(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), no one is eligible to claim or object to the succession to a matai title unless he is a resident in American Samoa for one calendar year immediately preceding the date of the claim or objection.
(b) The Territorial Registrar shall keep a record of the names of those bona fide residents of American Samoa who are absent from the Territory for any of the following reasons:
(1) attendance at an educational institution;
(2) service in the United States armed forces;
(3) medical treatment and recuperation;
(4) temporary traveling;
(5) missionary work as a minister.
(c) Any person on such record is eligible to claim or object to the succession to a matai title as if he actually resided in American Samoa.
(d) A person’s name shall be recorded upon the petition of 5 adult members of his family. The recording shall be effective for 2 years.
(e) The provisions of subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) of this section do not apply to the Territory’s Delegate to the United States House of Representatives while occupying the post of delegate, and his dependents, or a member of his staff recruited from the Territory while employed by the Delegate’s office, and his dependents. For purposes of this section, the Delegate and his dependents or a member of his staff recruited from the Territory and his dependents are considered to be actually residing in American Samoa although physically located outside of American Samoa.
History: 1968, PL, 10-61; 1970, PL 11-88, amd 1981, PL 17-23.