Many school districts require students to undergo a lengthy process if they want to wear tribal or other cultural regalia at graduation.

A new bill would eliminate those obstacles.

Assembly Bill 1369 eliminates the pre-approval process for students seeking to wear any type of cultural regalia at graduations, Native American or otherwise.

Schools say they need a pre-approval process for all students, not just Native American students, because they want to ensure graduation adornments are respectful and appropriate.

Another potential barrier to graduation regalia is President Donald Trump's announcement in February that the federal government would withhold school funding to districts that have diversity policies and programs, specifically mentioning graduation ceremonies.

A judge temporarily blocked that order in May, saying it was overly vague, and California more recently filed a separate lawsuit to stop the order.

"It's very disappointing that even after all this time, some districts still aren't compliant," said Assemblyman James Ramos, a Democrat from San Bernardino who's sponsoring the current bill.

Other recent laws, many by Ramos, have also addressed the treatment of Native Americans in K-12 schools.

One law bans Native American school mascots.

Another updates history curriculum to clue the genocide of indigenous Californians.

Until the 1970s, many Native American young people were sent to boarding schools where they were forced to abandon their language and culture.

The California Department of Education formed a task force to study the graduation regalia issue.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education is advising school districts to consult with local tribes if they opt to have a pre-approval process for regalia.

Native American students, their families, and tribes say it should be their decision as to what's appropriate tribal attire, not the school district's.

For CalMatters, I'm Carolyn Jones.