Sen. Richardson’s bill aims to simplify tribal access to state housing programs and protect sovereignty

Senator Richardson presented SB 1322 to the Senate Human Services Committee, saying California is home to "109 federally recognized Native American tribes" and asserting that "tribal communities are more than twice as likely to experience poverty and homelessness compared to the rest of the state's population." He told the committee the Department of Social Services' community care expansion program is complex for tribal applicants and that state applications sometimes put tribes in a difficult position of having to "relinquish sovereignty" to get grants.

Chris Lunschroom, who identified himself as executive officer of the California Tribal Business Alliance and spoke on behalf of the sponsor noted in the transcript as the Pala (transcript: "Polabanda") Band of Mission Indians, urged support and said SB 1322 would apply best practices that recognize tribal sovereignty and clarify what tribes can and cannot do with land and federal property in the grant process. He referenced AB 1010 (2019) as an earlier step that opened tribes' eligibility for some state housing programs.

A committee member moved that the committee concur in the assembly amendments to SB 1322. The clerk called the roll and, after votes were recorded and the roll was re-opened for absent members, the committee reported SB 1322 out on a recorded 4-0 vote. The committee did not take amendments beyond concurrence in the Assembly changes during this hearing.

Next steps: SB 1322 was reported out of committee and will advance in the Senate process.