BADGES for Native Communities Act

The BADGES for Native Communities Act (HR 1292) creates a Tribal facilitator within the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System to improve tracking of missing persons, unclaimed remains, and unidentified remains cases involving Native Americans. It establishes a demonstration program to streamline background checks for Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement officers and creates a grant program to help tribes and states coordinate responses to missing and murdered Indigenous people cases. The bill also requires annual reports on law enforcement staffing needs in Indian country and mandates a study on evidence collection practices by federal law enforcement agencies. Additionally, it directs coordination between health and justice agencies to provide mental health resources for law enforcement officers serving Native communities. This legislation directly benefits Indian Tribes, Bureau of Indian Affairs personnel, and tribal law enforcement agencies by addressing systemic gaps in safety and response systems.