Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2016

To amend title 18, United States Code, to enhance protections of Native American cultural objects, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2016 2. Enhanced protections for Native American cultural objects (a) Enhanced penalties Section 1170 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking 5 years 10 years (b) Prohibition of exporting Native American cultural objects Chapter 53 1171. Illegal exportation of Native American cultural objects (a) Definition of Native American cultural object In this section, the term Native American cultural object 25 U.S.C. 3001 (1) cultural items, as defined in that section; (2) archaeological resource, as defined in section 3 of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 ( 16 U.S.C. 470bb (3) object of antiquity protected under section 1866(b). (b) Prohibition It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly export or otherwise transport from the United States any Native American cultural object obtained in violation of— (1) the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act ( 25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq. (2) section 1170; (3) the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 ( 16 U.S.C. 470aa et seq. (4) section 1866(b). (c) Penalty Any person who violates subsection (b) shall— (1) in the case of a first violation under this section, be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both; and (2) in the case of a second or subsequent violation under this section, be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both. . (c) Private repatriation of Native American cultural objects Chapter 53 1172. Private repatriation of Native American cultural objects (a) In general Except as provided in subsection (b), if a person voluntarily repatriates to the appropriate Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization by not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, all of the Native American cultural objects (as defined in section 1171(a)) in the possession of the person, that person shall be immune from criminal prosecution under this title, the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 ( 16 U.S.C. 470aa et seq. (b) Exception Subsection (a) shall not apply if the person repatriates the Native American cultural objects on a date that is after the date on which an active investigation or prosecution of the person relating to the Native American cultural objects is initiated. . (d) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections for chapter 53 1171. Illegal exportation of Native American cultural objects. 1172. Private repatriation of Native American cultural objects. . 3. Government Accountability Office report (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Indian tribe The term Indian tribe 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2) Native American cultural object The term Native American cultural object (3) Native Hawaiian organization The term Native Hawaiian organization 25 U.S.C. 3001 (b) Submission Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States, after collecting information from the Attorney General, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of State, and meeting, as appropriate, with Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations, shall submit the report described in subsection (c) to— (1) the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate; and (2) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives. (c) Report described The report submitted under subsection (b) shall include a description of— (1) an estimate of the number of Native American cultural objects illegally trafficked in the United States and foreign markets; (2) the extent to which the Attorney General has prosecuted, under section 1170 of title 18, United States Code, the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 ( 16 U.S.C. 470aa et seq. (A) the human remains of a Native American (as defined in section 2 of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act ( 25 U.S.C. 3001 (B) other Native American cultural objects; and (3) recommendations for actions the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of the Interior can take— (A) to eliminate illegal commerce in Native American cultural objects in the United States and foreign markets; and (B) to secure the repatriation to Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations of Native American cultural objects that have been illegally removed or trafficked in violation of— (i) section 1170(b) of title 18, United States Code; (ii) the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 ( 16 U.S.C. 470aa et seq. (iii) section 1866(b) of title 18, United States Code. (d) Tribal working group The Secretary of the Interior shall facilitate the convention of a tribal working group composed of representatives of Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations, the Department of Justice, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of State— (1) to provide an opportunity for Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations to contribute information to the Attorney General, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of State during the preparation of the report described in subsection (c); and (2) to advise the Attorney General, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of State on methods for implementing recommendations included in the report described in subsection (c).

Summary: Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2016 This bill increases the maximum term of imprisonment from 5 years to 10 years for individuals convicted more than once of illegal trafficking in Native American human remains or cultural items. This bill bans the export of illegally obtained Native American cultural objects and sets penalties for violations of this ban. A person is immune from criminal prosecution under laws regarding Native American cultural objects if the person voluntarily repatriates to the appropriate tribe all the Native American cultural objects in the person's possession not later than two years after enactment of this bill. This immunity does not apply to a person under active investigation or prosecution relating to Native American cultural objects. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) must report on the number of Native American cultural objects illegally trafficked and the extent to which the Department of Justice has prosecuted cases of trafficking. The GAO must recommend actions to eliminate such trafficking and to secure the repatriation of Native American cultural objects. The Department of the Interior must facilitate the convention of a working group to contribute information to the GAO report and to advise on implementation of the GAO's recommendations.