Bill would allow tribes to withdraw from prosecution agreement

HELENA — As likely its last action of the session, the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday reversed course on a bill it had tabled one day earlier, endorsing a measure to give the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes the option of withdrawing from a long-standing law-enforcement agreement with Lake County.

Senate Bill 310, sponsored by Sen. Lea Whitford, D-Cut Bank, addresses the county’s obligation under Public Law 280 to prosecute felony crimes committed in Lake County by tribal members.

Reps. Dale Mortensen of Billings and Kirk Wagoner of Montana City, both Republicans, switched their votes on the bill after Rep. Shane Morigeau, D-Missoula, asked members of the panel to reconsider their previous vote to table.

“One thing I guess I didn’t make clear enough yesterday is this legislation actually allows the parties to sit down and say, ‘OK, what are the areas of criminal jurisdiction that we as a tribe can take to help us offset costs for Lake County,’” said Morigeau, who is a tribal member from the Flathead Indian Reservation. “We can’t even have those conversations if we don’t have this legislation.”

The measure passed the Senate in February 35-15. It now heads to the full House for consideration.

Reporter Sam Wilson can be reached at 758-4407 or by email at swilson@dailyinterlake.com.