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AB-2279 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Justice Program.(2023-2024)

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Date Published: 09/05/2024 09:00 PM
AB2279:v94#DOCUMENT

Enrolled  September 05, 2024
Passed  IN  Senate  August 30, 2024
Passed  IN  Assembly  August 31, 2024
Amended  IN  Senate  August 15, 2024
Amended  IN  Senate  June 03, 2024
Amended  IN  Assembly  April 04, 2024
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 18, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2279

Introduced by Assembly Members Cervantes and Ramos

February 08, 2024

An act to add Section 15008 to the Government Code, relating to state government.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2279, Cervantes. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Justice Program.
Existing law establishes the Department of Justice, and makes the department responsible, in part, for overseeing statewide criminal justice programs.
Existing law requires the Department of Justice to provide technical assistance to local law enforcement agencies and tribal governments relating to tribal issues, including providing guidance for law enforcement education and training on policing and criminal investigations on Indian lands, providing guidance on improving crime reporting, crime statistics, criminal procedures, and investigative tools, and facilitating and supporting improved communication between local law enforcement agencies and tribal governments.
This bill would establish a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Justice Program within and under the discretion of the Department of Justice, upon appropriation by the Legislature. The bill would impose specified responsibilities on the program, including acting as a liaison between tribal governments, families, and other law enforcement agencies. The bill, until January 1, 2029, if there are any remaining funds available after the use of funds for the establishment of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Justice Program, would require the department to submit an annual report to both houses of the Legislature containing data on the number of and facts about cases involving missing and murdered indigenous persons in California.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 15008 is added to the Government Code, to read:

15008.
 (a) (1) The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Justice Program is established within and under the discretion of the Department of Justice. The program shall have all of the following responsibilities:
(A) Coordinate and provide technical assistance to local and tribal law enforcement agencies in their efforts to identify and investigate missing and murdered indigenous individuals, including, where appropriate, active and inactive cases of missing and murdered indigenous individuals.
(B) Act as a liaison between tribal governments, families, and other law enforcement agencies.
(C) Provide grants to local law enforcement agencies to support investigatory activities, as determined by the department.
(i) For any grants provided, within the discretion of the department, grant recipients shall provide a report to the Department of Justice regarding how grant funds were used, including a summary of any progress made in their investigations.
(ii) These grant funds shall be available for encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2029.
(iii) The Department of Justice shall submit the reports described in clause (i) to the Legislature. The reports shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.
(2) The implementation of this subdivision is contingent upon an appropriation of sufficient funds in the annual Budget Act for these purposes.
(b) Until January 1, 2029, the Department of Justice shall submit an annual report to both houses of the Legislature regarding data on the number of and facts about cases involving missing and murdered indigenous persons in California.
(1) The report to be submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.
(2) The implementation of this subdivision is contingent upon there being any remaining funds available after the use of funds applied to subdivision (a).