Title 20, EducationRelease 119-73not60

§1087uu–1 Native American Students

Title 20 › Chapter 28— HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCES AND STUDENT ASSISTANCE › Subchapter IV— STUDENT ASSISTANCE › Part F— Need Analysis › § 1087uu–1

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

When figuring the student aid index for Native American students, money from certain tribal settlements does not count. Any individual payments of $2,000 or less received by the student (and spouse) or the student’s parents under the Per Capita Act or the Indian Tribal Judgment Funds Use or Distribution Act are excluded. Any income the student (and spouse) or the student’s parents get under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act or the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980 is also excluded. The Secretary of Education must write simple guidance to make this happen. The Secretary must work with Tribal Colleges and Universities (tribally run higher-education schools) and the state higher education agencies in Alaska and Maine. The guidance must not add extra FAFSA questions and may use the Department’s existing authority to implement the rule.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §1087uu–1

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(a)In determining the student aid index for Native American students, computations performed pursuant to this part shall exclude—
(1)any income and assets of $2,000 or less per individual payment received by the student (and spouse) and student’s parents under Public Law 98–64 (25 U.S.C. 117a et seq.; 97 Stat. 365) (commonly known as the “Per Capita Act”) or the Indian Tribal Judgment Funds Use or Distribution Act (25 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.); and
(2)any income received by the student (and spouse) and student’s parents under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) or the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980 (25 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.).11 See References in Text note below.
(b)The Secretary shall develop guidance, in consultation with Tribal Colleges and Universities (as defined in section 1059c of this title) and the State higher education agency in Alaska and Maine, to implement the determination under subsection (a) without adding additional questions to the FAFSA, including through the use of the authority under section 1087tt of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Public Law 98–64, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is Pub. L. 98–64, Aug. 2, 1983, 97 Stat. 365, commonly known as the Per Capita Act, which enacted sections 117a to 117c of Title 25, Indians, and repealed section 117 of Title 25. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. The Indian Tribal Judgment Funds Use or Distribution Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is Pub. L. 93–134, Oct. 19, 1973, 87 Stat. 466, which is classified generally to chapter 16 (§ 1401 et seq.) of Title 25, Indians. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1401(c) of Title 25 and Tables. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), is Pub. L. 92–203, Dec. 18, 1971, 85 Stat. 688, which is classified generally to chapter 33 (§ 1601 et seq.) of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1601 of Title 43 and Tables. The Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), is Pub. L. 96–420, Oct. 10, 1980, 94 Stat. 1785, which was classified generally to subchapter II (§ 1721 et seq.) of chapter 19 of Title 25, Indians, and was omitted from the Code as being of special and not general application.

Amendments

2020—Pub. L. 116–260 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “In determining family contributions for Native American students, computations performed pursuant to this part shall exclude— “(1) any income and assets of $2,000 or less per individual payment received by the student (and spouse) and student’s parents under Public Law 98–64 (25 U.S.C. 117a et seq.; 97 Stat. 365) (commonly known as the ‘Per Capita Act’) or the Indian Tribal Judgment Funds Use or Distribution Act (25 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.); and “(2) any income received by the student (and spouse) and student’s parents under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) or the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980 (25 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.).” 2009—Par. (1). Pub. L. 111–39, § 406(a)(5)(A), substituted “under Public Law 98–64 (25 U.S.C. 117a et seq.; 97 Stat. 365) (commonly known as the ‘Per Capita Act’) or the Indian Tribal Judgment Funds Use or Distribution Act (25 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.); and” for “under the Per Capita Act or the Distribution of Judgment Funds Act; and”. Par. (2). Pub. L. 111–39, § 406(a)(5)(B), substituted “Alaska” for “Alaskan” and inserted “(43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)” after “Native Claims Settlement Act” and “of 1980 (25 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.)” after “Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act”. 1992—Pub. L. 102–325 amended section generally, reenacting provisions without change.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2020 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 116–260 effective July 1, 2024, except as otherwise expressly provided, and applicable with respect to award year 2024–2025 and each subsequent award year, as determined under this chapter, see section 701(b) of Pub. L. 116–260, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.

Effective Date

of 2009 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 111–39 effective as if enacted on the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–315 (Aug. 14, 2008), see section 3 of Pub. L. 111–39, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1992 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 102–325 applicable with respect to determinations of need under this part for award years beginning on or after July 1, 1993, see section 471(b) of Pub. L. 102–325, set out as a note under section 1087kk of this title.

Effective Date

Section effective as if enacted as part of the Higher Education

Amendments

of 1986, Pub. L. 99–498, see section 27 of Pub. L. 100–50, set out as an

Effective Date

of 1987 Amendment note under section 1001 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 1087uu–1

Title 20, Education

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60