S. 982 would require the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to designate an official to coordinate all federal efforts for reducing violent crime affecting Native Americans. Under the bill, the official would coordinate all relevant programs and grants among BIA and various entities within the Department of Justice, such as the Office of Tribal Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Using information from BIA, CBO estimates that the agency would employ the new official at an initial annual cost of about $150,000 per year, adjusted annually for inflation, over the 2020-2025 period.
The bill also would establish a joint commission, consisting of representatives of federal agencies; state, local, and tribal officials; and victims of violent crime to develop recommendations for reducing violent crime affecting Native Americans. Using information from BIA, CBO expects that the commission would have 38 members and would meet three times each year in 2021 and 2022. CBO estimates that the cost of operating the commission would total about $350,000 for support staff and the commission members’ travel and lodging expenses. Any spending under the bill would be subject to availability of appropriated funds.
