II 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 2695 

To amend the Indian Law Enforcement Reform Act to provide for advancements in public safety services to Indian communities, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 27, 2023 

Ms. CANTWELL (for herself and Mr. MULLIN) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs 

A BILL 

To amend the Indian Law Enforcement Reform Act to provide for advancements in public safety services to Indian 

communities, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Parity for Tribal Law 

5 Enforcement Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. 

7 The Indian Law Enforcement Reform Act is amend8 ed by inserting after section 4 (25 U.S.C. 2803) the fol9 lowing: 


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1 ‘‘SEC. 4A. TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. 

2 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other pro3 vision of Federal law, law enforcement officers of an In4 dian tribe that have contracted or compacted any or all 

5 Federal law enforcement functions through a contract or 

6 compact entered into pursuant to the Indian Self-Deter7 mination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 

8 et seq.) (referred to in this section as ‘Tribal officers’) 

9 shall have the authority to enforce Federal law within the 

10 area under the jurisdiction of the Indian tribe if— 

11 ‘‘(1) the applicable Tribal officers have— 

12 ‘‘(A) completed training that is comparable 

13 to that of an employee of the Office of Justice 

14 Services of the Bureau who is providing the 

15 same services in Indian country, as determined 

16 by the Deputy Bureau Director of the Office of 

17 Justice Services of the Bureau (or a designee); 

18 ‘‘(B) passed an adjudicated background in19 vestigation equivalent to that of an employee of 

20 the Office of Justice Services of the Bureau 

21 who is providing the same services in Indian 

22 country; and 

23 ‘‘(C) received a certification from the Of24 fice of Justice Services of the Bureau, as de25 scribed in subsection (c); and 


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1 ‘‘(2) the Indian tribe has adopted policies and 

2 procedures that meet or exceed those of the Office 

3 of Justice Services of the Bureau for the same pro4 gram, service, function, or activity. 

5 ‘‘(b) DEEMED TO BE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT

6 OFFICERS.—While acting under the authority granted by 

7 the Secretary through a contract or compact entered into 

8 pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and Education 

9 Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.), a Tribal officer 

10 shall be deemed to be— 

11 ‘‘(1) a Federal law enforcement officer for the 

12 purposes of— 

13 ‘‘(A) sections 111 and 1114 of title 18, 

14 United States Code; 

15 ‘‘(B) subchapter III of chapter 83 and 

16 subchapter III of chapter 84 of title 5, United 

17 States Code; and 

18 ‘‘(C) chapter 171 of title 28, United States 

19 Code (commonly known as the ‘Federal Tort 

20 Claims Act’); and 

21 ‘‘(2) an eligible officer under subchapter III of 

22 chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code. 

23 ‘‘(c) CERTIFICATION.— 


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1 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years 

2 after the date of enactment of the Parity for Tribal 

3 Law Enforcement Act, the Secretary shall— 

4 ‘‘(A) notwithstanding section 5, develop 

5 procedures for the credentialing of Tribal offi6 cers under this section to provide confirmation 

7 that Tribal officers meet minimum certification 

8 standards and training requirements for Indian 

9 country peace officers, as prescribed by the Sec10 retary; and 

11 ‘‘(B) issue guidance, in consultation with 

12 Indian tribes, to otherwise implement this sec13 tion. 

14 ‘‘(2) IPA BRIDGE PROGRAM.—Tribal officers 

15 who choose to attend a State or other equivalent 

16 training program approved by the Deputy Bureau 

17 Director of the Office of Justice Services of the Bu18 reau (or a designee) rather than attend the Indian 

19 Police Academy shall be required to attend the 

20 Bridge Program of the Indian Police Academy, or 

21 an equivalent program, prior to receiving a certifi22 cation under this subsection.’’. 


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1 SEC. 3. OVERSIGHT, COORDINATION, AND ACCOUNT2 ABILITY. 

3 The Attorney General, acting through the Deputy At4 torney General, shall coordinate and provide oversight for 

5 all Department of Justice activities, responsibilities, func6 tions, and programs to ensure a coordinated approach for 

7 public safety in Indian communities, accountability, and 

8 compliance with Federal law, including— 

9 (1) the timely submission of reports to Con10 gress; 

11 (2) robust training, as required under Federal 

12 law and as needed or requested by Indian Tribes or 

13 Federal and State officials relating to— 

14 (A) public safety in Indian communities; 

15 and 

16 (B) training outcomes demonstrating a 

17 better understanding of public safety ap18 proaches in Indian communities; 

19 (3) the updating of, and improvements to, 

20 United States Attorney operational plans; 

21 (4) comprehensive evaluation and analysis of 

22 data, including approaches to collecting better data, 

23 relating to public safety in Indian communities; and 

24 (5) other duties or responsibilities as needed to 

25 improve public safety in Indian communities. 

Æ 


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