The bill seeks to enhance the framework for addressing the issues of missing and murdered Indigenous persons in Montana by revising the existing Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force into a new advisory council. This council will be established under the Department of Justice and will consist of members appointed by the attorney general, including representatives from various state and tribal entities. The council's responsibilities will include identifying jurisdictional barriers, recommending strategies to reduce cases of missing and murdered Indigenous persons, and improving interagency communication. Additionally, the bill mandates the preparation of an annual report detailing the council's findings and recommendations.

To improve oversight and accountability, the bill introduces new reporting requirements for various state departments and agencies, including the submission of reports from the newly established advisory council. It specifies that reports must be filed biennially by September 1 of each year preceding a regular legislative session. The bill also establishes a "Looping in Native Communities Network Grant Program" to support Montana tribes in identifying and reporting missing Native American individuals, with specific criteria for grant applications. Notably, the bill replaces references to the "task force" with the advisory council, reflecting a shift towards a more structured advisory role in addressing these critical issues.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 5-11-222, 44-2-411, 44-2-412