[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 120 (Friday, June 21, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29226-29228]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-13264]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[190 A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900]


Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation Liquor Ordinance; 
Repeal and Replace

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice publishes the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis 
Reservation Liquor Ordinance. The Ordinance certifies the Confederated 
Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation's Liquor licensing laws to regulate 
and control the possession, sale, and consumption of liquor within the 
jurisdiction of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation. 
The Ordinance repeals and replaces the previous liquor control 
ordinance published in the Federal Register on July 17, 1995 (60 FR 
36564), and any and all previous statutes.

DATES: This Ordinance takes effect June 21, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Greg Norton, Tribal Government 
Specialist, Northwest Regional Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 911 NE 
11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232, Phone: (503) 231-6702; Fax: (503) 231-
2201.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Act of August 15, 1953, 
Public Law 83-277, 67 Stat. 586, 18 U.S.C. 1161, as interpreted by the 
Supreme Court in Rice v. Rehner, 463 U.S. 713 (1983), the Secretary of 
the Interior shall certify and publish in the Federal Register notice 
of adopted liquor ordinances for the purpose of regulating liquor 
transactions in Indian country.
    This notice is published in accordance with the authority delegated 
by the Secretary of the Interior to the Assistant Secretary--Indian 
Affairs. I certify that the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis 
Reservation adopted Resolution Number: 2019-025 (Liquor Control 
Ordinance) on February 26, 2019. The statute repeals and replaces the 
previous liquor control ordinance published in the Federal Register on 
July 13, 2010 (60 FR 36564).

    Dated: June 6, 2019.
Tara Sweeney,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.

Chapter 9.40

LIQUOR CONTROL

9.40.010 Public policy declared.

    This Ordinance is authorized and approved pursuant to Article IV, 
Section 1 and Article V, Section 1(h) and 1(i) of the Constitution and 
Bylaws of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation.
    This Tribal Liquor Control Ordinance shall be cited as the 
``Chehalis Tribal Liquor Control Ordinance'' (the ``Ordinance''). Under 
the inherent sovereignty of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis 
Reservation (the ``Tribe''), this chapter shall be deemed an exercise 
of the Tribe's power for the protection of the welfare, health, peace, 
morals and safety of the members of the Tribe. It is further the 
Tribe's policy to assure that any transaction, manufacture, 
importation, distribution, sale or consumption involving an alcoholic 
beverage, while within the Tribe's jurisdiction, shall occur in strict 
compliance with this chapter, the laws of the United States and where 
applicable, the State of Washington.

9.40.020 Definitions.

    The stated terms are defined as follows:
    ``Alcoholic beverage'' shall mean any intoxicating liquor, beer or 
any wine, as defined under the provisions of this chapter or other 
applicable law;
    ``Legal age'' shall mean the age requirements, as defined in CTC 
9.40.080.
    ``Sale'' shall mean the serving of any contents of any bagged, 
bottled, boxed, canned or kegged alcoholic beverage by any means 
whatsoever for a consideration of currency exchange

9.40.030 General prohibition.

    It shall be a violation of Tribal law to manufacture for sale, to 
sell, offer or keep for sale, possess, transport or conduct any 
transaction involving any alcoholic beverage except in compliance with 
the terms, conditions, limitations, and restrictions specified in this 
chapter

9.40.040 Tribal control of alcoholic beverages.

    The Business Committee shall have the sole and exclusive right to 
authorize the manufacture of alcoholic beverages, including 
distilleries, breweries, wineries and cideries, within or importation 
of alcoholic beverages into the Chehalis Reservation and Indian Country 
over which the Chehalis Tribe has jurisdiction for sale or for the 
purpose of conducting transactions therewith, and no person or 
organization shall so manufacture such alcoholic beverages within or 
import any such alcoholic beverages into the Chehalis Reservation or 
Indian Country over which the Chehalis Tribe has jurisdiction unless 
authorized by the Business Committee to do so.

9.40.050 Community on-site sales.

    The Business Committee shall establish and maintain within the 
Chehalis Reservation a casino, including full-service restaurant, deli 
and bar, all of which are located within the casino facility, which 
shall be authorized to store and sell alcoholic beverages in 
conjunction with the operation of the restaurant, deli and bar and in 
accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The Business Committee 
shall set the prices of alcoholic beverages sold.

9.40.060 State of Washington licenses and agreements.

    The Tribe may negotiate an agreement and/or the licensee may obtain 
a State of Washington liquor license for any Tribally operated 
establishment that manufactures or sells alcoholic beverages or 
conducts transactions involving alcoholic beverages to the extent 
required by applicable law in order to allow the Tribe to manufacture, 
sell or otherwise conduct transactions involving alcoholic beverages on 
the Reservation or in Indian Country under its control.

9.40.070 Applicability of State law.

    Except as may be otherwise authorized by agreement between the 
Tribe and the State of Washington, the Tribe and its agents shall act 
in conformity with Washington State laws regarding the sale of liquor 
to the extent

[[Page 29227]]

required by applicable Federal law, including 18 U.S.C. Section 1161

9.40.080 Persons under 21 years of age--Restrictions.

    The Tribe shall comply with the State of Washington's laws 
regarding restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages to persons 
under the age of 21 years in any Tribal establishment operating 
pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

9.40.090 Restrictions on intoxicated persons.

    No Tribally operated or licensed establishment shall sell, give, or 
furnish any alcoholic beverage or in any way allow any alcoholic 
beverage to be sold, given or furnished to a person who is obviously 
intoxicated.

9.40.100 Hours and days of sale.

    Any Tribally operated or licensed establishment shall sell or 
furnish alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption only during hours 
or on days which are in compliance with applicable Washington State law

9.40.110 Power to license and tax.

    The power to establish Tribal licenses and levy taxes under the 
provisions of this chapter is vested exclusively with the Tribe's 
Business Committee. If the Business Committee enters into any 
agreements with the State regarding the sale of liquor, the agreement 
shall be deemed to constitute Tribal Law

9.40.120 Tribally owned establishments.

    The Business Committee can issue, by resolution, an appropriate 
license to a Tribally owned establishment upon determining the site for 
the establishment and obtaining the necessary licensing or agreement 
from the State of Washington.

9.40.130 Licensing.

    A. The Business Committee shall have the power to issue licenses to 
any Tribal or State chartered corporation, individual or partnership or 
other entity to undertake any manufacture, sale or transaction of 
alcoholic beverages, including distilleries, breweries, wineries and 
cideries within the Chehalis Reservation or Indian Country over which 
the Chehalis Tribe has jurisdiction which the Tribe itself has the 
power to undertake under this chapter.
    B. Applications for a license shall be submitted in the form 
prescribed by the Business Committee or its authorized employees. The 
Business Committee may, within its sole discretion and subject to the 
conditions in this chapter, issue or refuse to issue the license 
applied for upon payment of such fee as the Business Committee may 
prescribe.
    C. Every license shall be issued in the name of the applicant and 
no license shall be transferable or assignable without the written 
approval of the Business Committee, nor shall the licensee allow any 
other person or entity to use the license.
    D. The Business Committee may, for violations of this chapter, 
suspend or cancel any license. A license is a privilege and no person 
shall have vested rights therein. Prior to cancellation or suspension 
of a license, the Business Committee shall send notice of its intent to 
cancel or suspend the license to the licensee. A licensee whose liquor 
license is cancelled or suspended by the Business Committee shall be 
entitled to appeal the cancellation or suspension within 10 days of the 
receipt from the Business Committee of such notice by filing a notice 
of appeal with the Clerk of the Tribal Court. The appeal of any such 
notice shall be determined by the Tribal Court in accordance with the 
ordinances of the Tribe governing Tribal Court actions and the decision 
of the Tribal Court, including any appeal within the Tribal Court 
system, shall be final and binding on the parties.
    E. No license issued under this chapter shall be valid for a period 
longer than one year.

9.40.140 Regulations.

    The Business Committee may, consistent with this chapter, adopt 
regulations it deems necessary to implement this chapter.

9.40.150 Severability.

    If any part of this Ordinance , or the application thereof to any 
party, person, or entity or to any circumstances, shall be held invalid 
for any reason whatsoever, the remainder of the section or Ordinance 
shall not be affected thereby, and shall remain in full force and 
effect as though no part thereof had been declared to be invalid.

9.40.160. Amendment or repeal of ordinance.

    This chapter may be amended or repealed by a majority vote of the 
Business Committee. Any amendment to this Liquor Ordinance shall be 
published as required pursuant to Federal law.

9.40.170. Sovereign immunity.

    Nothing in this Ordinance is intended, nor shall anything contained 
in it be construed, as a waiver of the sovereign immunity of the 
Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation.

9.40.180. Effective date.

    The ordinance codified in this chapter shall be effective upon the 
date that the Secretary of the Interior certifies the ordinance 
codified in this chapter and publishes it in the Federal Register.

9.40.190 Jurisdiction, State and Tribal law.

    Notwithstanding anything in this chapter to the contrary, nothing 
herein is intended, nor shall it be construed, as a grant of 
jurisdiction from the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Indian 
Reservation to the State of Washington beyond that provided by 
applicable law. The Tribe shall operate in conformity with State law 
and Tribal law to the extent provided pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 
1161.

9.40.200 Tribal court jurisdiction.

    Jurisdiction for all matters and actions under this Liquor 
Ordinance, including without limitation, challenges to any portion of 
this Ordinance and actions revoking any authority to do business on the 
Chehalis Reservation under this Ordinance, shall lie exclusively with 
the Chehalis Tribal Court.

9.40.210 Violations of this Ordinance and Any Promulgated Regulations.

    Violations of this Ordinance and any promulgated regulations shall 
be civil violations subject to civil enforcement and penalties except 
where an individual or entity is either manufacturing, importing, 
selling or exporting products subject to this Ordinance without having 
received a liquor license as set forth herein, which such actions shall 
constitute criminal act(s).
    A. Any individual or entity who shall be charged by the Tribe with 
a civil violation of this Ordinance and / or regulations promulgated 
under this Ordinance shall have the right to obtain a hearing 
challenging the claimed violation(s) and / or the penalties to be 
imposed before the Chehalis Tribal Court.
    B. The civil charge shall be commenced by a writing / Notice from 
the Tribe signed by either the Department Director responsible for 
administering this Ordinance or the Chairman of the Tribe. The writing 
shall specify the violation(s), the Ordinance and / or regulations 
violated, the opportunity to cure, if any, within a specified 
timeframe, and the right to appeal.
    C. Civil violations of this Ordinance and / or promulgated 
regulations shall

[[Page 29228]]

be subject to the potential of cease and desist notices, injunctive 
relief, and / or fines of $500.00 and possible suspension of the 
license for 10 days for the first offense, $1,000.00 and automatic 
suspension for 30 days for the second offense, and, if the individual 
or entity is not a Chehalis Tribal member, license revocation and / or 
exclusion from the Reservation for any subsequent violation. If 
exclusion is not an option under the terms of this Ordinance, then for 
each violation after the second violation, the fine shall increase by 
$500.00 and / or license revocation.
    D. The request for a hearing challenging the claimed violation(s) 
and / or penalties shall take the form of a pleading filed with the 
Tribal Court denominating the challenging party as plaintiff and the 
Tribe as defendant and the pleading and a summons shall be served under 
the Tribal Court rules upon the Chairman of the Tribe with a copy to 
the Office of Tribal Attorney.
    E. In order to be heard by the Tribal Court, the aforementioned 
pleading must be filed and served within 30 days of the end of the 
period, if any, identified in the writing / Notice as the cure period. 
This timeframe constitutes a statute of limitation and shall not be 
tolled.
    F. In hearing the appeal, the Chehalis Tribal Court shall follow 
its normal rules of procedure and the applicability of Chehalis Tribal 
Law and any other procedural requirements as specified in the Tribal 
Codes for the Court.
    G. All decisions of the Chehalis Tribal Court are final and non-
appealable.
    H. The burden of proof in any civil proceeding shall be upon the 
Tribe which, in order to prevail, must be by a preponderance of the 
evidence.
    I. Any allegation that an individual or entity has violated the 
criminal law with respect to this Ordinance shall be referred to the 
Tribal Prosecutor of the Tribe for review and if appropriate filing of 
a criminal complaint.
    J. Should the Prosecutor determine to proceed, the Prosecutor shall 
file a criminal complaint against the Defendant and have the Defendant 
served.
    K. The Tribe's Prosecutor and / or Chief of Police may refer an 
potential criminal violation to the US Attorney in Seattle provided 
that if the matter is referred, but the US Attorney shall decline to 
proceed, then the Prosecutor shall retain the jurisdiction to proceed.
    L. All provisions of the Tribe's criminal codes shall apply to this 
proceeding except that all trials shall be bench trials.
    M. Should an individual or entity be found guilty of criminal 
violations of this Ordinance, then, in the case of an individual, the 
individual shall be sentenced to not less than 6 months of jail time 
for a first offense and not less than 11 months and 25 days of jail 
time for each subsequent conviction. If an entity is found guilty of a 
criminal violation, then the sentence shall be exclusion from the 
Reservation.
    N. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, a defendant in 
a criminal matter may appeal any conviction to the Chehalis Court of 
Appeals pursuant to the rules of the Tribe's Code governing such 
appeals.
    O. Any individual or entity violating the criminal provisions of 
this Ordinance shall be subject to the search and seizure provisions of 
the Tribe's criminal code permitting searches of any premises where 
there is good cause to believe that a criminal violation is occurring 
and seizure of any products or equipment involved in the alleged 
criminal violation(s).
    P. Upon trial of a criminal charge, if the Defendant is found 
guilty, any products or equipment shall be forfeited to the Tribe as 
part of any sentence.

[FR Doc. 2019-13264 Filed 6-20-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4337-15-P