AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-2666
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]
Introduced: 2017-05-25
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Alaska Natives and Hawaiians

Child safety and welfare

Congressional oversight

Crimes against children

Emergency communications systems

Indian social and development programs

Law enforcement administration and funding
Latest action: action_date: 2017-11-29
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-05-25
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2017</b></p> <p>This bill amends the PROTECT Act to reauthorize the AMBER Alert grant program for FY2018. </p> <p>The bill also modifies the program to: </p> <ul> <li> make Indian tribes eligible for AMBER Alert grants, </li> <li> permit the use of grant funds to integrate state or regional AMBER Alert communication plans with an Indian tribe, and</li> <li>allow the waiver of the matching funds requirement for grants awarded to Indian tribes.</li> </ul>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2666 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2017 . 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) . 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.