.

(j) Once an agency or museum has provided a copy of its preliminary inventory and summary to the commission, the agency or museum shall consult with California Indian tribes that may be culturally affiliated with the human remains and cultural items. The commission may assist with the identification of tribes, but the agency or museum bears the obligation to contact and consult with California Indian tribes. The consultation process shall include all of the following:

(1) Preliminary inventories and summaries shall be reviewed by culturally affiliated and potentially culturally affiliated California Indian tribes, who shall have the ability to concur or disagree with the information in the preliminary inventory or summary. Tribal concurrence, disagreement, or nonresponse shall be noted on the preliminary inventory or summary by the commission at the end of the 30-day review period. If a consulting California Indian tribe disagrees with the contents of the preliminary inventory or summary, the agency or museum shall either revise the preliminary inventory or summary to correct the disputed information or the commission shall offer to initiate dispute resolution as described in Section 8016.

(2) The status of the inventory or summary shall be changed from preliminary to final by the commission once all responding California Indian tribes listed in the inventory or summary concur with the information in the inventory or summary.

(3) An inventory or summary that has been finalized may be moved back to preliminary status at the request of a consulting California Indian tribe if inaccuracies are found in the finalized inventory or summary prior to repatriation.

(4) The designation of an inventory or summary as preliminary or final is intended to reflect whether consulting California Indian tribes agree with the decisions and identifications of the agencies and museums who are preparing these documents. An inventory or summary does not need to be marked as final for a California Indian tribe to place a claim. Nothing in this section shall be construed to mean that an agency or museum may delay the repatriation of items in a final inventory or summary.

(5) Commission staff shall note a summary of all claims and the claim status on the commission’s internet website. The claim status may be pending, disputed, or accepted.

(6) Commission staff shall note the repatriation status on the commission’s internet website. The repatriation status may be in process or completed.

(7) A claim may be submitted at any time and does not need to be resubmitted.

(8) A claim may be withdrawn at any time prior to transfer of control.

(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 167, Sec. 6. (AB 275) Effective January 1, 2021.)