known as the Indian Country Violent Crime Reduction Commission. This Commission shall, with the participation of officials from other federal agencies, as appropriate, and through consultation with Native Sovereign Nations: • Develop legislation, programs, and funding proposals aimed to lower violence in Native American communities, through increased police, prosecutors, courts, detention, substance-misuse treatment, diversion programs, youth wellness programs and gun safety laws and programs. • Tailor federal programs as appropriate to recognize the need for basic law-enforcement and public safety in Indian country; • Enhance training opportunities for tribal police and police auxiliary forces, including opportunities at Tribal Colleges and state police academies; • Recommend legislation to establish exclusive federal and tribal jurisdiction over crimes committed by non-Indians against Indians in Indian country. • Authorize the cross-designation of tribal officials as Special Assistant United States Attorneys, and Special Law Enforcement Commissioners and Officers, and allow the use of use of tribal courts, the Courts of Indian Offenses, and/or the Administrative Office of the Courts’ Central Violations Bureau to process and resolve criminal charges for offenses in Indian country, inter alia, by non-Indians against Indians; and • Support for tribal police departments and police officers commensurate with police staffing in at a level commensurate with public safety and police, law enforcement and court staffing in the nation generally; Section 10. Protecting Indian Child Welfare. To address high poverty rates among Native American children in a culturally sensitive manner, and in recognition of the importance of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) to protect Indian families and children from separation, the Departments of the Interior, HHS, and Justice shall develop proposals to protect the integrity of Indian families, serve the best interests of Indian children, and enhance ICWA, including equal funding for Kinship based placements, increased funding for mental- and behavioral-health programs, programs to enhance Native American foster-parent programs, social-service programs to secure family and community connections within Native Sovereign Nations, and, where necessary, removal of ICWA cases to Federal or tribal court. The Secretaries of the Interior and Health and Human Services and the Attorney General are directed to consult with NSNs and propose such legislative amendments. Section 11. Native American Education with Culturally Based Knowledge. To ensure that all Native American students receive a high-quality and culturally appropriate education, the Secretary of the Interior shall collaborate with the Secretaries of Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Agriculture to:
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs