Existing law requires each state agency that communicates with Indian tribes on a regular basis to designate a tribal liaison whose duties include maintaining ongoing communication between the state agency and affected Indian tribes. (NRS 233A.260) Section 2 of this bill requires the tribal liaison for the Department of Public Safety to also maintain ongoing communication related to missing or murdered indigenous persons between the Department and: (1) Indian tribes and tribal communities in this State; (2) tribal organizations; (3) urban Indian organizations; (4) other tribal liaisons designated by state agencies; and (5) nongovernmental entities that provide services to women who are members of Indian tribes. Existing law requires each sheriff, chief of police or other law enforcement agency which receives a report of a person missing under suspicious circumstances who is 18 years of age or older to enter the information concerning the missing person into the computer for the National Crime Information Center. (NRS 480.500) Section 3 of this bill authorizes the Department to: (1) accept a report of a person who is 18 years of age or older and missing under certain circumstances from an Indian reservation or Indian colony that is located in whole or in any part of this State; and (2) enter the information concerning the missing person into the computer for the National Crime Information Center. Section 3.5 of this bill requires each sheriff, chief of police or other law enforcement agency that receives a report that an indigenous person who is 18 years of age or older is missing from an Indian reservation or Indian colony that is located in whole or in part in this State to notify: (1) the Missing and Murdered Unit within the Office of Justice Services of the Bureau of Indian Affairs; (2) a person employed as a police officer by the Indian tribe having jurisdiction over the Indian reservation or Indian colony from which the person is missing; or (3) the tribal liaison for the Department. Section 4.5 of this bill makes an appropriation to the Investigation Division of the Department for personnel, travel, operating, equipment and information services expenses to carry out the provisions of this bill.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 289.510
Reprint 1: 289.510
BDR: 289.510