(a) Notwithstanding Section 15153, the system may connect and exchange traffic with the compatible systems of a tribal government, as provided in this section.

(b) A law enforcement agency or court of a tribe may apply to the Attorney General for access to the system. The Attorney General shall provide system access to any law enforcement agency or court of a tribe that has made application and that meets all of the qualifications prescribed in subdivision (c), as determined by the Attorney General. System access provided to a tribe shall be at the sole expense of that tribe.

(c) The Attorney General shall deem a tribe that has applied for system access pursuant to subdivision (b) to be qualified only if the governing body of that tribe has enacted or adopted a law, resolution, or ordinance, which shall be maintained in continuous force, that provides for all of the following:

(1) The tribe expressly waives its right to assert its sovereign immunity from suit, regulatory or administrative action, and enforcement of any ensuing judgment or arbitral award, for any and all claims arising from any actions or omissions of the tribe, including its officers, agents, and employees, when acting within the scope of their authority and duty, arising out of, connected with, or related to, the system.

(2) The tribe expressly agrees that the substantive and procedural laws of the State of California shall govern any claim, suit, or regulatory or administration action, that the obligations, rights, and remedies shall be determined in accordance with such laws, and that the courts of the State of California or of the federal government, as applicable, shall have exclusive jurisdiction.

(3) The tribe agrees to cooperate with any inspections, audits, and investigations by the Department of Justice for improper use or compliance with the operating policies, practices, and procedures, including any sanction or discipline imposed by the department, up to and including removal of system access.

(4) The tribe and its agencies, entities, or arms, including any officers, agents, and employees of the tribe when acting within the scope of their authority and duty, shall comply with the laws of the State of California relating to the use of records and information from the system, including, without limitation, Section 6200 and this chapter, Sections 502, 11105, 11141, 11142, 11143, and 13300 to 13304, inclusive, of the Penal Code, and § 1808.45 of the Vehicle Code.

(5) The tribe and its agencies, entities, or arms, including any officers, agents, and employees of the tribe when acting within the scope of their authority and duty, shall comply with the Department of Justice’s regulations, agreements, and operating policies, practices, and procedures, relating to the security requirements, access to the records and information from the system, and use of records and information from the system.

(d) The intent of the Legislature in enacting this section is to grant tribes access to, and use of, criminal justice databases, and the information in those databases, in a manner similar to the access granted under federal law codified in Section 534 of Title 28 of, and Section 41107 of Title 34 of, the United States Code.

(e) The Director of General Services shall determine the charges to be paid by a tribe to the department for system access, including any initial setup charges and any ongoing charges for access. These charges shall be reasonably similar to those imposed on other system subscribers.

(f) As used in this section, the following terms are defined as follows:

(1) “Tribe” means a federally recognized Indian Tribe whose territorial boundaries lie wholly or partially within the State of California, and any agencies, entities, or arms of the tribe, as applicable, either together or separately.

(2) “Sovereign immunity” means immunity from suit or action of the tribe and its agencies, entities, or arms, including the officers, agents, and employees of the tribe when acting within the scope of their authority and duty.

(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 638, Sec. 2. (AB 44) Effective January 1, 2024.)