Missing And Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office

The bill requires the office of liaison for missing and murdered Indigenous relatives (office) in the department of public safety (department) to:

• Conduct case reviews of violent or exploitative crimes against an Indigenous person and publish a report about the case reviews annually;
• Communicate with relevant department divisions regarding investigations in cases involving missing or murdered Indigenous relatives;
• Review sentencing ranges for crimes relating to missing or murdered Indigenous relatives; Seek a position for a representative of the Indigenous community on the sentencing reform task force of the Colorado commission on criminal and juvenile justice;
• Develop, publicize, and offer Collaborate with Indigenous-led organizations and the Colorado district attorneys' council (CDAC) to assist CDAC in developing and providing training for victim advocates who work on missing or murdered Indigenous relatives cases; and
• Designate one employee of the office to serve as a point of contact for families in need of support regarding ongoing or completed missing or murdered Indigenous relatives cases.

The bill grants office personnel access to relevant criminal justice records and medical, coroner, and laboratory records in the custody of state or local agencies that are necessary for the office to perform its duties. The bill permits the office to seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations in order to carry out the office's duties and to provide financial support to missing or murdered Indigenous relatives' families.

The bill requires the community volunteer advisory board within the office (advisory board) to prepare an annual report that includes a summary of the advisory board's work during the prior year and issues related to missing or murdered Indigenous relatives, and a the office's work, including recommendation of whether the office should remain in the department be relocated . The advisory board is required to submit its report to the judiciary and state affairs committees of the house of representatives and the senate.The bill appropriates $161,973 from the general fund to the department of public safety and $170,601 from the general fund to the judicial department.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)