§1403 — Title 25 Indians | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary must write a plan to best serve everyone who is entitled to money from an Indian judgment. Before finishing the plan, the Secretary must accept and consider any written suggestions from the affected tribe and hold a public hearing in the tribe’s area so tribal leaders and members can give testimony at a convenient time. When making the plan, the Secretary must make sure Department of the Interior legal, financial, and other experts are available to help the tribe craft its own proposal; that minority groups and individuals who also have claims are heard and considered; that minors and people legally unable to manage money are protected (funds may be paid to a parent or guardian for the person’s health, education, welfare, or emergencies under a plan approved by the Secretary and the tribal governing body); that any tribal rules about enrollment or distribution are fair; that a significant share of the funds is set aside for common tribal needs (at least 20% must be reserved unless the Secretary finds a clear reason not to); and that there are methods in place to make sure the plan is properly carried out once it goes into effect.

Title 25, §1403

Indians — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary shall prepare a plan which shall best serve the interests of all those entities and individuals entitled to receive funds of each Indian judgment. Prior to the final preparation of the plan, the Secretary shall—

(1)receive and consider any resolution or communication, together with any suggested use or distribution plan, which any affected Indian tribe may wish to submit to him; and

(2)hold a hearing of record, after appropriate public notice, to obtain the testimony of leaders and members of the Indian tribe which may receive any portion, or be affected by the use or distribution, of such funds, in the area in which such Indian tribe is located and at a time which shall best serve the convenience of the eligible members thereof.

(b)In preparing a plan for the use or distribution of the funds of each Indian judgment, the Secretary shall, among other things, be assured that—

(1)legal, financial, and other expertise of the Department of the Interior has been made fully available in an advisory capacity to the Indian tribe which is entitled to such funds to assist it to develop and communicate to the Secretary pursuant to clause (1) of subsection (a) of this section its own suggested plan for the distribution and use of such funds;

(2)the needs and desires of any groups or individuals who are in a minority position, but who are also entitled to receive such funds, have been fully ascertained and considered;

(3)the interests of minors and other legally incompetent persons who are entitled to receive any portion of such funds as are subsequently distributed to them are and will be protected and preserved; 11 So in original. The semicolon probably should be a colon. Provided, That such funds may be disbursed to the parents or legal guardian of such minors or legal incompetents in such amounts as may be necessary for the minor or legal incompetent’s health, education, welfare, or emergencies under a plan or plans approved by the Secretary and the tribal governing body of the Indian tribe involved.22 So in original. The period probably should be a semicolon.

(4)any provision, including enrollment provisions, of the constitution, bylaws, rules, and procedures of such tribe which may affect the distribution or other use of such funds are in full accord with the principles of fairness and equity;

(5)a significant portion of such funds shall be set aside and programed to serve common tribal needs, educational requirements, and such other purposes as the circumstances of the affected Indian tribe may justify, except not less than 20 per centum of such funds shall be so set aside and programed unless the Secretary determines that the particular circumstances of the pertinent Indian tribe clearly warrant otherwise: Provided, That in the development of such plan the Secretary shall survey past and present plans of the tribe for economic development, shall consider long range benefits which might accrue to the tribe from such plans, and shall encourage programing of funds for economic development purposes where appropriate; and

(6)methods exist and will be employed to insure the proper performance of the plan once it becomes effective under section 1405 of this title.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1983—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 97–458, § 2(a), inserted proviso. Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 97–458, § 2(b), inserted proviso.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Disbursements for Urgent Needs of Minors and Legal Incompetents and Accounting for Expenditures Pub. L. 97–458, § 2(a), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2512, provided in part that plan or plans approved by the Secretary and the tribal governing body of an Indian tribe for disbursements to parents or legal guardian of minors or legal incompetents for health, education, welfare, or emergencies of their charges “shall be limited to urgent needs arising from extenuating circumstances and shall accord with general principles governing administration of trust funds of minors and legal incompetents, including a requirement for strict accounting for expenditures.”

§1403 Preparation of Plan