It is the intent of the Legislature to do all of the following:

(a)  Provide a seamless and consistent state policy to ensure that all California Indian human remains and cultural items be treated with dignity and respect.

(b)  Apply the state’s repatriation policy consistently with the provisions of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 3001 et seq.), which was enacted in 1990.

(c)  Facilitate the implementation of the provisions of the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act with respect to publicly funded agencies and museums in California.

(d)  Encourage voluntary disclosure and return of remains and cultural items by an agency or museum.

(e)  Provide a mechanism whereby lineal descendants and culturally affiliated California Indian tribes that file repatriation claims for human remains and cultural items under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 3001 et seq.) or under this chapter with California state agencies and museums may request assistance from the commission in ensuring that state agencies and museums are responding to those claims in a timely manner and in facilitating the resolution of disputes regarding those claims.

(f)  Provide a mechanism whereby California tribes that are not federally recognized may file claims with agencies and museums for repatriation of human remains and cultural items.

(Added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 818, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2002.)