Montana § 2-15-143 - Training And Consultation

§ 2-15-143. Training And Consultation

Training and consultation. (1) At least once a year, the governor's office and a trainer selected by the tribal governments shall provide training in Helena or a site mutually agreed on to state agency managers and key employees who have regular communication with tribes on the legal status of tribes, the legal rights of tribal members, and social, economic, and cultural issues of concern to tribes. Pursuant to 5-11-113 , the state director of Indian affairs shall collaborate with the legislative services division to ensure that legislators are aware of and invited to participate in this training. (2) At least annually, the governor shall convene in Helena a working meeting with representatives of state agencies and tribal officials, including tribal presiding officers, to discuss: (a) tribal concerns with rules and policies that directly impact tribal government and tribal populations; (b) other issues of concern to either the state or the tribes; and (c) potential solutions to the concerns. (3) By August 15 of each year, each state agency shall submit to the governor a report for the prior fiscal year describing the activities of the state agency relating to tribal government and tribal populations. The report must include: (a) any rule or policy changes that the state agency adopted because of discussions under subsection (2)(a); (b) the process that the state agency has established to identify the activities of the state agency that affect tribes; (c) the efforts of the state agency to promote communication and the government-to-government relationship between the state agency and the tribes; and (d) the efforts of the state agency to ensure tribal consultation and the use of American Indian data in the development and implementation of agency programs that directly affect tribes. (4) By October 15 of each year, the governor shall provide to each tribal government a report with an overview of all state and tribal activities for the prior fiscal year, including a description of the training required under subsection (1). It is the intent of the legislature that this report be prepared within existing levels of funding.