At the latest State-Tribal Relations Committee meeting, South Dakota lawmakers discussed potential legislation to address law enforcement training and additional protections for tribal officers.
The committee works with tribes on an ongoing basis to see how the Legislature can best help their needs.
One proposed bill from committee co-chair, Rep. Will Mortenson, would bring increased penalties for assaulting a tribal officer in state statute. Currently, statute only mentions sheriffs, deputies, municipal officers and state officers. So, attacks on tribal officers are charged as simple assault misdemeanors rather than felony-level assault of a law enforcement officer.
Mortenson said it’s an update he learned about in Sisseton, based on a real case.
“One of the chief’s deputies was assisting in an arrest, and it was a non-tribal member that wouldn’t be charged out in tribal court. This is a state charge," Mortenson said. "But there was a multiagency arrest, and there was an assault on the tribal deputy, not a sheriff’s deputy, and not a state highway patrolman. That, upon information being proven, you would also receive a charge of assaulting a law enforcement officer.”
The committee also discussed a resolution to support bringing a federal law enforcement training center to the state for the Indian Police Academy. The two are under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security.
Mortenson said the state could pass a resolution and work with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on the possibility.
“Urging not only that Congress, but our own homegrown cabinet secretary to consider and support the placement of that federal academy here,” Mortenson said.
Tribes across South Dakota and the region asked legislators to look into having a federal law enforcement training center.
The committee also plans to establish a task force to look into healthcare opportunities for tribes under the Indian-Managed Care Model. Proponents say the opportunity that exists under Medicaid could benefit both the state and Native American health care access.
The committee’s recommendations head next to the state Executive Board.
