By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to a bill that applies the federal law known as the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act to any museums and state agencies that receive state or local funding in the state of Massachusetts.

The federal law, according to the National Park Service’s website, requires that federal agencies and museums receiving federal funds take inventory of Native American human remains, funeral-related and sacred objects and provide written summaries of other cultural items. The agencies and museums must consult with Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations to attempt to reach agreements on the repatriation or other disposition of these remains and objects. Once lineal descent or cultural affiliation has been established, and in some cases the right of possession also has been demonstrated, lineal descendants, affiliated Indian tribes or affiliated Native Hawaiian organizations normally make the final determination about the disposition of cultural items.

Co-sponsors of the bill, Reps. Dave Rogers (D-Cambridge) and David Biele (D-South Boston) did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call to comment on their proposal.