Advisory Committee on Tribal Juvenile Justice

Part A of title II of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (34 U.S.C. 11111 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 224. Advisory committee on Tribal juvenile justice (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Advisory committee The term Advisory Committee means the Advisory Committee on Tribal Juvenile Justice established pursuant to subsection (b)(1). (2) Relevant congressional committees The term relevant congressional committees means— (A) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate; (B) the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate; and (C) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives. (3) Urban indian organization The term urban Indian organization has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603). (b) Establishment (1) In general The Attorney General, acting through the Administrator, shall establish a Federal advisory committee, to be known as the Advisory Committee on Tribal Juvenile Justice. (2) Purpose The purpose of the Advisory Committee shall be to provide advice and recommendations to the Administrator, the Attorney General, and Congress on all matters relating to juvenile justice, delinquency prevention and system improvement with respect to Tribal youth. (c) Membership (1) Composition The Advisory Committee shall be composed of not fewer than 16 members, of whom— (A) 1 shall be from a national organization focused on Tribal juvenile justice issues; (B) 1 shall be from an organization focused on juvenile issues in Native Hawaiian communities; (C) 1 shall be from an urban Indian organization; (D) 12 shall be members of Indian Tribes from diverse geographic regions; and (E) 1 shall be a Tribal youth with experience with the juvenile justice system. (2) Appointments The Administrator shall appoint members to the Advisory Committee from among nominations submitted by Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations. (3) Qualifications To the maximum extent feasible, the Administrator shall ensure that members of the Committee— (A) have experience in Tribal juvenile justice systems, including— (i) courts; and (ii) law enforcement and child welfare agencies; or (B) have experience in juvenile justice, delinquency prevention, behavioral health, or youth services. (4) Prohibition A member of the Advisory Committee may not be an officer or employee of the Federal Government. (5) Terms (A) In general Each member if the Advisory Committee shall be appointed for a term of 3 years. (B) Reappointment A member of the Advisory Committee may be reappointed for not more than 1 additional 3-year term. (C) Vacancies Any vacancy on the Advisory Committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. (d) Duties The Advisory Committee shall— (1) evaluate the effectiveness of programs and grants administered by the Office as those programs and grants relate to Tribal youth; (2) identify barriers to the provision of services to Tribal youth, including jurisdictional, funding, and data challenges; (3) make recommendations to improve coordination between Federal, State, and Tribal justice systems; (4) provide input on the development of regulations, guidance, and policy relating to Tribal juvenile justice; (5) make recommendations for improving data collection and research relating to Tribal youth; (6) make recommendations to improve access to and resources for aftercare programs for Tribal youth who have been released from detention; (7) make recommendations to strengthen Tribal capacity to operate juvenile justice programs; and (8) coordinate with the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice, the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the Office of Tribal Justice. (e) Meetings (1) In general The Committee shall meet in person not less frequently than twice annually. (2) Agency representation To the maximum extent practicable, the Administrator and the members of the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention shall attend the meetings of the Advisory Committee. (f) Reporting (1) Committee reports Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, and not less frequently than biennially thereafter, the Advisory Committee shall submit to the Administrator and the relevant congressional committees a report— (A) on the activities of the Committee; (B) on juvenile justice challenges affecting Tribal communities; and (C) that includes recommendations for legislative and administrative actions. (2) Agency response Not later than 45 days after the date on which the Administrator receives a report under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall submit a written response to— (A) the Advisory Committee; and (B) the relevant congressional committees. (g) Compensation (1) In general Members of the Advisory Committee shall serve without compensation. (2) Reimbursement Members of the Advisory Committee shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in the course of carrying out the duties of the Advisory Committee. (h) Support At the request of the Advisory Committee, the Administrator shall appoint such administrative and staff support to the Advisory Committee to enable the Advisory Committee to carry out the duties of the Advisory Committee. (i) Exemption from FACA provision Section 1013 of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to the Advisory Committee. (j) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $200,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032..