Sec 41-542. Powers and duties; information; report; director; appointment; personnel; limitation; fees; directory

A. The commission shall assist and support state and federal agencies in assisting Indians and tribal councils in this state to develop mutual goals, to design projects for achieving goals and to implement their plans. The commission shall also:

1. Assemble and make available facts needed by tribal, state and federal agencies to work together effectively.

2. Assist this state in its responsibilities to Indians and tribes of this state by making recommendations to the governor and the legislature.

3. Confer and coordinate with officials and agencies of other governmental units and legislative committees regarding Indian needs and goals.

4. Work for greater understanding and improved relationships between Indians and non-Indians by creating an awareness of the legal, social and economic needs of Indians in this state.

5. Promote increased participation by Indians in local and state affairs.

6. Assist tribal groups in developing increasingly effective methods of self-government.

7. Assist urban Indians. For the purposes of this paragraph, "urban Indian" means an Indian who:

(a) Is a resident of this state.

(b) Resides in a county of this state with a population of more than two hundred thousand persons.

(c) Does not reside on an Indian reservation in such a county.

B. State and local public officers and employees, on request, shall furnish the commission with information that it may require for its purposes except information which is not subject to disclosure pursuant to a provision of law.

C. The commission shall make a written annual report, giving an account of its proceedings, transactions, findings and recommendations, to the governor and the legislature and may submit such recommendations to the legislature in the form of proposed legislation.

D. The governor shall appoint an executive director of the commission pursuant to section 38-211 who shall not be a member of the commission. The director is eligible to receive compensation pursuant to section 38-611. The commission may employ clerical, professional and technical personnel subject to chapter 4, article 4 of this title and appropriated funds and shall prescribe their duties and determine their compensation pursuant to section 38-611.

E. The commission may initiate or assist programs on a reservation only upon the request or with the approval of the tribal council for such reservation.

F. The commission may publish an annual directory of tribal governments in this state and other tribal and Indian related organizations and entities. The commission shall charge a fee for nongovernmental distribution of the directory and other commission publications based on the costs of compiling, publishing and distributing the directory and other commission publications.