General Relocation Requirements

25 C.F.R. Part ..., Subpart C
in effectEffective: 2024-07-01

25 C.F.R. § 700.131 Purpose and applicability.

This subpart prescribes general requirements governing the provision of relocation payments and other relocation assistance under the regulations in this part. The relocation requirements of the regulations in this part apply to the relocation of any displaced person.

25 C.F.R. § 700.133 Notice of displacement.

After the Commission's Relocation Report and Plan is in effect pursuant to the Act, the Commission shall issue a preliminary relocation notice to each person identified by the Commission as potentially subject to relocation. This notice shall— (a) Be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the former Joint Use Area at least two times, and shall be sent to each Chapter House on the former Joint Use Area for posting. (b) Inform the person that he/she will be required to relocate permanently in the future unless the person has applied for and is determined to be eligible for a Life Estate. (c) Generally describe the relocation assistance program for which the person may become eligible, including the maximum allowable dollar amounts and basic conditions of eligibility for the payments.

25 C.F.R. § 700.135 Relocation assistance advisory services.

(a) General. The Commission may carry out a relocation assistance advisory program which offers the services described in paragraph (b) of this section. If the Commission determines that a person occupying habitations and/or improvements adjacent to the habitations and/or improvements acquired pursuant to the Act is caused substantial social, economic cultural or other injury because of such acquisition, it may offer such services to such person. (b) Services to be provided. The advisory program will include such measures, facilities, and services as may be necessary or appropriate in order to— (1) Personally interview where possible each certified eligible head of household to determine his/her relocation needs and preferences, and explain to him/her the relocation payments and other assistance for which he/she may be eligible, the related eligibility requirements, and the procedures for obtaining such payments and assistance; (2) Provide current and continuing information on the availability, purchase prices, and rental costs of replacement dwellings and commercial and farm properties and locations, as the case may be. (3) Assure that replacement dwellings are available to all certified eligible heads of households. (4) Assist any persons displaced from a business or farm operation to obtain and become established in a suitable replacement location; (5) Supply persons to be displaced with appropriate information concerning Tribal, Federal, State or local housing programs, disaster loans and other programs administered by the Small Business Administration, and other Federal or State programs offering assistance to persons to be displaced; (6) Endeavor to minimize the adverse social, economic, cultural and other hardships and impacts of relocation on persons involved in adjusting to such relocation. (c) Coordination of relocation activities. The Commission shall, to the maximum extent feasible, coordinate its relocation assistance advisory services activities with existing local, state, federal and Tribal agencies to the extent necessary to enable it to carry out its program. Referrals of displaced persons for services to existing services providers will be utilized whenever possible. (d) Policy. The Commission shall continue to provide assistance to a family, individual, business concern, non-profit organization, or farm operation until relocation has been achieved unless section § 700.139 becomes applicable. (e) Reasons for terminating assistance. In general, the circumstances under which the Commission's relocation obligations cease are the following: (1) Two years have elapsed since the family or individual has moved to a decent, safe and sanitary replacement dwelling and has received all assistance payments to which entitled. (2) All reasonable efforts to trace a family or individual have failed. (3) The family or individual on his/her own initiative moves to substandard housing and has refused reasonable offers of additional assistance in moving to a decent, safe and sanitary replacement dwelling. (4) The business concern, farm operation, or non-profit organization has received all assistance and payments to which it is entitled, and has either been successfully relocated or ceased operations. (5) Other relevant reasons as determined by the Commission.

25 C.F.R. § 700.137 Final date for voluntary relocation application.

(a) In order to be considered for voluntary relocation assistance benefits, an applicant must have filed a completed application form with the Commission by the close of business on July 7, 1986. (b) To qualify for relocation assistance, individuals must meet the eligibility requirements as of July 7, 1986.

25 C.F.R. § 700.138 Persons who have not applied for voluntary relocation by July 7, 1986.

(a) Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 640d-14 (d)(3) heads-of-household who do not make timely arrangements for relocation by filing an application by July 7, 1986, shall be provided a replacement home by the Commission. To be eligible for benefits (Housing and Moving Expenses), such persons must be, as of July 7, 1986, physically residing full time on land partitioned to a tribe of which they are not members and they must also otherwise meet all other current eligibility criteria. (b) The Commission shall utilize amounts payable with respect to such households pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 640d-14(b)(2) and 25 U.S.C. 640d-34(a) for the construction or acquisition of a home and related facilities for such households. (c) Persons identified by the Commission as potentially subject to relocation who have not applied for relocation assistance shall be contacted by the Commission as soon as practicable after July 7, 1986. At such time, the Commission shall— (1) Request that the head-of-household choose an available area for relocation, and contract with the Commission for relocation; and (2) Offer the relocatee suitable housing; and (3) Offer to purchase from the head-of-household the habitation and improvements; and (4) Offer provisions for the head-of-household and his family to be moved (e.g., moving expenses, etc.). (d) If a person so identified fails to agree to move after the actions outlined in this section are taken by the Commission and suitable housing is available (or sufficient funds are available to assure the relocation assistance to which the relocatee may be entitled), the Commission will issue a ninety-day notice stating the date by which the person will be required to vacate the area partitioned to the Tribe of which he is not a member.

25 C.F.R. § 700.139 Referral for action.

Upon the expiration of all notice periods and upon the failure or refusal of any relocatees to make timely arrangements to move, the Commission shall forward the names and addresses of such relocatees to the Secretary of the Interior and to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona for such action as they deem appropriate. The Commission will assure the availability of relocation assistance to which the relocatees may be entitled.

25 C.F.R. § 700.141 General requirements—claims for relocation payments.

(a) Documentation. Any claim for a relocation payment under subpart D, E, F, G, or H of this part shall be submitted to the Commission on the appropriate Commission form and supported by such documentation as may reasonably be required by the Commission to demonstrate expenses incurred, such as bills and receipts. (b) Time for filing. All claims for a relocation payment shall be filed with the Commission within sixty (60) days after the family occupies the replacement home unless this time period is extended by the Commission. (c) Direct payment of claim. Relocation payments shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Relocation Contracts and are not subject to claims of creditors or assignments.

25 C.F.R. § 700.143 Payments for divorced or separated relocatees.

General. The following considerations apply to certified eligible heads of household who are legally separated or divorced and intend to establish separate eligibility. (a) Determination of benefits. Eligibility for relocation benefits is determined as of the time that the Relocation Contract is signed. (1) If the divorce or separation took place before benefits were first applied for, the spouse who vacated the habitation will not be eligible for benefits and all relocation benefits will accrue to the spouse remaining in occupancy as head of the household remaining to be relocated. (2) If both husband and wife are in possession of the habitation at the time that benefits are first applied for, and are divorced or separated prior to signing of a Relocation Contract, both husband and wife may qualify separately for benefits if each meets the requirements of eligibility under these regulations. (3) If both husband and wife are in possession of the habitation at the time a Relocation Contract is signed but are divorced or separated prior to occupancy of the replacement dwelling, only one benefit will be paid to the household. Such benefits (including the assistance payment, moving expenses and replacement dwelling benefit) and the purchase price of the habitation and improvements may be prorated between husband and wife in such manner as they may agree in writing so long as such proration is consistent with the terms of the Relocation Contract. Such proration may also be made by a court of competent jurisdiction. In the absence of an agreement between the parties or a court order, any necessary prorations shall be made by the Commission. (b) For purposes of this section, a head of household shall be considered as married even though living apart from his or her spouse unless legally separated under a decree or separate maintenance.

25 C.F.R. § 700.145 Payments to estates.

(a) Relocation benefits can be paid to the estate of a deceased Certified Eligible Head of Household under the following circumstances: (1) If there is no household requiring relocation pursuant to the Act surviving the deceased head of household: (i) Compensation for the habitation and other improvements owned by the deceased head of household and the cost of removing personal property from the acquired habitation and other improvements shall be paid to the estate of a deceased head of household, or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction. (ii) No replacement housing benefit or assistance payment (bonus) shall be paid under this circumstance. (2) Replacement housing benefits may be paid to an estate only when a certified eligible head of household was qualified for such a housing payment pursuant to the Act and signed a Relocation Contract but died before the replacement housing was occupied. The estate of a certified eligible head of household who had not signed a Relocation Contract at the time of his/her death is not eligible for payment of a replacement housing benefit. (b) If one of a married couple who was a certified eligible head of household dies, the surviving spouse may be paid the same relocation assistance benefits, including replacement housing payments, which the couple would have received had death not occurred. If there is no surviving spouse, a court of competent jurisdiction may appoint a guardian to act for minor members of the household. The Commission shall deal with such guardian and any members of the household who have attained their majority in a manner to effect relocation of the remaining household under these regulations.

25 C.F.R. § 700.147 Eligibility.

(a) To be eligible for services provided for under the Act, and these regulations, the head of household and/or immediate family must have been residents on December 22, 1974, of an area partitioned to the Tribe of which they were not members. (b) The burden of proving residence and head of household status is on the applicant. (c) Eligibility for benefits is further restricted by 25 U.S.C. 640d-13(c) and 14(c). (d) Individuals are not entitled to receive separate benefits if it is determined that they are members of a household which has received benefits. (e) Relocation benefits are restricted to those who qualify as heads-of-household as of July 7, 1986.

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