On January 14th, The House Public Safety Committee heard public testimony on two bills concerning the issue of Missing Indigenous Persons, House Bill 1571 and House Bill 1725.

HB 1571
Concerning protections and services for indigenous persons who are missing, murdered, or survivors of human trafficking Full text of HB 1571 (link)

Sponsors: Mosbrucker, Dye, Boehnke, Ybarra, Jacobsen, Dent, Walen, Graham, Robertson, Maycumber,
Barkis, Caldier, Goodman, Berry, Chambers, Wylie, Corry, Griffey, Walsh, Eslick, Chase, Sutherland, Ormsby

Brief Summary of Bill:

Requires a county coroner or medical examiner with jurisdiction over the remains of a deceased Indigenous person to make certain efforts to contact family members and affected tribes of the deceased and provide an opportunity for family and affected tribes to conduct spiritual practices or ceremonies, subject to certain limitations.
Requires a county coroner or medical examiner with jurisdiction over the remains of a deceased indigenous person to make certain efforts to contact the deceased person’s family and facilitate return of the remains prior to entrusting the remains to a funeral home.
Requires the Criminal Justice Training Commission to provide training to law enforcement officers and county coroners in tribal sovereignty, customs, culture, traditions, and spirituality.
Requires the Washington State Patrol to establish a Red Thunder Alert designation as a part of its Endangered Missing Person Advisory plan.
Requires the Department of Commerce’s Office of Crime Victims Advocacy to establish two grant programs related to services and resources for indigenous survivors of human trafficking.
Requires a sheriff, chief of police, county coroner or medical examiner, or other law enforcement authority investigating a missing indigenous person under certain circumstance to search the Jail Booking and Reporting System for the missing person and register to be notified if the
missing person is later booked into jail. Full Bill Analysis (link)

Bill Status: Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Public Safety January 20 at 1:30 PM (Subject to change)

HB 1725
Concerning the creation of an endangered missing person advisory designation for missing indigenous persons Full text of HB 1725 (link)

Sponsors: Lekanoff, Goodman, Berry, Taylor, Valdez, Bateman, Macri, Peterson, Ramel, Simmons, Orwall, Chopp, Stonier, Harris-Talley, Frame
By Request: Attorney General

Brief Summary of Bill: Requires the Washington State Patrol to establish a Missing Indigenous
Women and Persons Alert designation as a part of its Endangered Missing Person Advisory plan. Full Bill Analysis (link)

Status: Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Public Safety Jan. 20, 2022 at 1:30 PM