Report 2021-047 Recommendation Responses

Report 2021-047: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act: Despite Some Recent Improvements, the University of California Has Not Yet Taken Adequate Action to Ensure Its Timely Return of Native American Remains and Cultural Items (Release Date: November 2022)

Recommendation for Legislative Action

To ensure that the university continues its recent progress in returning remains and cultural items to tribes, the Legislature should amend state law to require the university to periodically report its campuses' progress towards completing repatriation.

Description of Legislative Action

AB 226 (Ramos, 2023) would strongly urge the University of California to, on or before June 30, 2024, and annually thereafter, report each University of California campus's progress toward completing repatriation pursuant to the California Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 2001. As of January 18, 2023 this bill is pending in the Assembly.

In addition, SB-61 (Dodd, 2023) would declare the Legislature's intent to ensure that the University of California reports each institution's progress towards completing repatriation. As of January 18, 2023, this bill was referred to the Assembly Committee on Education.

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


All Recommendations in 2021-047