Attorney General Bonta’s Sponsored Bill to Help Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Crisis Signed into Law

SACRAMENTO — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued the following statement in response to Governor Gavin Newsom signing into law Assembly Bill (AB) 2695, which will require law enforcement agencies to collect data on crimes occurring on Indian lands and report that information to the California Department of Justice as part of its efforts to address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) crisis and overall efforts to improve public safety in Indian Country and surrounding local communities. AB 2695 was authored by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) and sponsored by Attorney General Bonta. 

“I want to thank Governor Newsom for signing AB 2695 into law,” said Attorney General Bonta. “For the first time in California, law enforcement agencies will be required to collect data on crimes occurring on Indian lands and report that information to my office. This will help all of us develop data-driven strategies to end the MMIP crisis in our state and improve justice for tribal citizens.” 

“This measure will help California deal with the lack of clear data about MMIP and where domestic violence occurs,” said Assemblymember Ramos. “That information will better inform us about how to deal with this issue as California ranks fifth in the nation in MMIP unresolved cases.” 

The text of the legislation can be found here.