Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 10 (2021GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Iwamoto, J.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/16/2021

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• authorizes the Division of Indian Affairs to help facilitate the application process for changing location names referring to American Indian terms;
• requires reporting; and
• makes technical changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

PLACE NAME AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Jani Iwamoto
House Sponsor: 
Christine F. Watkins
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses names of places.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms;
▸ authorizes the Division of Indian Affairs to help facilitate the application process
for changing location names referring to American Indian terms;
▸ requires reporting; and
▸ makes technical changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
9-9-107
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 371
ENACTS:
9-9-112
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
9-9-107
 is amended to read:
9-9-107.
Division report.
The department shall include a report of the division's operations and
recommendations
, including the division's activities under Section 
9-9-112
,
 in the annual
written report described in Section 
9-1-208
.
Section 2. Section 
9-9-112
 is enacted to read:
 9-9-112.
Geographic place names -- Role of division -- Report.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Location name referring to American Indians" means the name of a place in the
state that uses American Indian related terms.
(b) "Utah Committee on Geographic Names" means the committee created by
executive order of the governor that has a primary function to act as the state's liaison with the
United States Board on Geographic Names and to review geographic name changes and
additions in Utah.
(2) (a) To facilitate the United States Board on Geographic Names' application process
for changing a location name referring to American Indians, the division may create an
application template, in consultation with the Utah Committee on Geographic Names, for the
following to use:
(i) a county in which a place with a location name referring to American Indians is
located;
(ii) an Indian tribe that is connected to the geographic location referring to American
Indians for which the Indian tribe seeks to change the name;
(iii) a local community in and around a place with a location name referring to
American Indians; or
(iv) another person identified by the division in consultation with the Utah Committee
on Geographic Names.
(b) The application template described in Subsection (2)(a) shall encourage an
applicant to solicit feedback from the one or more tribal governments that are connected to the
geographic location for which the applicant is proposing to change the location name referring
to American Indians.
(c) If the division assists a person applying to change the location name referring to
American Indians, the division shall direct the person to consult with any tribal government
that is connected to the geographic location for which the location name referring to American
Indians is proposed to be changed so that a tribal government has an opportunity to provide an
official response.
(d) The division may bring proposed name changes to location names referring to
American Indians to tribal leaders to solicit input from the Indian tribes.
(3) The division shall provide on the division's website resources for applicants and
information about proposed changes to location names referring to American Indians.
(4) In accordance with Section 
9-9-107
, the division shall annually report to the Native
American Legislative Liaison Committee on the division's activities under this section.