By Morgan Taylor, Reporter
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma – Ida’s Law passed through the Oklahoma State Senate and House of Representatives and was signed into law on April 20, by Gov. Kevin Stit
On Feb 3, 2020 Ida’s Law was first introduced as House Bill 3345 to the House of Representatives. After a month of legating, it was passed through the House with overwhelming support from Representatives.
The bill was put on hold for almost a year.
In early February of 2021 the Bill was introduced to the Senate as Senate Bill 172. March 2, the bill was passed through the Senate and was received approval the House of Representatives on April 13.
The law is named after 29-year-old Ida Beard (Cheyenne Arapaho) from El Reno who disappeared in 2015. Beard has never been found.
The law emphasizes collaboration between the OSBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Justice to coordinate with one another and obtain federal funding to gather data relating missing and murdered indigenous people
The law also creates the Office of Liaison for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons under the direction of the OSBI.
Senator Paul Rosino (R) is a principal author of the Senate Bill.
According to Sen. Rosino, there are an estimated 220 missing American Indians in OK with about 14 cases from his own district.
In a press release from the OK State Senate, Rosino said, ‘It’s a national problem, and it’s a problem right here in Oklahoma. ‘
‘One of the biggest issues is the lack of solid data, which is exactly what Ida’s Law would help us address.’
According to the National Congress of American Indians, ‘Native American women face murder rates ten times more than the national average of any demographic group.’
