NH Indian Commission bill passes House
Mark Mitchell
3-10-2010                                    

                                                                  
                                                       Rep Neil Kurk                                       Rep Frank Sapareto                        

 HB1610 passed the NH House 201-132 as amended by the committee.

Efforts led by Rep Neil Kurk (R) Hillsborough- District 07, to amend the bill further from the floor to remove recognizing Native Americans as a minority failed 154 - 185.

A second motion to table the bill by Rep Frank Sapareto (R) representing Rockingham  District 05, also failed 157 -176.

Questioning the need for a NH Indian Commission and what impact it would have on any future BIA decisions, Rep David Hess (R), (Merrimack- District 09), had HB1610 removed from the consent calendar on March 3, 2010 bringing bill to floor debate.

HB1610, (introduced by Rep Daniel Carr (D)), cleared it first hurdle as the House State-Federal and Veterans Committee passed unanimously on February 18, 2010, (17-0), as amended by Rep. Kris Roberts (D). The major differences were the removal of any reference to any one tribe or group of Native Americans for special note within the bill. 

New Hampshire and nine other states nationwide do not have established Native American Commissions, with the only other New England state being Rhode Island.

Approximately ten thousand New Hampshire residents identify their households as Native American based on the 2000 census .

The bill now crosses over to the NH Senate beating the deadline of March 25, 2010.