REFERENCE TITLE: missing and murdered indigenous peoples.

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-fifth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2022

SB 1215

Introduced by

Senator Steele: Representatives Dalessandro, Hernandez M, Jermaine

AN ACT

establishing the study committee on missing and murdered indigenous peoples; appropriating monies.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Study committee on missing and murdered indigenous peoples; membership; duties; report; delayed repeal

A. The study committee on missing and murdered indigenous peoples is established consisting of the following members:

1. Three members of the house of representatives who are of indigenous descent or who attend meetings and actively work on issues relating to indigenous peoples. The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint these members. The appointed representatives shall select by a majority vote one representative to serve as chairperson of the study committee.

2. Three members of the senate who are of indigenous descent or who attend meetings and actively work on issues relating to indigenous peoples.  The president of the senate shall appoint these members. The appointed senators shall select by a majority vote one senator to serve as vice chairperson of the study committee.

3. The attorney general or the attorney general's designee.

4. The director of the department of public safety or the director's designee.

5. The following members who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives:

(a) One county attorney and one sheriff from a county with a population of eight hundred fifty thousand persons or more.

(b) One victim advocate.

(c) One member who works with the Phoenix or Tucson Indian center.

(d) One member who works in the Phoenix area Indian health services.

6. The following members who are appointed by the president of the senate:

(a) One representative of a tribal government.

(b) One attorney general or judge from a tribal jurisdiction.

(c) One social worker who works with a tribal, statewide or local organization that provides services to indigenous peoples.

B. The study committee shall meet quarterly or more frequently as the chairperson deems necessary.

C. Committee members are not eligible to receive compensation, but members who are appointed by the governor are eligible for reimbursement of expenses under title 38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.

D. The study committee shall:

1. Conduct a comprehensive study to determine how this state can reduce and end violence against indigenous peoples in this state.

2. Continue to work with law enforcement to track and collect data on violence against indigenous peoples, including data on missing and murdered indigenous peoples.

3. Continue to review policies and practices that impact violence against indigenous peoples, such as child welfare policies and practices.

4. Continue to review prosecutorial trends and practices relating to crimes of gender violence against indigenous peoples.

5. Continue to gather data on the prevalence and contextual characteristics of violence against indigenous peoples, including variations by gender, age and sexual identity.

6. Propose measures to ensure access to culturally appropriate victim services for indigenous peoples who have been victims of violence.

7. Gather information to understand the lived experiences among indigenous peoples surrounding missing and murdered indigenous peoples in an effort to ensure policy recommendations are culturally accurate.

8. Propose legislation to address issues identified by the study committee.

9. Submit a report regarding the study committee's activities and recommendations for administrative or legislative action on or before December 1, 2023, December 1, 2024 and December 1, 2025 to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and provide a copy of these reports to the secretary of state.

E. The study committee may use the monies appropriated to the attorney general for the study committee by Laws 2021, chapter 408, section 11.

F. This section is repealed from and after September 30, 2026.