[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4431-4435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01268]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Santee Sioux Nation--Title XXI--Alcohol, Chapter 1.--Santee Sioux 
Nation Liquor Control Ordinance

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice publishes the Title XXI--Alcohol, Chapter 1.--
Santee Sioux Nation Liquor Control Ordinance. The Ordinance regulates 
and controls the possession, sale and consumption of liquor within the 
Indian Country of the Santee Sioux Nation. The land is trust land and 
this Ordinance allows for the possession and sale of alcoholic 
beverages within the jurisdiction of the Santee Sioux Nation. This 
Ordinance will increase the ability of the tribal government to control 
the distribution and possession of liquor within their jurisdiction, 
and at the same time will provide an important source of revenue, the 
strengthening of the tribal government and the delivery of tribal 
services.

DATES: Effective Date: This Ordinance is effective January 22, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Danelle Daugherty, Tribal Government 
Officer, Great Plains Regional Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 115 
4th Avenue SE., Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401, Phone: (605) 226-7376; 
Fax: (605) 226-7379: or De Springer, Office of Indian Services, Bureau 
of Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street NW., MS-4513-MIB, Washington, DC 
20240; Telephone (202) 513-7640.

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

[[Page 4432]]

(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. The Santee Sioux 
Tribal Council adopted this Ordinance by Resolution No. FY2013-12 on 
December 17, 2012.
    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 Santee Sioux Tribal Council duly adopted 
Title XXI--Alcohol, Chapter 1.--Santee Sioux Nation Liquor Control 
Ordinance by Resolution No. FY2013-12 on December 17, 2012.

    Dated: January 16, 2013.
Kevin K. Washburn
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.

    The Santee Sioux Nation's Title XXI--Alcohol, Chapter 1--Santee 
Sioux Nation Liquor Control Ordinance shall read as follows:

Section 1. Title

    This Chapter of Title XXI of the Santee Sioux Nation Law and Order 
Code shall be known as the ``Santee Sioux Nation Liquor Control 
Ordinance.''

Section 2. Authority

    This Ordinance is enacted pursuant to the Act of August 15, 1953, 
67 Stat. 586, codified at 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1161, by the authority of the 
Santee Sioux Tribal Council under the Constitution and Bylaws of the 
Santee Sioux Nation, Article IV, Sections 1(i) and (q).

Section 3. Revocation of Prior Ordinance

    All ordinances and resolutions of the Santee Sioux Nation 
regulating, authorizing, prohibiting, or in any wise dealing with the 
sale of liquor heretofore enacted or now in effect, including but not 
limited to all prior versions of the Santee Sioux Nation Liquor Control 
Ordinance, are hereby repealed and of no further force and effect.

Section 4. General Purpose

    The purpose of this Ordinance is to provide civil laws for the 
Tribal regulation and control of liquor within the Santee Sioux Nation 
Reservation. This law is enacted to regulate the sale and distribution 
of liquor and beer products on all properties within the limits of the 
Santee Sioux Nation Reservation, and to generate revenue needed for 
Tribal programs and services. It is the legislative intent of the 
Tribal Council that all violations of this Ordinance, whether committed 
by Tribal members, non-member Indians, or non-Indians be considered 
civil in nature rather than criminal.

Section 5. Declaration of Public Policy and Purposes

    A. The introduction, possession, and sale of liquor on the Santee 
Sioux Nation Reservation are matters of special concern to the Santee 
Sioux Nation.
    B. Federal law prohibits the introduction of liquor into Indian 
Country (18 U.S.C. Sec. 1154 and other statutes), except as provided 
therein, and expressly affirms and delegates to Tribes the governmental 
authority to regulate and control liquor on Indian Reservations. (18 
U.S.C. Sec. 1161)
    C. It is in the best interests of the Nation to enact a Tribal 
Ordinance governing liquor sales on the Reservation which provides for 
exclusive purchase, distribution, and sale of liquor only on Tribal 
lands within the exterior boundaries of the Reservation. Further, the 
Nation has determined and hereby requires that said purchase, 
distribution, and sale shall take place only at Tribally-owned gaming 
facility complexes and other Tribally-owned enterprises.

Section 6. Definitions

    A. As used in the title, these words shall have the following 
meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
    1. ``Alcohol'' means that substance known as ethyl alcohol, 
hydrated oxide of ethyl, alcohol, ethanol, or spirits of wine, from 
whatever source or by whatever process produced.
    2. ``Bar'' means any establishment with special space and 
accommodations for the sale of liquor by the glass and for consumption 
on the premises.
    3. ``Beer'' means any alcoholic beverage obtained by the alcoholic 
fermentation of an infusion or decoction of pure hops, or pure extract 
of hops and pure barley malt or other wholesome grain or cereal in 
water.
    4. ``Liquor'' includes all fermented, spirituous, vinous, or malt 
liquor or combinations thereof, and mixed liquor a part of which is 
fermented, and every liquid or solid or semisolid or other substance, 
patented or not, containing distilled or rectified spirits, potable 
alcohol, beer, wine, brandy, whiskey, rum, gin, aromatic bitters, and 
all drinks or drinkable liquids and all preparations or mixtures 
capable of human consumption and any liquid, semisolid, solid, or other 
substances, which contain alcohol.
    5. ``Liquor Store'' means any store at which liquor is sold and, 
for the purpose of this Ordinance, including stores only a portion of 
which are devoted to sale of liquor.
    6. ``Malt Liquor'' means beer, strong beer, ale, stout and porter.
    7. ``Nation'' means the Santee Sioux Nation.
    8. ``Package'' means any container or receptacle used for holding 
liquor.
    9. ``Person'' means any natural person, firm, partnership, joint 
venture association, corporation, municipal corporation, estate, trust, 
business receiver, or any group or combination acting as a unit and the 
plural as well as the singular in number.
    10. ``Public Place'' includes State, County, Tribal or Federal 
highways or roads; buildings and grounds used for school purposes; 
public dance halls and grounds adjacent thereto; soft drink 
establishments, public buildings, public meeting halls, lobbies, halls 
and dining room of hotels, restaurants, theaters, gaming facilities, 
entertainment centers, stores, garages, and filling stations which are 
open to and/or are generally used by the public and to which the public 
is permitted to have unrestricted access; public conveyances of all 
kinds and character; and all other places of like or similar nature to 
which the general public has unrestricted right of access, and which 
are generally used by the public.
    11. ``Reservation'' means all territory within the exterior 
boundaries of the area recognized as the Santee Sioux Nation's 
Reservation and all current land and future acquired land which is 
located outside of said boundaries over which it is possible to extend 
the Nation's jurisdiction or authority, including, without limitation, 
fee lands, territory consisting of Indian country of the Nation or of 
its members, and all property held by the United States in trust for 
the Nation or for a member of the Nation.
    12. ``Sale'' and ``Sell'' include exchange, barter and traffic, and 
also include the selling or supplying or distributing of liquor, by any 
means whatsoever, by any person to any person.
    13. ``Spirits'' means any beverage which contains alcohol obtained 
by distillation, including wines exceeding seventeen percent of alcohol 
by weight.
    14. ``Tribal Council'' means the governing body of the Santee Sioux 
Nation.
    15. ``Tribal Court'' means the Santee Sioux Nation Tribal Court.
    16. ``Wine'' means any alcoholic beverage obtained by fermentation 
of the natural contents of fruits, vegetables,

[[Page 4433]]

honey, milk or other products containing sugar, whether or not other 
ingredients are added during or after fermentation, and containing not 
more than seventeen percent of alcohol by weight, including sweet wines 
fortified with wine spirits, such as port, sherry, muscatel and 
angelica, not exceeding seventeen percent of alcohol by weight.

Section 7. Rules, Regulations and Enforcement

    A. It shall be a violation of this Ordinance for any person:
    1. To in any manner introduce, sell, offer for sale, distribute, 
transport, consume, use or possess liquor on the Reservation except as 
expressly permitted by this Ordinance;
    2. To buy liquor on the Reservation from any person other than a 
Tribally-licensed and Tribally-owned gaming facility complex or other 
Tribally-licensed and Tribally-owned enterprise;
    3. Engaged wholly or in part in the business of carrying passengers 
for hire, and every agent, servant, or employee of such person, to 
permit any person to drink liquor in any public conveyance or for any 
person to consume liquor in a public conveyance;
    4. Under the age of 21 years to consume, acquire or have in 
possession any liquor. No person owning or controlling a premises shall 
permit any other person under the age of 21 to consume liquor on such 
premises except as expressly exempted by this Ordinance;
    5. To sell or provide any liquor to any person under the age of 21 
years;
    6. To transfer in any manner an identification of age to a person 
under the age of 21 years for the purpose of permitting such person to 
obtain liquor; provided, that there is corroborative testimony of a 
witness other than the underage person;
    7. To attempt to purchase liquor through the use of false or 
altered identification which falsely purports to show the individual as 
being over the age of 21 years; or
    8. To possess, introduce or consume liquor at a place or premises 
that is or would be considered a public, common or other nuisance under 
any Tribal, State or Federal statutory or common law.
    B. Any person who promotes any activity or owns or controls land on 
which there is any activity that is a violation of this Ordinance shall 
be liable for and subject to the same penalties and proceedings as the 
person who directly commits the violation.
    C. Any person who commits a violation of this Ordinance shall be 
liable to pay the Nation up to $5,000 per violation as civil penalties.
    D. When requested by the provider of liquor, every person shall be 
required to present official documentation of the bearer's age, 
signature, and photograph. Official documentation includes one of the 
following:
    1. Driver's license or identification card;
    2. United States Active Duty Military card; or
    3. Passport.
    E. Liquor which is possessed contrary to the terms of this 
Ordinance is declared to be contraband. Any Tribal agent, employee, or 
officer who is authorized by the Tribal Council to enforce this 
Ordinance shall seize all contraband and preserve it in accordance with 
the provisions established for the preservation of impounded property. 
Upon being found in violation of the Ordinance, the party shall forfeit 
all right, title and interest in the items seized which shall become 
the property of the Nation.

Section 8. Abatement

    A. Any room, house, building, vehicle, structure, land, or other 
place where liquor is sold, manufactured, bartered, exchanged, given 
away, furnished, consumed or possessed or otherwise disposed of in 
violation of the provisions of this Ordinance or of any other Tribal 
law, and all property kept in and used in maintaining such place, is 
hereby declared to be a nuisance.
    B. The Chairman of the Tribal Council or, if the Chairman fails or 
refuses to do so, by a majority vote, the Tribal Council may institute 
and maintain an action in the Tribal Court in the name of the Nation to 
abate and perpetually enjoin any nuisance declared under this Article. 
In addition to other remedies at Tribal law, depending upon the 
severity of past offenses, the risk of offenses in the future, the 
effect of the violator's activity on public health, safety or welfare 
and any other appropriate criteria, the Tribal Court may order the 
room, house, building, vehicle, structure, land, or place closed or it 
may require the owner, lessee, tenant, or occupant thereof to give bond 
payable to the Nation, of sufficient sum and conditioned that liquor 
will not be thereafter manufactured, kept, sold, bartered, exchanged, 
given away, furnished, possessed, consumed, or otherwise disposed of in 
violation of the provisions of this Ordinance or of any other 
applicable Tribal law and that such person will pay all penalties, 
fees, costs, and damages assessed against him for any violation of this 
Ordinance or other Tribal laws. If any conditions of the bond be 
violated, the bond may be applied to satisfy any amounts due to the 
Nation. No order or injunction closing any business for a violation of 
this Ordinance shall be issued without granting the opportunity to have 
a full evidentiary and adversary hearing.
    C. In all cases where any person has been found in violation of 
this Ordinance, an action may be brought to abate as a nuisance any 
real estate or other property involved in the violation of the 
Ordinance, and violation of this Ordinance shall be prima facie 
evidence that the room, house, building, vehicle, structure, land or 
place against which such action is brought is a public nuisance.

Section 9. Powers of Enforcement

    A. In furtherance of this Ordinance, the Tribal Council shall have 
the following powers and duties:
    1. To publish and enforce rules and regulations governing liquor on 
the Reservation;
    2. To employ managers, accountants, security personnel, inspectors 
and such other persons as shall be reasonably necessary to allow the 
Tribal Council to perform its functions;
    3. To issue licenses permitting the sale, manufacture or 
distribution of liquor on the Reservation;
    4. To bring proceedings in the Tribal Court or other appropriate 
forum to enforce this Ordinance as necessary;
    5. To seek penalties, taxes, damages, fees, and other appropriate 
remedies, orders and injunctions for the violation of this Ordinance;
    6. To make such reports as may be required; and
    7. To collect taxes and fees levied or set by the Tribal Council 
and to keep accurate records, books, and accounts.
    B. In the exercise of its powers and duties under this Ordinance, 
the Tribal Council and its individual members shall not:
    1. Accept any gratuity, compensation or other thing of value from 
any liquor wholesaler, retailer, or distributor or from any licensee;
    2. Waive the immunity of the Nation from suit without the express 
written consent and resolution of the Tribal Council.
    C. Inspection Rights. All premises on which liquor is sold, 
consumed, possessed, or distributed shall be open for inspection by the 
Tribal Council or its designee at all reasonable times for the purpose 
of ascertaining whether the rules and regulations of the Tribal Council 
and this Ordinance are being complied with.
    D. Hearings and Appeals. Violations of this Ordinance shall be 
deemed a

[[Page 4434]]

civil offense against the Nation. Civil actions by the Nation against 
violators may proceed in hearings initiated and held by the Nation's 
Tax Commissioner or other hearing officer designated by Tribal Council. 
Any such civil proceeding shall comply with all due process 
requirements of the Indian Civil Rights Act. The Tax Commissioner or 
the designee may impose penalties, damages, costs, taxes and attorneys' 
fees and take any other actions reasonably necessary to carry out this 
Ordinance. Liabilities imposed under this Ordinance shall be a lien 
upon the violator's property located on the Reservation until paid and 
may be enforced and executed upon through the Tribal Court. Orders 
issued hereunder may be appealed to Tribal Court and considered under 
the arbitrary and capricious standard of review.

Section 10. Sales of Liquor

    A. License Required. Sales of liquor on the Reservation may only be 
made at businesses which hold a Santee Sioux Nation Liquor License.
    B. Sales for Cash. All liquor sales on the Reservation shall be on 
a cash only basis and no credit shall be extended to any person, 
organization, or entity, except that the provision does not prevent the 
payment for purchases with use of credit cards such as Visa, 
MasterCard, American Express, etc.
    C. Sale for Personal Consumption. All sales shall be for the 
personal use and consumption of the purchaser. Resale of any liquor on 
the Reservation is prohibited. Any person (including but not limited to 
any Tribally-owned enterprise) who is not licensed pursuant to this 
Ordinance and who purchases liquor on the Reservation and sells it, 
whether in the original container or not, shall violate this Ordinance.

Section 11. Licensing

    A. Procedure. In order to control the consumption of liquor and the 
proliferation of establishments on the Reservation which sell or serve 
liquor by the bottle or by the drink, all Tribally-owned enterprises 
which desire to sell liquor on the Reservation must apply to the Nation 
for a license.
    B. Application. Any Tribally-owned enterprise applying for a 
license to sell or serve liquor on the Reservation must fill in the 
application provided for this purpose by the Nation and pay such 
application fee as may be set from time to time by the Tribal Council 
for this purpose. Said application must be filled out completely in 
order to be considered.
    C. Issuance of License. The Tribal Council may issue a license if 
it believes that such issuance is in the best interests of the Nation. 
This Ordinance permits Tribally-licensed liquor sales and consumption 
at gaming facility complexes and other Tribally-owned enterprises on 
the Reservation. Issuance of a license for any other purposes will not 
be considered to be in the best interests of the Nation.
    D. Period of License. Each license may be issued for a period not 
to exceed two (2) years from the date of issuance.
    E. Renewal of License. A licensee may renew its license if the 
licensee has complied in full with this Ordinance, provided however 
that the Tribal Council may refuse to renew a license if it finds that 
doing so would not be in the best interests of the health and safety of 
the Nation.
    F. Revocation of License. The Tribal Council may suspend or revoke 
a license due to one or more violations of this Ordinance upon notice 
and hearing at which the licensee is given an opportunity to respond to 
any charges against it and to demonstrate why the license should not be 
suspended or revoked.
    G. Hearings. Within 15 days after a licensee is mailed written 
notice of a proposed suspension or revocation of the license, of the 
imposition of penalties or of other adverse action proposed by the 
Tribal Council under this Ordinance, the licensee may deliver to the 
Tribal Council a written request for hearing on whether the proposed 
action should be taken. A hearing on the issues shall be held before a 
person or persons appointed by the Tribal Council and a written 
decision will be issued. Such decisions will be considered final unless 
an appeal is filed exclusively with the Tribal Court within 15 days of 
the date of mailing the decision to the licensee. The Tribal Court will 
then conduct a hearing and will issue an order using an arbitrary and 
capricious standard of review. All proceedings conducted under this and 
any other sections of this Ordinance shall be in accordance with due 
process of law. The responsibility, duty, and burden shall be on the 
licensee to keep its address for receiving adverse actions or decisions 
updated and available to the Tribal Council and to accept any certified 
mail from the Tribe or its designee for the purposes of communicating 
such adverse actions or decisions.
    H. Non-transferability of Licenses. Licenses issued by the Tribal 
Council shall not be transferable and may only be utilized by the 
person or entity in whose name it was issued.

Section 12. Taxes

    A. Sales Tax. The Tribal Council shall have the authority, as may 
subsequently be specified under Tribal law, to levy and to collect a 
tax on each retail sale of liquor on the Reservation based upon a 
percent of the retail sales price. All taxes from the sale of liquor on 
the Reservation shall be paid over to the General Treasury of the 
Nation.
    B. Taxes Due. All taxes for the sale of liquor on the Reservation 
are due on the 15th day of the month following the end of the calendar 
quarter for which the taxes are due or on such other dates as specified 
by Tribal regulation.
    C. Delinquent Taxes. Past due taxes shall accrue interest at 2% per 
month.
    D. Reports. Along with payment of the taxes imposed herein, the 
taxpayer shall submit a quarterly accounting of all income from the 
sale or distribution of liquor, as well as for the taxes collected.
    E. Audit. As a condition of obtaining a license, the licensee must 
agree to the review or audit of its book and records relating to the 
sale of liquor on the Reservation. Said review or audit may be done 
periodically by the Nation or through its agents or employees whenever, 
in the opinion of the Tribal Council, such a review or audit is 
necessary to verify the accuracy of reports.

Section 13. Revenue

    Revenue collected under this Ordinance, from whatever source, shall 
be expended for administrative costs incurred in the enforcement of 
this Ordinance. Excess funds shall be subject to appropriation by the 
Tribal Council for governmental and social services, including, but not 
limited to, education, prevention and treatment programs to fight 
alcohol abuse on the Reservation.

Section 14. Exceptions

    A. The introduction, distribution, transport, consumption, sale, 
offer for sale, use, consumption and possession of liquor is permitted:
    1. For consumption at a gaming facility complex or other Tribally-
owned enterprise;
    2. For scientific research or manufacturing products other than 
liquor;
    3. For medical use under the direction of a physician, medical or 
dental clinic, or hospital;
    4. For preparations not fit for human consumption such as cleaning 
compounds and toilet products, and for flavoring extracts; or
    5. For sacramental use such as wines delivered to priests, rabbis, 
and ministers.

[[Page 4435]]

    B. The introduction, distribution, transport, consumption, use and 
possession of liquor for personal consumption by a person legally 
present on private, non-commercial property are permitted, subject to 
applicable Tribal law.
    C. These exceptions shall be narrowly construed.

Section 15. Compliance with 18 U.S.C. 1161

    The Nation will comply with Nebraska liquor laws to the extent 
required by 18 U.S.C. 1161.

Section 16. Severability and Effective Date

    A. If any provision or application of this Ordinance is determined 
by review to be invalid, such determination shall not be held to render 
ineffectual the remaining portions of this Ordinance or to render such 
provisions inapplicable to other persons or circumstances.
    B. This Ordinance is effective immediately upon publication in the 
Federal Register.

Section 17. Amendment and Construction

    A. This Ordinance may only be amended by a vote of the Tribal 
Council or as otherwise allowed by Tribal law and all such amendments 
shall not be effective until thirty days after the date of publication 
in the Federal Register.
    B. Nothing in this Ordinance shall be construed to diminish or 
impair in any way the rights or sovereign powers of the Nation or 
Tribal government.

[FR Doc. 2013-01268 Filed 1-18-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-4J-P