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 duties include identifying jurisdictional barriers, causes of missing and murdered indigenous people, and strategies for improving interagency communication. The task force is also responsible for administering a missing indigenous people grant fund and will submit an annual report detailing 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 tasked with implementing this repository and ensuring that the data is accessible to authorized users while maintaining confidentiality. 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. The act is declared an emergency measure, indicating its urgent need for implementation.

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