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Tribal leaders and legal scholars urge Michigan to codify protections for tribal general welfare benefits and explain tribal courts
Summary
Leaders from the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi and Michigan State University law faculty told the House Judiciary Committee that Michigan should codify protections for tribal general welfare benefits and recognize the role of tribal courts.
Representatives of Michigan tribes and a Michigan State University law professor told the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 20 that state statute should clarify how tribal general welfare benefits are treated and described the role and jurisdiction of tribal courts in Michigan.
Dori Rios, chairwoman of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, urged the committee to consider legislation that would prevent state agencies from treating tribal general welfare benefits — programs such as housing assistance, elder care, education stipends and funeral assistance — as income that jeopardizes eligibility for state‑administered programs. Rios cited 26 U.S. Code § 139E as federal recognition that tribal general welfare programs are grounded in…
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