The state Senate has rejected a bill calling for a study of having state lawmakers undergo cultural competency training.
Originally, the bill required 8 hours of such training. And the sponsors said it was to help legislators understand the Native American culture. But the Senate Government and Veterans Affairs Committee turned it into a study.
"Many of us in the committee felt the intentions for the bill were to give legislators information they may be interested in," said Sen. Shawn Vedaa (R-Velva). "However, to require it is overstepping legislation."
But Sen.Dick Dever (R-Bismarck) supported the idea.
"There have been damages done to the relationships between our generaa population and the population south of here," Dever said, referring to the Dakota Access Pipeline protests near the Standing Rock Reservation. "That's a two sided thing. And we're going to have to work together to repair it."
However, the bill failed on a 26 to 20 vote.