Native American mascots under debate in Colorado

A bill up for its first hearing Monday in the Colorado House would require public schools with American Indian mascots or logos to get permission from a panel of nine Native Americans.

The bill would create a new state panel called the Subcommittee for the Consideration of the Use of American Indian Mascots by Public Schools. The voting members would be members of an American Indian tribe.

The subcommittee would review American Indian mascots and decide whether the mascots are offensive.

Schools using such mascots would have to get permission from the panel, or stop using the mascots within two years. Schools that don’t comply would be fined $25,000 a month.

The House Education Committee starts work on the mascot bill Monday afternoon.