Utah is poised to study the disproportionate violence inflicted against Native American women and girls after the Utah Legislature voted to create a task force.
The Deseret News reports indigenous communities gathered at the Utah Capitol to celebrate Tuesday after the proposal passed the Senate unanimously.
It now heads to Republican Gov. Gary Herbert’s desk. Democratic state Rep. Angela Romero’s plan would bring together a nine-member task force of lawmakers, researchers, tribes, law enforcement and an advocate for victims.
The task force will study gaps that contribute to the American Indian women facing a murder rate more than 10 times the national average.
