Native American Child Protection Act - P.L. 118-160

Overview

H.R. 663
Enacted December 23, 2024

Purpose: To reauthorize and amend the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act

Major Provisions of the Act

• Revised certain programs related to the prevention, investigation, treatment, and prosecution of family violence, child abuse, and child neglect involving Indian children and families
• Transferred the operation of the Indian Child Abuse Treatment Grant Program from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services directly to the Indian Health Service
• Required the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service to provide grants to Tribal governments and organizations to combat child abuse, child neglect, and family violence affecting Tribes
• Revised the Indian Child Abuse Treatment Grant Program to encourage the use of grants for culturally appropriate treatment services and programs
• Renamed the Indian Child Resource and Family Services Centers as the National Indian Child Resource and Family Services Center
• Required the center to do the following:
  • Provide advice, technical assistance, and training to urban Indian organizations
  • Develop certain technical assistance materials for Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations
  • Develop model intergovernmental agreements between Tribes and States to prevent, investigate, treat, and prosecute incidents of family violence, child abuse, and child neglect involving Indian children and families
• Made the National Indian Child Resource and Family Services Center subject to the provisions of the Indian Self-Determination Act
• Allowed the Secretary to contract for the operation of the center with a nonprofit Indian organization governed by an Indian-controlled board of directors whose members have substantial experience in child abuse, child neglect, and family violence involving Indian children and families
• Revised the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Program to allow Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and intertribal consortia to use program funds for additional activities, such as operational costs for child protective services
• Required the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to submit a report to Congress on the award of grants under this section, including a description of treatment and services for which grantees have used funds awarded under this section and any other information that the Secretary of the Interior requires