Arizona Commission of Indian Affairs
Arizona Revised Statute (A.R.S.)

Section 41-541: Commission of Indian affairs; members; term; compensation; officers; meetings; duties

A. The Arizona commission of Indian affairs shall consist of the governor, the superintendent of public instruction, the director of the department of health services, the director of the department of transportation, the attorney general, the director of the department of economic security, the director of the office of tourism and the director of the department of commerce, or their representatives, who shall be ex officio members, and nine members appointed by the governor, two at large who shall be non-Indian, and seven from among the Indian tribes. Each tribe or tribal council may submit the names of not to exceed two members of its tribe, and from the names so submitted, the governor shall appoint the seven Indian members.

B. The term of office of each appointive member shall be three years. The terms of three appointive members shall expire on the first Monday in January each year. Each member shall hold office until the member's successor is appointed and qualifies. Appointment to fill a vacancy caused otherwise than by expiration of a term shall be for the unexpired portion of the term.

C. Members of the commission serving by virtue of their office shall serve without compensation. Appointed members are eligible to receive compensation as determined pursuant to section 38-611 for each day of attendance at meetings.

D. The commission shall elect a chairman and a vice-chairman, who shall be appointive members, and adopt rules for the conduct of meetings. A record shall be kept of all proceedings and transactions.

E. The commission shall meet at least quarterly on the second Thursday of the first month of each quarter and may hold additional meetings upon the call of the chairman. A majority of the appointed members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but ex officio members may vote. Members who fail to attend three consecutive meetings shall be deemed to have resigned.

F. The commission may apply for, accept, receive and expend public and private gifts or grants of money or property upon such terms and conditions as may be imposed by the donor and for implementation of the commission's internal operations.

G. The commission may accept, receive and spend fees collected at the Arizona Indian town hall to defer expenses for the Arizona Indian town hall that exceed the amount appropriated by the legislature for the Arizona Indian town hall.

Section 41-542: Powers and duties; information; report; director; appointment; personnel; limitation; fees; directory

A. The commission shall assist and support state and federal agencies in assisting Indians and tribal councils in this state to develop mutual goals, to design projects for achieving goals and to implement their plans. The commission shall also:

1. Assemble and make available facts needed by tribal, state and federal agencies to work together effectively.
2. Assist this state in its responsibilities to Indians and tribes of this state by making recommendations to the governor and the legislature.
3. Confer and coordinate with officials and agencies of other governmental units and legislative committees regarding Indian needs and goals.
4. Work for greater understanding and improved relationships between Indians and non-Indians by creating an awareness of the legal, social and economic needs of Indians in this state.
5. Promote increased participation by Indians in local and state affairs.
6. Assist tribal groups in developing increasingly effective methods of self-government.
7. Assist urban Indians. For the purposes of this paragraph, "urban Indian" means an Indian who:
   (a) Is a resident of this state.
   (b) Resides in a county of this state with a population of more than two hundred thousand persons.
   (c) Does not reside on an Indian reservation in such a county.

B. State and local public officers and employees, on request, shall furnish the commission with information that it may require for its purposes except information which is not subject to disclosure pursuant to a provision of law.

C. The commission shall make a written annual report, giving an account of its proceedings, transactions, findings and recommendations, to the governor and the legislature and may submit such recommendations to the legislature in the form of proposed legislation.

D. The governor shall appoint an executive director of the commission pursuant to section 38-211 who shall not be a member of the commission. The director is eligible to receive compensation pursuant to section 38-611. The commission may employ clerical, professional and technical personnel subject to appropriated funds and shall prescribe their duties and determine their compensation.

E. The commission may initiate or assist programs on a reservation only upon the request or with the approval of the tribal council for such reservation.

F. The commission may publish an annual directory of tribal governments in this state and other tribal and Indian related organizations and entities. The commission shall charge a fee for nongovernmental distribution of the directory and other commission publications based on the costs of compiling, publishing and distributing the directory and other commission publications.
Section 41-543: Indian affairs commission publications fund
An Indian affairs commission publications fund is established consisting of monies received from the sale of publications pursuant to section 41-542. The monies in the fund are appropriated to the commission to produce and distribute commission publications. The commission shall deposit, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, all fees collected from its publications in this fund. The commission shall annually account to the department of administration for its use of the monies in the fund. Monies in the fund of fifteen thousand dollars or less are exempt from section 35-190 relating to lapsing of monies.

Section 41-544: Indian nations and tribes legislative day

A. The Arizona commission of Indian affairs, in cooperation with representatives from the state's Indian nations, shall annually facilitate an Indian nations and tribes legislative day on Tuesday of the second week of each regular legislative session. The commission shall invite the legislature, governor and other elected officials to pay tribute to the history and culture of the American Indian peoples and their contributions to the prosperity and cultural diversity of the United States. The commission shall schedule activities and discussions between state and Indian nations and tribal leaders on issues in which the state and Indian nations and tribes share a common interest or jurisdiction.

B. Indian nations and tribes legislative day is not a legal holiday.

Section 41-545: Indian town hall fund

A. An Arizona Indian town hall fund is established that consists of monies collected or received at Indian town halls as fees that are intended to defray administrative costs related to these town halls pursuant to section 41-541. The commission shall deposit, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, all fees collected from this activity in this fund.

B. The commission shall annually report to the joint legislative budget committee for its use of the monies in the fund. Up to fifteen thousand dollars of monies in the fund may be expended by the commission each fiscal year.