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AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2017


115th CONGRESS
1st Session

H. R. 2666
To amend the PROTECT Act to make Indian tribes eligible for AMBER Alert grants.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 25, 2017
Mr. Biggs (for himself, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Gosar, Mr. O'Halleran, Mr. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, Mr. Pallone, Ms. Moore, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Nolan, Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Duffy, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Gaetz, Mr. Soto, Mr. Franks of Arizona, Mr. Issa, Mr. Buck, Mr. Gallego, and Mr. Ratcliffe) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To amend the PROTECT Act to make Indian tribes eligible for AMBER Alert grants.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. Short title.
This Act may be cited as the "AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2017".
SEC. 2. AMBER Alert grants for Indian tribes.
Section 304 of the PROTECT Act (42 U.S.C. 5791c) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting "and Indian tribes" after "States";
(2) in subsection (b)—
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking "and" at the end;
(B) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
"(4) the integration of State or regional AMBER Alert communication plans with an Indian tribe; and";
(3) in subsection (c)—
(A) by striking "The Federal" and inserting the following:
"(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Federal"; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
"(2) WAIVER OF FEDERAL SHARE.—If the Attorney General determines that an Indian tribe does not have sufficient funds available to comply with the Federal share requirement under paragraph (1) for the cost of activities funded by a grant for the purpose described in subsection (b)(4), the Attorney General may increase the Federal share of the costs for such activities to the extent the Attorney General determines necessary.";
(4) in subsection (e), by striking "for grants under" and inserting "and standards to improve accountability and transparency for grants awarded under";
(5) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g);
(6) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
"(f) Definition of Indian tribe.—In this section, the term ‘Indian tribe' means a federally recognized Indian tribe or a Native village, Regional Corporation, or Village Corporation (as those terms are defined in section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602))."; and
(7) in subsection (g)(1), as so redesignated—
(A) by striking "2004" each place it appears and inserting "2018"; and
(B) by striking "subsection (b)(3)" and inserting "paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (b)".
SEC. 3. Report to Congress.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit a report evaluating the readiness, education, and training needs, technological challenges, and specific obstacles encountered by Indian tribes in the integration of State or regional AMBER Alert communication plans to—
(1) the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and
(4) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.
Issues:Judiciary