Report 2022-107 Recommendation 3 Responses

Report 2022-107: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act: The California State University Must Do More to Ensure the Timely Return of Native American Remains and Cultural Items to Tribes (Release Date: June 2023)

Recommendation #3 To: University, California State

To provide campuses with the guidance and best practices necessary for effectively complying with NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA, the Chancellor's Office should issue a systemwide NAGPRA policy establishing consistent repatriation processes and training requirements, in consultation with California tribes and the Native American Heritage Commission.

6-Month Agency Response

On October 10, 2023, the Governor signed Assembly Bill 389, which was incorporated into the California Education Code and requires the CSU to establish a Systemwide NAGPRA Committee (systemwide committee). Once the systemwide committee is established and convened, it will support the creation of the systemwide NAGPRA policy establishing consistent repatriation processes and training requirements, in consultation with California tribes and the Native American Heritage Commission.

In the meantime, the Chancellor's Office is forming a working group to begin collaboration-listening sessions with tribes throughout the state to draft a CSU systemwide policy.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

The Chancellor's Office will establish a systemwide NAGPRA oversight committee by December 2023. The oversight committee will be responsible for drafting a systemwide NAGPRA policy in consultation with California tribes and the Native American Heritage Commission.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2022-107

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.