TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: General Provisions Title II: Tribal Justice Systems Title III: Tribal Judicial Conferences Title IV: Study of Tribal/Federal Court Review Title V: Authorizations Title VI Disclaimers Title I: General Provisions - Indian Tribal Justice Systems Act - Defines terms and sets forth congressional findings for purposes of this Act. Title II: Tribal Justice Systems - Establishes within the Bureau of Indian Affairs (Bureau) the Office of Tribal Justice Support (Office) to further the development of tribal justice systems and Courts of Indian Offenses. Transfers functions and personnel of the Bureau's Branch of Judicial Services to the Office. Directs the Office to: (1) establish a tribal justice systems clearinghouse; (2) survey systems resources and funding; and (3) provide training and technical assistance. Directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to contract for a survey of tribal judicial systems. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) provide grants to or enter into contracts with tribes or tribal organizations for the development and operation of tribal justice systems; and (2) contract with tribal judicial conferences for such purposes. Title III: Tribal Judicial Conferences - Makes tribal judicial conferences of two or more tribes an eligible organization for tribal judicial system funding if each member tribe so agrees. Title IV: Study of Tribal/Federal Court Review - Directs the Tribal/Federal Court Review Study Panel to study tribal justice systems' treatment of matters arising under the Indian Civil Rights Act or any other Federal laws for which such systems exercise jurisdiction. Authorizes appropriations. Title V: Authorizations - Authorizes appropriations for tribal justice systems through FY 2000. Title VI: Disclaimers - States that nothing in this Act shall be construed to diminish: (1) the inherent authority of a tribe's governmental authority, including its legal system; or (2) the trust responsibility of the United States to tribal governments and legal systems, or to imply that any tribal court is a U.S. instrumentality.
Source last updated: Jun 20, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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