Section 1. There is hereby created and established the Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs. The commission shall be administered under the direction and supervision of the Department of Human Services.

Section 2. The purposes of the commission shall be

1. to deal fairly and effectively with Indian affairs;
   
2. to bring local state and federal resources into focus for the implementation of continuation of meaningful programs for Indian citizens of the state of Tennessee;
   
3. to provide aid and protection for Indians as needs are demonstrated;
   
4. to prevent undue hardships;
5. to assist Indian communities in social and economic development; and,
   
6. to promote recognition of and the right of Indians to pursue cultural and religious traditions considered by them to be sacred and meaningful to Native Americans.

1. to study, consider, accumulate, compile, assemble and disseminate information on any aspect of Indian affairs;
   
2. to investigate relief needs of Indians of Tennessee and to provide technical assistance in the preparation of plans for the alleviation of such needs;
   
3. to confer with appropriate officials of local, state and federal governments and agencies of these governments, and with such congressional committees that may be concerned with Indian affairs;
   
4. to encourage and implement coordination of applicable resources to meet the needs of Indians in Tennessee;
   
5. to cooperate with and secure the assistance of the local, state and federal governments of any agencies thereof in formulating any such programs, and to coordinate such programs with any programs regarding Indian affairs adopted or planned by the federal government and the end that the Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs secure the full benefit of such programs;
   
6. to review all proposed or pending state legislation and amendments to existing state legislation affecting Indians in Tennessee;
   
7. to conduct public hearings on matters relating to Indians affairs and to subpoena any information or documents deemed necessary by the commission;
   
8. to study the existing status of recognition of all Indian groups, tribes and communities presently existing in the state of Tennessee;
   
9. to establish appropriate procedures to provide for legal recognition by the state of presently unrecognized groups and to provide for official state recognition by the commission of such groups.

Section 5.
(a) The commission shall meet quarterly, and at any such time that it shall deem necessary. Meetings may be called by the chairman or by a petition signed by a majority of the members of the commission. Ten (10) days notice shall be given in writing to such members prior to the meeting date.
(b) A simple majority of the Indian members of the commission must be present to constitute a quorum.
(c) Proxy voting will not be permitted.

Section 6. The commission shall prepare a written annual report giving an account of its proceedings, transactions, findings, and recommendations. This report will become a matter of public record and will be maintained in the State Archives. It may also be furnished to such other persons or agencies as the commission may deem proper.

Section 7. Fiscal records shall be kept by the Commissioner of Human Services and will be subject to audit as authorized by Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-4-109 or licensed public accountant. The audit report will become a part of the annual report and will be submitted in accordance with the regulations governing preparation and submission of the annual report.

Section 8. The commission may, subject to legislative or other funds that would accrue to the commission, employ an executive director to carry out the day-to-day responsibilities and business of the commission. The executive director, also subject to legislative or other funds that would accrue to the commission, may hire additional staff and consultants to assist in the discharge of his responsibilities, as determined by the commission. The executive director shall not be a member of the commission, and shall be of Indian descent.

Section 9. The Tennessee Code Commission is requested to codify Sections 1 trough 8 of the Act as a new chapter in Title 4 of the Tennessee Code Annotated.

Section 10. This act shall take effect July 1, 1983, the public welfare requiring it.

Passed: May 12, 1983

[signed] Ned R. McWherter, Speaker of the House of Representatives

[signed] John Wilder, Speaker of the Senate

Approved this 26th day of May, 1983

[signed] Lamar Alexander, Governor