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THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2002

The California Assembly on Wednesday easily approved a bill to protect sacred sites after it was gutted of a provision to allow tribes full veto power over proposed development.

Business interests opposed the veto provision because they said it would give tribes unprecedented control. Under the new version, tribes can still oppose development.

But a local government can override the objections by showing that development will not damage the site and that there are environmental, public health or safety reasons to build.

The measure now goes on to the Senate.

Get the Story:
Easy OK for sacred land bill Indians given power over developments (The San Francisco Chronicle 8/29)
Assembly OKs bill giving Indians chance to preserve sacred tribal sites (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 8/29)
Assembly votes for tribal discretion (Copley News Service 8/29)
Bill to Force Mental Treatment Gains (The Los Angeles Times 8/29)

Related Stories:
Editorial: Oral history not good enough (8/22)
Calif. tribes push sacred site bill (7/29)
Calif. bill aims to protect sacred sites (7/23)