Oregon approves bill to allow tribal officers to enforce state law

Thursday, June 30, 2011  

The Oregon Legislature passed a bill to allow tribal police officers to enforce state laws off the reservation.

Senate Bill 412 requires tribal officers to state police training. It also requires tribes to adopt rules "substantially similar" to state public records, evidence retention and insurance laws.

The bill starts in 2013 and runs until 2015. The period was designed to give lawmakers time to evaluate the system and write a new law, or possibly repeal it.

Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) is expected to sign the bill into law.

Get the Story:
Ore. lawmakers give tribal police full authority (AP 6/29)
Legislature grants tribal police expanded powers (The Oregonian 6/29)
Oregon lawmakers debate, strike agreements as they prepare to end their session (The Oregonian 6/29)