USC Subchapter I

in effect

25 U.S.C. § 3301 Short title

This subchapter may be cited as the “Higher Education Tribal Grant Authorization Act”.

The Congress finds that— (1) there are increasing numbers of Indian students qualifying for postsecondary education, and there are increasing numbers desiring to go to postsecondary institutions; (2) the needs of these students far outpace the resources available currently; (3) Indian tribes have shown an increasing interest in administering programs serving these individuals and making decisions on these programs reflecting their determinations of the tribal and human needs; (4) the contracting process under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act [25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.] has provided a mechanism for the majority of the tribes to assume control over this program from the Bureau of Indian Affairs; (5) however, inherent limitations in the contracting philosophy and mechanism, coupled with cumbersome administrative procedures developed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs have effectively limited the efficiency and effectiveness of these programs; (6) the provision of these services in the most effective and efficient form possible is necessary for tribes, the country, and the individuals to be served; and (7) these services are part of the Federal Government’s continuing trust responsibility to provide education services to American Indian and Alaska Natives.

25 U.S.C. § 3303 Program authority

(a) In generalThe Secretary shall, from the amounts appropriated for the purpose of supporting higher education grants for Indian students under the authority of section 13 of this title, make grants to Indian tribes in accordance with the requirements of this subchapter to permit those tribes to provide financial assistance to individual Indian students for the cost of attendance at institutions of higher education. (b) Limitation on Secretary’s authorityThe Secretary shall not place any restrictions on the use of funds provided to an Indian tribe under this subchapter that is not expressly authorized by this subchapter. (c) Effect on Federal responsibilitiesThe provisions of this subchapter shall not affect any trust responsibilities of the Federal Government. (d) No termination for administrative convenienceGrants provided under this subchapter may not be terminated, modified, suspended, or reduced only for the convenience of the administering agency.

25 U.S.C. § 3304 Qualification for grants to tribes

(a) Contracting tribesAny Indian tribe that obtains funds for educational purposes similar to those authorized in this subchapter pursuant to contract under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act [25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.] may qualify for a grant under this subchapter by submitting to the Secretary a notice of intent to administer a student assistance program under section 3303 of this title. Such notice shall be effective for the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which it is submitted, except that if such notice is submitted during the last 90 days of a fiscal year such notice shall be effective the second fiscal year following the fiscal year in which it is submitted, unless the Secretary waives this limitation. (b) Noncontracting tribesAny Indian tribe that is not eligible to qualify for a grant under this subchapter by filing a notice under subsection (a) may qualify for such a grant by filing an application for such a grant. Such application shall be submitted under guidelines for programs under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act [25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.], as in effect on January 1, 1991, and shall be reviewed under the standards, practices, and procedures applicable to applications to contract under such Act as in effect on the date the application is received, except that—(1) if the tribe is not notified that its application has been disapproved within 180 days after it is filed with the Secretary, the application shall be deemed to be approved; (2) if the application is disapproved, the Secretary shall provide technical assistance to the tribe for purposes of correcting deficiencies in the application; (3) the Secretary shall designate an office or official to receive such applications, and shall toll the 180-day period described in paragraph (1) from the date of receipt by such office or official; and (4) applications shall be approved for the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which submitted, unless the Secretary waives the limitation of this paragraph. (c) Termination of grants(1) Continuing eligibility presumedAn Indian tribe which has qualified under subsection (a) or (b) for a grant under this subchapter for any fiscal year shall continue to be eligible for such a grant for each succeeding fiscal year unless the Secretary revokes such eligibility for a cause described in paragraph (2). (2) Causes for loss of eligibilityThe Secretary may revoke the eligibility of an Indian tribe for a grant under this subchapter if such tribe—(A) fails to submit to the Bureau an annual financial statement that reports revenues and expenditures determined by use of an accounting system, established by the tribe, that complies with generally accepted accounting principles; (B) fails to submit to the Bureau an annual program description, stating the number of students served, and containing such information concerning such students, their educational programs and progress, and the financial assistance distributed to such students as the Secretary may require by regulation; (C) fails to submit to the Secretary a biennial financial audit conducted in accordance with chapter 75 of title 31; or (D) fails, in an evaluation of its financial assistance program conducted by an impartial third party entity, to comply with standards under this subchapter relating to (i) eligible students, programs, or institutions of higher education, (ii) satisfactory progress, or (iii) allowable administrative costs; as determined under contracts applicable to programs to provide financial assistance to individual Indian students for the cost of attendance at institutions of higher education administered by Indian tribes under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act [25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.] and in effect on January 20, 1991. (3) Procedures for revocation of eligibilityThe Secretary shall not revoke the eligibility of an Indian tribe for a grant under this subchapter except—(A) after notice in writing to the tribe of the cause and opportunity to the tribe to correct; (B) providing technical assistance to the tribe in making such corrections; and (C) after hearing and appeals conducted under the same rules and regulations that apply to similar termination actions under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act [25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.].

25 U.S.C. § 3305 Allocation of grant funds

(a) Allocation of funds(1) In generalThe Secretary shall continue to determine the amount of program funds to be received by each grantee under this subchapter by the same method used for determining such distribution in fiscal year 1991 for tribally-administered and Bureau-administered programs of grants to individual Indians to defray postsecondary expenses. (2) Administrative costsIn addition to the amount determined under paragraph (1), a grantee which has exercised the option given in section 3304(a) of this title to administer the program under a grant shall receive an amount for administrative costs determined pursuant to the method used by the grantee during the preceding contract period. All other grantees shall receive an amount for administrative costs determined pursuant to the regulations governing such determinations under the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act [25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.], as in effect at the time of application to grants being made. (3) Single grant; separate accountsEach grantee shall receive only one grant during any fiscal year, which shall include both of the amounts under paragraphs (1) and (2). Each grantee shall maintain this grant in a separate account. (b) Use of fundsFunds provided by grants under this subchapter shall be used—(1) to make grants to individual Indian students to meet, on the basis of need, any educational expense of attendance in a postsecondary education program (as determined under the contracts applying to the postsecondary education program administered by tribes under the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act (Public Law 93–638) [25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.]), to the extent that such expense is not met from other sources or cannot be defrayed through the action of any State, Federal, or municipal Act, except that nothing in this subsection shall be interpreted as requiring any priority in consideration of resources; and (2) costs of administering the program under this subchapter, except that no more may be spent on administration of such program than is generated by the method for administrative cost computation specified in subsection (a)(2).

25 U.S.C. § 3306 Limitations on use of funds

(a) Use for religious purposesNone of the funds made available under this subchapter may be used for study at any school or department of divinity or for any religious worship or sectarian activity. (b) Interest on fundsNo interest or other income on any funds made available under this subchapter shall be used for any purpose other than those for which such funds may be used. (c) Payments(1) In generalExcept as otherwise provided in this subsection, the Secretary shall make payments to grantees under this subchapter in two payments—(A) one payment to be made no later than October 1 of each fiscal year in an amount equal to one-half the amount paid during the preceding fiscal year to the grantee or a contractor that has elected to have the provisions of this subchapter apply, and (B) the second payment consisting of the remainder to which the grantee or contractor is entitled for the fiscal year to be made by no later than January 1 of the fiscal year. (2) New granteesFor any tribe for which no payment was made under this subchapter in the preceding fiscal year, full payment of the amount computed for each fiscal year shall be made by January 1 of the fiscal year. (d) Investment of funds(1) Treatment as tribal propertyNotwithstanding any other provision of law, any interest or investment income that accrues on any funds provided under this subchapter after such funds are paid to the Indian tribe or tribal organization and before such funds are expended for the purpose for which such funds were provided under this subchapter shall be the property of the Indian tribe or tribal organization and shall not be taken into account by any officer or employee of the Federal Government in determining whether to provide assistance, or the amount of assistance, under any provision of Federal law. (2) Investment requirementsFunds provided under this subchapter may be—(A) invested by the Indian tribe or tribal organization only in obligations of the United States or in obligations or securities that are guaranteed or insured by the United States, or (B) deposited only into accounts that are insured by an agency or instrumentality of the United States. (e) RecoveriesFor the purposes of under recovery and over recovery determinations by any Federal agency for any other funds, from whatever source derived, funds received under this subchapter shall not be taken into consideration.

25 U.S.C. § 3307 Administrative provisions

(a) Omitted (b) Role of DirectorApplications for grants under this subchapter, and all application modifications, shall be reviewed and approved by personnel under the direction and control of the Director of the Office of Indian Education Programs. Required reports shall be submitted to education personnel under the direction and control of the Director of such Office. (c) Application of Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance ActAll provisions of sections 5, 6, 7, 105, 109, and 110 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450c et seq.),11 See References in Text note below. except those provisions pertaining to indirect costs and length of contract, shall apply to grants provided under this subchapter. (d) RegulationsThe Secretary is authorized to issue regulations relating to the discharge of duties specifically assigned to the Secretary by this subchapter. In all other matters relating to the details of planning, development, implementing, and evaluating grants under this subchapter, the Secretary shall not issue regulations. Regulations issued pursuant to this subchapter shall not have the standing of a Federal statute for the purposes of judicial review. (e) RetrocessionWhenever an Indian tribe requests retrocession of any program for which assistance is provided under this subchapter, such retrocession shall become effective upon a date specified by the Secretary not more than 120 days after the date on which the tribe requests the retrocession, or such later date as may be mutually agreed upon by the Secretary and the tribe. If such a program is retroceded, the Secretary shall provide to any Indian tribe served by such program at least the same quantity and quality of services that would have been provided under such program at the level of funding provided under this subchapter prior to the retrocession. The tribal governing body requesting the retrocession shall specify whether the retrocession shall be to a contract administered by the tribe, or a tribal entity, under the authority of the Indian Self-Determination Act [25 U.S.C. 5321 et seq.] or to a Bureau administered program. (f) DefinitionsFor the purposes of this subchapter:(1) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior. (2) The terms “Indian” and “Indian tribe” have the same meaning given those terms in sections 22 So in original. Probably should be “section”. 4(d) and (e), respectively, of the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act [25 U.S.C. 5304(d), (e)].