Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act

Bill: 114-s-246
Sponsor: Sen. Heitkamp, Heidi [D-ND]
Introduced: 2015-01-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Adoption and foster care
Advisory bodies
Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Census and government statistics
Child care and development
Child health
Child safety and welfare
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Crime prevention
Department of Justice
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Elementary and secondary education
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Higher education
Indian social and development programs
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Medicaid
Mental health
Minority education
Minority health
Nutrition and diet
Preschool education
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Solid waste and recycling
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: 

Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act

 
 Establishes the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children in the Office of Tribal Justice of the Department of Justice. 
 
Requires the President and Congress to appoint to the Commission individuals who have significant experience and expertise in Indian affairs and matters to be studied by the Commission, including health care issues facing Native children, Indian education, juvenile justice programs, and social service programs used by Native children. 
 
Requires the Commission to establish a Native Advisory Committee consisting of representatives of Indian tribes from each region of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and a native Hawaiian. Requires members of the Committee to be experienced in matters to be studied by the Commission. 
 
Requires the Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of federal, state, local, and tribal programs that serve Native children, including an evaluation of:
 
 
 the impact of concurrent jurisdiction on child welfare systems;
 
 barriers Indian tribes and Native Hawaiians face in using public and private grant resources;
 
obstacles to nongovernmental financial support for programs benefitting Native children;
 
issues relating to the validity and statistical significance of data on Native children;
 
barriers to the development of sustainable, multidisciplinary programs designed to assist high-risk Native children and their families;
 
cultural or socioeconomic challenges in communities of Native children;
 
examples of successful program models and use of best practices in programs that serve children and families; 
 
barriers to interagency coordination; and 
 
the use of memoranda of agreement or interagency agreements to facilitate or improve agency coordination.
 
 
Directs the Commission to use the results of the study and analyses of existing federal data to:
 
 
develop recommendations for goals, and plans for achieving them, for federal policy relating to Native children in the short-, mid-, and long-term informed by the development of accurate child well-being measures, except as specified;
 
recommend modifications and improvements to programs that serve Native children (on the condition that such recommendations recognize the diversity in cultural values) that integrate the cultural strengths of Native communities and result in improvements to the child welfare system, the mental and physical health of Native children, educational and vocational opportunities, and tribal juvenile detention programs;
 
recommend improvements to the collection of data regarding Native children and the programs that serve them; and
 
identify models of successful federal, state, and tribal programs in the areas studied by the Commission. 
 
 
 Prohibits the Commission, when developing recommendations and plans for federal policy on Native children, from considering or recommending recognition or establishment of a government-to-government relationship with: (1) any entity not recognized on or before the date of enactment of this Act by the Federal Government through an Act of Congress, Executive action, judicial decree, or any other action; or (2) any entity not included in the authorized list under the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994.
 
Requires the Commission to report to the President, Congress, and the White House Council on Native American Affairs on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for legislative and administrative action.
 
Terminates the Commission 90 days after the report is submitted. 

action_date: 2015-05-11
text: 

Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act

 
 (Sec. 4) Establishes the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children in the Office of Tribal Justice of the Department of Justice. 
 
Requires the President and Congress to appoint to the Commission individuals who have significant experience and expertise in Indian affairs and matters to be studied by the Commission, including health care issues facing Native children, Indian education, juvenile justice programs, and social service programs used by Native children. 
 
Requires the Commission to establish a Native Advisory Committee consisting of representatives of Indian tribes from each region of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and a native Hawaiian. Requires members of the Committee to be experienced in matters to be studied by the Commission. 
 
Requires the Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of federal, state, local, and tribal programs that serve Native children, including an evaluation of:
 
 
 the impact of concurrent jurisdiction on child welfare systems;
 
 barriers Indian tribes and Native Hawaiians face in using public and private grant resources;
 
obstacles to nongovernmental financial support for programs benefitting Native children;
 
issues relating to the validity and statistical significance of data on Native children;
 
barriers to the development of sustainable, multidisciplinary programs designed to assist high-risk Native children and their families;
 
cultural or socioeconomic challenges in communities of Native children;
 
examples of successful program models and use of best practices in programs that serve children and families; 
 
barriers to interagency coordination; and 
 
the use of memoranda of agreement or interagency agreements to facilitate or improve agency coordination.
 
 
Directs the Commission to use the results of the study and analyses of existing federal data to:
 
 
develop recommendations for goals, and plans for achieving them, for federal policy relating to Native children in the short-, mid-, and long-term informed by the development of accurate child well-being measures, except as specified;
 
recommend modifications and improvements to programs that serve Native children (on the condition that such recommendations recognize the diversity in cultural values) that integrate the cultural strengths of Native communities and result in improvements to the child welfare system, the mental and physical health of Native children, educational and vocational opportunities, and tribal juvenile detention programs;
 
recommend improvements to the collection of data regarding Native children and the programs that serve them; and
 
identify models of successful federal, state, and tribal programs in the areas studied by the Commission. 
 
 
 Prohibits the Commission, when developing recommendations and plans for federal policy on Native children, from considering or recommending recognition or establishment of a government-to-government relationship with: (1) any entity not recognized on or before the date of enactment of this Act by the Federal Government through an Act of Congress, Executive action, judicial decree, or any other action; or (2) any entity not included in the authorized list under the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994.
 
Requires the Commission to report to the President, Congress, and the White House Council on Native American Affairs on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for legislative and administrative action.
 
Terminates the Commission 90 days after the report is submitted. 
 
Authorizes appropriations.

action_date: 2015-06-01
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on May 11, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act

 
 (Sec. 4) Establishes the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children in the Office of Tribal Justice of the Department of Justice. 
 
Requires the President and Congress to appoint to the Commission individuals who have significant experience and expertise in Indian affairs and matters to be studied by the Commission, including health care issues facing Native children, Indian education, juvenile justice programs, and social service programs used by Native children. 
 
Requires the Commission to establish a Native Advisory Committee consisting of representatives of Indian tribes from each region of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and a native Hawaiian. Requires members of the Committee to be experienced in matters to be studied by the Commission. 
 
Requires the Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of federal, state, local, and tribal programs that serve Native children, including an evaluation of:
 
 
 the impact of concurrent jurisdiction on child welfare systems;
 
 barriers Indian tribes and Native Hawaiians face in using public and private grant resources;
 
obstacles to nongovernmental financial support for programs benefitting Native children;
 
issues relating to the validity and statistical significance of data on Native children;
 
barriers to the development of sustainable, multidisciplinary programs designed to assist high-risk Native children and their families;
 
cultural or socioeconomic challenges in communities of Native children;
 
examples of successful program models and use of best practices in programs that serve children and families; 
 
barriers to interagency coordination; and 
 
the use of memoranda of agreement or interagency agreements to facilitate or improve agency coordination.
 
 
Directs the Commission to use the results of the study and analyses of existing federal data to:
 
 
develop recommendations for goals, and plans for achieving them, for federal policy relating to Native children in the short-, mid-, and long-term informed by the development of accurate child well-being measures, except as specified;
 
recommend modifications and improvements to programs that serve Native children (on the condition that such recommendations recognize the diversity in cultural values) that integrate the cultural strengths of Native communities and result in improvements to the child welfare system, the mental and physical health of Native children, educational and vocational opportunities, and tribal juvenile detention programs;
 
recommend improvements to the collection of data regarding Native children and the programs that serve them; and
 
identify models of successful federal, state, and tribal programs in the areas studied by the Commission. 
 
 
 Prohibits the Commission, when developing recommendations and plans for federal policy on Native children, from considering or recommending recognition or establishment of a government-to-government relationship with: (1) any entity not recognized on or before the date of enactment of this Act by the Federal Government through an Act of Congress, Executive action, judicial decree, or any other action; or (2) any entity not included in the authorized list under the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994.
 
Requires the Commission to report to the President, Congress, and the White House Council on Native American Affairs on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for legislative and administrative action.
 
Terminates the Commission 90 days after the report is submitted. 
 
Authorizes appropriations.

action_date: 2016-09-06
text: 

Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act

 
 (Sec. 3) This bill establishes the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children in the Office of Tribal Justice of the Department of Justice. 
 
The commission must conduct a comprehensive study of federal, state, local, and tribal programs that serve Native children, including an evaluation of:
 
 
 the impact of concurrent jurisdiction on child welfare systems;
 
 barriers Indian tribes and Native Hawaiians face in using public and private grant resources;
 
obstacles to nongovernmental financial support for programs benefitting Native children;
 
issues relating to the validity and statistical significance of data on Native children;
 
barriers to the development of sustainable, multidisciplinary programs designed to assist high-risk Native children and their families;
 
cultural or socioeconomic challenges in communities of Native children;
 
examples of successful program models and use of best practices in programs that serve children and families; 
 
barriers to interagency coordination; and 
 
the use of memoranda of agreement or interagency agreements to facilitate or improve agency coordination.
 
 
The commission must use the results of the study and analyses of existing federal data to: (1) develop plans for federal policy relating to Native children informed by the development of accurate child well-being measures; (2) recommend modifications and improvements to programs for Native children that integrate the cultural strengths of Native communities; (3) recommend improvements to the collection of data regarding Native children and the programs that serve them; and (4) identify models of successful programs.
 
 When developing plans for federal policy, the commission may not consider or recommend recognition or establishment of a government-to-government relationship with an entity not recognized on or before the date of enactment of this bill.
 
The commission must report its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for legislative and administrative action. The commission is terminated 90 days after the report is submitted. 

action_date: 2016-09-12
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on September 6, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act

 
 (Sec. 3) This bill establishes the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children in the Office of Tribal Justice of the Department of Justice. 
 
The commission must conduct a comprehensive study of federal, state, local, and tribal programs that serve Native children, including an evaluation of:
 
 
 the impact of concurrent jurisdiction on child welfare systems;
 
 barriers Indian tribes and Native Hawaiians face in using public and private grant resources;
 
obstacles to nongovernmental financial support for programs benefitting Native children;
 
issues relating to the validity and statistical significance of data on Native children;
 
barriers to the development of sustainable, multidisciplinary programs designed to assist high-risk Native children and their families;
 
cultural or socioeconomic challenges in communities of Native children;
 
examples of successful program models and use of best practices in programs that serve children and families; 
 
barriers to interagency coordination; and 
 
the use of memoranda of agreement or interagency agreements to facilitate or improve agency coordination.
 
 
The commission must use the results of the study and analyses of existing federal data to: (1) develop plans for federal policy relating to Native children informed by the development of accurate child well-being measures; (2) recommend modifications and improvements to programs for Native children that integrate the cultural strengths of Native communities; (3) recommend improvements to the collection of data regarding Native children and the programs that serve them; and (4) identify models of successful programs.
 
 When developing plans for federal policy, the commission may not consider or recommend recognition or establishment of a government-to-government relationship with an entity not recognized on or before the date of enactment of this bill.
 
The commission must report its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for legislative and administrative action. The commission is terminated 90 days after the report is submitted. 

action_date: 2016-10-14
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on September 6, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act

 
 (Sec. 3) This bill establishes the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children in the Office of Tribal Justice of the Department of Justice. 
 
The commission must conduct a comprehensive study of federal, state, local, and tribal programs that serve Native children, including an evaluation of:
 
 
 the impact of concurrent jurisdiction on child welfare systems;
 
 barriers Indian tribes and Native Hawaiians face in using public and private grant resources;
 
obstacles to nongovernmental financial support for programs benefitting Native children;
 
issues relating to the validity and statistical significance of data on Native children;
 
barriers to the development of sustainable, multidisciplinary programs designed to assist high-risk Native children and their families;
 
cultural or socioeconomic challenges in communities of Native children;
 
examples of successful program models and use of best practices in programs that serve children and families; 
 
barriers to interagency coordination; and 
 
the use of memoranda of agreement or interagency agreements to facilitate or improve agency coordination.
 
 
The commission must use the results of the study and analyses of existing federal data to: (1) develop plans for federal policy relating to Native children informed by the development of accurate child well-being measures; (2) recommend modifications and improvements to programs for Native children that integrate the cultural strengths of Native communities; (3) recommend improvements to the collection of data regarding Native children and the programs that serve them; and (4) identify models of successful programs.
 
 When developing plans for federal policy, the commission may not consider or recommend recognition or establishment of a government-to-government relationship with an entity not recognized on or before the date of enactment of this bill.
 
The commission must report its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for legislative and administrative action. The commission is terminated 90 days after the report is submitted. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-10-14
text: Became Public Law No: 114-244.
action_date: 2016-10-14
text: Became Public Law No: 114-244.
action_date: 2016-10-14
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2016-10-14
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2016-10-03
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2016-10-03
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2016-09-29
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2016-09-29
text: Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate bill by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6286)
action_date: 2016-09-29
text: Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate bill by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6286)
action_date: 2016-09-13
text: Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5287-5289)
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5287-5289)
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 246.
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5287-5289)
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: Mrs. Radewagen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2016-09-06
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 560.
action_date: 2016-09-06
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 114-722.
action_date: 2016-09-06
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 114-722.
action_date: 2016-07-13
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-07-13
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2016-07-12
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2016-07-12
text: Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs Discharged.
action_date: 2016-05-18
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2015-06-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.
action_date: 2015-06-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-06-01
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2015-06-01
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2015-06-01
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3381-3385; text as passed Senate: CR S3381-3383)
action_date: 2015-06-01
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S3381-3385; text as passed Senate: CR S3381-3383)
action_date: 2015-05-11
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 79.
action_date: 2015-05-11
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Barrasso with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-39.
action_date: 2015-05-11
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Barrasso with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-39.
action_date: 2015-02-04
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S422-423)
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 114-244