Arizona State Legislature

ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE STUDY COMMITTEE ON MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS Minutes of the Meeting December 13, 2019 10:00 a.m. Rawhide Western Town & Event Center 5700 North Loop Road, Chandler, AZ 85226 Members Present: Representative Jennifer Jermaine, Chair Senator Jamescita Peshlakai, Vice Chair Representative Arlando Teller Senator Sally Ann Gonzales Representative Myron Tsosie Senator Frank Pratt Monica Antone Senator Victoria Steele Elton Begay Patti Hibbeler Timothy Chavez April Ignacio Paul Etnire Debbie Nez-Manuel Blaine Gadow Kim Russell LeAnn Guy Alfred Urbina Members Excused: Representative Walter Blackman Jon Huey Paula Flores Jonathan Mosher Dimitri Whelan Gonzalez Staff: Ingrid Garvey, House Research Staff Cherie Stone, Senate Research Staff Chairman Jermaine called the meeting to order at 10:12 a.m. Representative Jermaine introduced Councilwoman Monica Antone from the Gila River Indian Community. WELCOME AND INVOCATION, GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY TRIBAL OFFICIALS Monica Antone, Councilwoman, Gila River Indian Community, introduced the Ak-Chin Keina O'odham dance group. The group performed a traditional honor songs ceremony. Ms. Antone further introduced the Walking Eagle Drum group. INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS Representative Jermaine asked the Committee members to introduce themselves and attendance was noted. Study Committee on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls December 13, 2019 Page 1 Representative Jermaine recognized the representatives from Congressman Tom O'Halleran's office and Congressman Ruben Gallego's office and the Victim Services Advocates. PRESENTATION: Arizona Amber Alert System & Collaboration with Arizona Tribes - Chrystal Moore, Arizona State Alert Coordinator Chrystal Moore, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona State Alert Coordinator, shared her background, distributed and explained a PowerPoint presentation entitled "Arizona Amber Alert System & Collaboration with Arizona Tribes" (Attachment A). Ms. Moore answered questions posed by the Committee. Senator Peshlakai offered comments and addressed the closure of the 911 dispatch center in Flagstaff and stated that she advocates for the reopening of the center in Northern Arizona. The Committee discussed and shared their comments for the presentation mentioned above. WORKING GROUPS UPDATE Data Sharing Debbie Nez-Manuel, Advocate for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), also Vice-chair on the Subcommittee for the Data Sharing/Collection Workgroup, shared an update report on their Data Sharing workgroup and provided comments regarding the request to Arizona Vital Records for Freedom of Information Act letters and the ongoing training efforts that have been made on National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Victim Compensation Representative Teller distributed a handout entitled "Arizona Criminal Justice Commission – Crime Victim Compensation" (Attachment B) and introduced Valaura Imus-Nahsonhoya. Valaura Imus-Nahsonhoya, Consultant for Victim Services to HB 2570, gave a brief overview on the Crime Victim Compensation system and highlighted the challenges that the victims within tribal communities are dealing with on processing their case. Representative Teller shared an update report on the Victim Compensation workgroup and highlighted their recommendation on the potential increase in the overall compensation. Representative Teller further recommended that a tribal member be on the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission. Ms. Russell commented that the Commission is going to be running a bill to add two (2) members and that they have asked that one of the members on the language of this bill Study Committee on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls December 13, 2019 Page 2 be specific to a tribal representative. Ms. Russell continued to share an update report on the Victim Compensation workgroup and provided comments regarding data being gathered to determine how successful this program is in assisting the tribal victims. Ms. Russell further commented on the uncompensated costs for the victims that are incurred by the Indian health services and the tribal facilities. MMIWG DEFINITION DISCUSSION AND VOTE Representative Jermaine offered comments and read the definition of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (Attachment C). Indigenous women and girls, or Indigenous persons who identify as female, who are missing or have lost their lives from violence caused by another person. Representative Jermaine asked if there was any discussion on the definition. The Committee discussed their concerns and shared comments on the MMIWG definition. Tracy Lopes, House Democratic Policy Advisor, answered questions posed by the Committee. Ms. Nez-Manuel further shared information from the Data Sharing workgroup discussions regarding MMIWG definitions. Senator Peshlakai offered comments. The Committee further discussed their concerns, shared comments on the MMIWG definition ensuring that the Committee would not be leaving anyone out or leave anyone behind. Senator Peshlakai stated that the definition now as it reads: Indigenous women and girls, or Indigenous persons who identify as female, who are missing or have lost their lives from violence caused by another person (Attachment C). Senator Peshlakai requested a motion that the Committee members would adopt the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls definition. The motion CARRIED by voice vote. PUBLIC TESTIMONY Sue Sixkiller, representing her father Jess Sixkiller, testified in support of the Study Committee on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Ms. Sixkiller shared her experience and challenges with her dad who was murdered in a home invasion in Study Committee on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls December 13, 2019 Page 3 Phoenix. Ms. Sixkiller further expressed the need for economic help and support within the indigenous communities. Jack Jackson Jr., former State Senator, representing the Office of Congressman Tom O'Halleran as Director of Tribal Engagement, testified and provided updates from the federal level to address issues such as sexual violence, domestic violence and missing and murdered indigenous women and girls within the tribal communities as well as the state. Mr. Jackson highlighted the task force that was created by the administration executive order to hire coordinators that will help develop protocols with tribal, state and federal law enforcement on how to handle cases of missing and murdered indigenous women. Mr. Jackson further highlighted bills that Congressman O'Halleran has sponsored and how these bills have impacted the native American communities. Kristina Bread, representing her cousin Kermitt Gregg, testified in support of the Study Committee on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Ms. Bread shared her experience and challenges with her cousin who is still missing and hopes that that he will be found alive. Jolene Holgate, Lead Coordinator for the Navajo Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives Working Group, testified and outlined their MMDR recommendations to help families and address the issue of missing and murdered within the Navajo communities. Ms. Holgate shared her experience and challenges with the lost of her younger cousin in Flagstaff. Representative Jermaine publicly thanked those who testified and offered comments. Attached are forms noting the individuals who submitted a Speaker Slip on the agenda items (Attachment D). There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:11 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Imee L. Andrew Committee Secretary Audio & Video Transcription (Audio recordings and attachments are on file in the Secretary of the Senate’s Office/Resource Center, Room 115. Audio archives are available at http://www.azleg.gov) Study Committee on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls December 13, 2019 Page 4 .

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