Comments Sought on Statute Change

Band Assembly considers changes to Title 24 — Judicial Proceedings

In a June 24 letter to Band members, Band Assembly announced that it is seeking public comments on proposed amendments to Title 24 — Judicial Proceedings.

The proposed legislation would remove Mille Lacs Band Member Legal Aid from the administrative control of the Solicitor General for the purpose of eliminating the inherent conflict of interest involved in having the prosecution control the bud- get and personnel of the defense.

The proposed legislation would also (1) establish Band Member Legal Aid as an independent entity, (2) mandate that Band Member Legal Aid refrain from representing Band members for crimes committed against other Band members or for certain drug offenses, and (3) clarify that the Court of Central Jurisdiction has original jurisdiction over all causes of action arising from 24 MLBS Chapter 2.

The legislation is available on the Tribal Register of the new Mille Lacs Band website and the public comment period has been set at ten business days. Therefore, please submit any written comments to legislation@millelacsband.com no later than 5 p.m. on July 8, 2021. Please use “Band Member Legal Aid” as the subject title. Band members and employees may also submit written comments in person to the District 1 legislative office.

June 23 Band Assembly meeting

On June 23, Band Assembly went into Executive Session to hear a presentation of the 2020 external audit from Brady Martz & Associates.

Band Assembly approved Bill 19-03-47-21: A Bill of Supple- mental Appropriation for the purpose of authorizing expendi- tures and budget revisions/transfers for the Executive Branch for the Fiscal Year ending September 30, 2021.

Two contracts and a hardship request were approved, and members gave reports to their constituents.

A work session was held on June 24 on Titles 21 and 24. For details, see millelacsband.com.