This bill establishes a new section in the North Dakota Century Code to create a Missing Indigenous People Task Force and amends existing legislation regarding the criminal justice data information sharing system. The task force, chaired by the attorney general or their designee, will consist of various representatives, including members from federally recognized tribes, state agencies, and the legislature. Its primary responsibilities include identifying jurisdictional barriers, causes of missing and murdered indigenous people, and strategies for improving interagency communication. The task force is also tasked with administering a missing indigenous people grant fund and submitting annual reports on its activities and findings.

Additionally, the bill amends section 54-12-34 to include provisions for a missing person repository, which will collect and store information on missing individuals, particularly focusing on indigenous populations. The attorney general is responsible for implementing this repository, which will be accessible to authorized users and will include demographic data related to indigenous people. The bill appropriates $250,000 to support the efforts of the task force and establishes a continuing appropriation for the missing indigenous people grant fund, with an expiration date set for July 31, 2035.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 54-12-34
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Representative Brown: 54-12-34
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 54-12-34
Adopted by the Senate Workforce Development Committee: 54-12-34
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senate Appropriations - Education and Environment Division Committee: 54-12-34
Adopted by the Conference Committee: 54-12-34
Enrollment: 54-12-34