SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today signed AB 2348, a bill that would revise and strengthen California’s Feather Alert – a notification alert system similar to the AMBER and Silver alerts—by requiring law enforcement agencies to respond within 24 hours of a request, and allowing tribal governments to directly communicate with the California Highway Patrol (CHP). Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) authored the original bill—AB 1314 –creating the alert system to notify the public when Indigenous people are missing in 2022.
“In the almost two years since the Feather Alert was activated, we have learned that the process can be streamlined and made more accessible to tribal communities,” Ramos said.
Since the Feather Alert took effect, tribal communities made five requests from tribal communities, but the California Highway Patrol (CHP), in consultation with local law enforcement, granted activation in two instances. Of the two approved alerts, only one missing individual was found.
AB 2348 would further streamline the process for activating the Feather Alert and remove ambiguity in the process of requesting the alert activation. The proposed changes would provide tribal governments with a pathway to directly communicate with CHP, as long certain criteria are met with local law enforcement within 24 hours.
Ramos further added, “AB 2348 will be a helpful tool in getting Feather Alerts activated quicker. The 24-hour window of determination by our law enforcement partners, will help to determine the direction our tribal partners and their family can take in regards to their missing family members. Earlier this year, the Assembly reviewed the effectiveness of this important tool one year after its enactment, and listened to tribal members and law enforcement. We are committed to ensuring that this life-saving notification system works effectively and easily for families worried about missing loved ones.”
Other Ramos tribal bills signed today include:
- AB 81 reinforces California protections for Native American families and the Indian Child Welfare Act
- AB 1284 encourages the Natural Resources Agency, and its departments, boards, conservancies, and commissions, to enter into cogovernance and comanagement agreements with federally recognized tribes
- AB 1821 requires that the impact of the Mission and Gold Rush eras on California Native Americans is taught
- AB 1863 requires California Highway Patrol (CHP) to state reasons for denying request for a Feather Alert, a public notification system used when Native Americans are missing and overseen by the CHP
- AB 2108 requires county social workers and others to immediately notify parents, guardians, legal counsel and other pertinent adults when a foster child is missing.
- AB 2348 revises and strengthens California’s Feather Alert, requiring law enforcement agencies to respond within 24 hours of a request, and also allowing for tribal governments to directly communicate with the California Highway Patrol about a request.
- AB 2695 requires specified entities reporting criminal record data to the Department of Justice to disaggregate the data based on whether incidents took place in Indian country.
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Assemblymember James C. Ramos proudly represents the 45th Assembly district that includes the Cities of Fontana, Highland, Mentone, Redlands, Rialto and San Bernardino. He is the first and only California Native American serving in the state’s legislature. Ramos chairs the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #6 on Public Safety.