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United States · Bill · S

S. 1691 (105th)

American Indian Equal Justice Act

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

27 February 1998

Last action

20 May 1998 · Committee

Status

Committee on Indian Affairs. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

Sponsors

Sen. Gorton, Slade [R-WA]

Subjects

Rule of law, Taxation

Source updated

21 August 2025

Rule of law · Taxation

Summary

American Indian Equal Justice Act - Amends Federal law concerning the jurisdiction of U.S. district courts to make it a requirement that an Indian tribe, tribal corporation, or member of an Indian tribe collect and remit to a State any excise, use, or sales tax imposed by the State on nonmembers of the Indian tribe as a consequence of the purchase of goods or services by nonmembers from the Indian tribe, tribal corporation, or member. Permits a State to bring an action in a U.S. district court to enforce the requirement. Grants U.S. district courts: (1) original jurisdiction in any civil action or claim against an Indian tribe, in matters arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States; (2) jurisdiction of any civil action or claim against an Indian tribe for liquidated or unliquidated damages for cases not sounding in tort that involve any contract made by the governing body of the Indian tribe or on behalf of an Indian tribe; and (3) subject to Indian tribe tort claims procedure provisions under this Act, jurisdiction of civil actions in claims against an Indian tribe for money damages, accruing on or after the enactment of this Act for loss of property, personal injury, or death caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of an Indian tribe under circumstances in which the Indian tribe, if it were a private individual or corporation, would be liable to the claimant in accordance with the law of the State where the act or omission occurred. Sets forth Indian tort claims procedure provisions. Excepts any case relating to a controversy about membership in an Indian tribe. Grants consent to institute a civil cause of action against an Indian tribe in a State court on a claim arising within the State, including a claim arising on an Indian reservation or Indian country, in any case in which the cause of action: (1) arises under Federal or State law; and (2) relates to tort claims or claims not sounding in tort that involve any contract made by the governing body of an Indian tribe on or behalf of a tribe. Provides, in any tort action brought in a State court against an Indian tribe, for that tribe to be liable to the same extent as a private individual or corporation under like circumstances, but not to be liable for interest prior to judgment or for punitive damages. Amends title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (the Indian Civil Rights Act) to grant U.S. district courts jurisdiction in any civil rights action alleging a failure to comply with rights secured by the requirements under such title.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 27 February 1998

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 27 February 1998

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1155)

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 27 February 1998

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 11 March 1998

    Committee

    Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.

    Source: Committee

  5. 6 May 1998

    Committee

    Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.

    Source: Committee

  6. 20 May 1998

    Committee

    Committee on Indian Affairs. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in Senate (text)

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Leesvertaling

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  • Introduced in Senate (text)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 27 February 1998

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

  • Introduced in Senate (PDF)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 27 February 1998

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

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  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 27 February 1998

    Open at official source

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Sponsors

Related records

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Sources

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