H.R. 3073 — Shivwits Band of Paiutes Jurisdictional Clarity Act

This section defines key terms for purposes of the Act, including (1) "Indian lands" as lands of the Shivwits Band of Paiutes held in trust by the United States for the tribe or subject to a restriction against alienation imposed by the United States; and (2) "Shivwits Band of Paiutes" as the federally recognized tribe restored by the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah Restoration Act (Public Law 96-227), its recognized governing body, any tribal enterprise (including subsidiaries), and any corporation chartered by the tribe under section 17 of the Indian Reorganization Act (25 U.S.C. 5124) (including subsidiaries).

This section deems any contract or agreement, including a lease, affecting or arising on Shivwits Band of Paiute Indian lands or to which the band is a party to (1) constitute "commerce" within the meaning of the Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. §1) and (2) give rise to causes of action arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States for purposes of federal district court jurisdiction (28 U.S.C. §1331).

This section adds land held in trust for the Shivwits Band of Paiutes to the list of specified Indian reservations and trust lands exempt from the general 25-year limit on leases of restricted Indian lands (thus authorizing longer-term leases for such purposes as business, residential, recreational, or natural resource development, subject to Secretary of the Interior approval).