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BADGES for Native Communities Act

Introduced: June 13, 2019 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 4, 2020
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 476.
Jun 4, 2020
Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Hoeven with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 116-230.
Dec 11, 2019
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jun 19, 2019
Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-67.
Jun 13, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Jun 13, 2019
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Bridging Agency Data Gaps and Ensuring Safety for Native Communities Act or the BADGES for Native Communities Act

This bill modifies policies and procedures related to information sharing, reporting, and investigating cases of missing, unidentified, or murdered Indians.

Among other elements, the bill requires the Department of Justice to

  • share information, after receiving certain permission, with the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) on missing persons, unclaimed remains, and unidentified remains;
  • ensure that technical assistance and training are provided to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and tribal law enforcement agencies to utilize the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and other national databases;
  • establish the Tribal Civil and Criminal Information Access Program to enhance the ability of tribal governments to access, enter information into, and obtain information from federal criminal information databases;
  • establish a grant program for specified entities (e.g., tribes) to implement changes to enhance their responses to missing person cases and death investigations of interest to tribes; and
  • work with the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that federal training resources and culturally appropriate mental health and wellness programs are available to tribal and BIA law enforcement officers experiencing occupational stress.

The bill expands access to (1) the national crime information database for NamUs, and (2) the NCIC for each tribal justice official.

Finally, the Department of the Interior must establish a five-year demonstration program for the purpose of conducting or adjudicating personnel background investigations for applicants for law enforcement positions in the BIA.

What's happening now June 4, 2020

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 476.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 2 Republican 1