H.R. 4712

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4712 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4712

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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 23, 2025

Mr. Newhouse (for himself, Ms. Perez, Mr. Cole, Ms. Davids of Kansas, 
Mr. Moolenaar, Ms. Strickland, Mr. Zinke, Mr. Vasquez, Ms. Craig, and 
Mr. Baumgartner) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on 
Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

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.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement 
Act''.

SEC. 2. TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

The Indian Law Enforcement Reform Act is amended by inserting after 
section 4 (25 U.S.C. 2803) the following:

``SEC. 4A. TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal 
law, law enforcement officers of an Indian tribe that have contracted 
or compacted any or all Federal law enforcement functions through a 
contract or compact entered into pursuant to the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) 
(referred to in this section as `Tribal officers') shall have the 
authority to enforce Federal law within the area under the jurisdiction 
of the Indian tribe if--
``(1) the applicable Tribal officers have--
``(A) completed training that is comparable to that 
of an employee of the Office of Justice Services of the 
Bureau who is providing the same services in Indian 
country, as determined by the Deputy Bureau Director of 
the Office of Justice Services of the Bureau (or a 
designee);
``(B) passed an adjudicated background 
investigation equivalent to that of an employee of the 
Office of Justice Services of the Bureau who is 
providing the same services in Indian country; and
``(C) received a certification from the Office of 
Justice Services of the Bureau, as described in 
subsection (c); and
``(2) the Indian tribe has adopted policies and procedures 
that meet or exceed those of the Office of Justice Services of 
the Bureau for the same program, service, function, or 
activity.
``(b) Deemed To Be Federal Law Enforcement Officers.--Subject to 
the guidance issued by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (c)(1)(B) 
and notwithstanding any other provision of law, while acting under the 
authority granted by the Secretary through a contract or compact 
entered into pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.), a Tribal officer shall be 
deemed to be--
``(1) a Federal law enforcement officer for the purposes 
of--
``(A) sections 111 and 1114 of title 18, United 
States Code;
``(B) chapters 83 and 84 of title 5, United States 
Code; and
``(C) chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code 
(commonly known as the `Federal Tort Claims Act'); and
``(2) an eligible officer under subchapter III of chapter 
81 of title 5, United States Code.
``(c) Certification.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of the Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act, the 
Secretary shall--
``(A) notwithstanding section 5, develop procedures 
for the credentialing of Tribal officers under this 
section to provide confirmation that Tribal officers 
meet minimum certification standards and training 
requirements for Indian country peace officers, as 
prescribed by the Secretary; and
``(B) notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
issue guidance, in consultation with Indian tribes, to 
otherwise implement this section, ensuring that, in 
implementing subsection (b)(1)(B), the guidance--
``(i) provides for the voluntary 
participation by Tribal officers, on a 
position-by-position basis;
``(ii) allows Tribal officers to purchase 
service credit for prior years of service 
consistent with the guidance issued by the 
Secretary under this subparagraph;
``(iii) allows for the participation of 
Tribal officers, the salaries of which are 
funded in whole or in part by grants from the 
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services 
of the Department of Justice or any other 
agency in the Department of Justice; and
``(iv) recognizes that Tribal officers may 
participate if the Indian tribes of those 
Tribal officers have a mandatory retirement age 
that exceeds the applicable Federal mandatory 
retirement age for Federal law enforcement 
officers.
``(2) IPA bridge program.--Tribal officers who choose to 
attend a State or other equivalent training program approved by 
the Deputy Bureau Director of the Office of Justice Services of 
the Bureau (or a designee) rather than attend the Indian Police 
Academy shall be required to attend the Bridge Program of the 
Indian Police Academy, or an equivalent program, prior to 
receiving a certification under this subsection.''.

SEC. 3. OVERSIGHT, COORDINATION, AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

The Attorney General, acting through the Deputy Attorney General, 
shall coordinate and provide oversight for all Department of Justice 
activities, responsibilities, functions, and programs to ensure a 
coordinated approach for public safety in Indian communities, 
accountability, and compliance with Federal law, including--
(1) the timely submission of reports to Congress;
(2) robust training, as required under Federal law and as 
needed or requested by Indian Tribes or Federal and State 
officials relating to--
(A) public safety in Indian communities; and
(B) training outcomes demonstrating a better 
understanding of public safety approaches in Indian 
communities;
(3) the updating of, and improvements to, United States 
Attorney operational plans;
(4) comprehensive evaluation and analysis of data, 
including approaches to collecting better data, relating to 
public safety in Indian communities; and
(5) other duties or responsibilities as needed to improve 
public safety in Indian communities.
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