This paper describes meetings of the American Indian Study Committee of the Wisconsin Legislative Council and background related to 1987 Assembly Bill 316 on the definition of "American Indian." This definition is relevant to qualification for minority group business preferences in state purchasing and state construction projects, the minority business participation goal for state building repair contracts, and participation in several state programs. A previous statute identified as an American Indian any person meeting one of three criteria: (1) enrollment in a federally recognized tribe or band; (2) documented American Indian ancestry (at least one-fourth); or (3) documented tribal recognition of American Indian identity. At their November 14, 1986 meeting, committee members emphasized that tribes determine their own membership and that the statutes should reflect this fact. Accordingly, Assembly Bill 316 retains the first two criteria and clarifies the third one by specifying that the person must be recognized as an American Indian by the elected governing body of a federally recognized tribe or band. The report includes committee and council votes and a list of all materials received by the committee, relating to this subject. (SV)