HB 2454 Summary

• Increases archaeology advisory commission membership from 11 to 13 members appointed by the governor for three-year terms.

• Requires at least one member to be a rancher and one member to be from a natural resource conservation district organized under title 37, chapter 6.

• Maintains existing requirement that at least six members have demonstrated expertise in prehistoric archaeology, historic archaeology, ethnology, or anthropology.

• Preserves commission's advisory role to the state historic preservation officer on public education, archaeological law enforcement, site protection planning, and study of the state's archaeology.

• Clarifies terminology regarding destructive archaeological practices, changing "pot-hunting" to "pothunting."