(1) The acquisition of the land by the tribe is approved by the legislative body of that city; and

(2) A tribal-state compact under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act is agreed to by the State and the Passamaquoddy Tribe or the State is ordered by a court to negotiate such a compact.; and

Sec. 3. 30 MRSA §6205, sub-§1, ¶D is enacted to read:

D.__All land acquired by the secretary for the benefit of the Passamaquoddy Tribe in T. 19, M.D. to the extent that the land is acquired by the secretary prior to January 31, 2020, is not held in common with any other person or entity and is certified by the secretary by January 31, 2020 as held for the benefit of the Passamaquoddy Tribe.

Sec. 4. Effective date; certification. This Act does not take effect unless, within 60 days of the adjournment of the Legislature, the Secretary of State receives written certification by the Joint Tribal Council of the Passamaquoddy Tribe that the tribe has agreed to the provisions of this Act pursuant to 25 United States Code, Section 1725(e), copies of which must be submitted by the Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Senate, the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Revisor of Statutes, except that in no event may this Act become effective until 90 days after the adjournment of the Legislature.

SUMMARY

This bill amends the Act to Implement the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act concerning the Trust Lands of the Passamaquoddy Tribe. The Secretary of the Interior of the United States has until January 31, 2020 to acquire and place in trust on behalf of the Passamaquoddy Tribe all purchased land in Township 19, Middle District. If that deadline is met, the purchased land becomes part of the Trust Lands of the Passamaquoddy Tribe.