25 U.S.C. § 3324: Critical area service…

Summary

An Indian student who gets federal money for college must sign an agreement with the tribe or tribal group that gave the aid. The student must study at an eligible college in a critical-need field and finish the program. For each school year the student gets aid, the student must work one calendar year for the tribe in a tribe-designated critical job. That work must begin no later than 6 months after the student stops taking at least half the normal full-time course load at the school. Instead of working, the student can repay the aid to the Secretary with interest set by the Secretary, in monthly or quarterly payments over no more than 5 years. The tribe must give the student the same pay, benefits, and work conditions as other employees doing the same job. Work can count even if done while the student is employed by another approved agency or employer. A tribe can waive the agreement for good cause but must tell the Secretary in writing. The tribe can pause the service duty for up to 18 months if no jobs are available, and must end the obligation if no jobs exist at the end of that pause. Service is also paused if the student is dropped from school for poor performance; that pause is reviewed each year and can continue. The Secretary will set rules to reduce repayment if the student finishes part of the service. Tribes must have monitoring rules and must yearly tell the Secretary who is serving and how much service each person has done and still owes.

Title 25, §3324

Indians, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Terms of agreements

A critical area service agreement shall be an agreement between an Indian student who receives or who shall receive federally funded higher education assistance and an Indian tribe or tribal organization providing such assistance in which the student agrees—

(1)to undertake a course of study at an eligible institution (as that term is defined in section 1085(a) of title 20) in an area of critical need, as determined under section 3323 of this title, and to pursue that course of study to its completion; and

(2)(A)to perform, for each academic year for which the student receives federally funded higher education assistance under a critical area service agreement, one calendar year of service to the tribe or organization in an occupation that is in a critical area designated by the tribe pursuant to section 3323(b) of this title, commencing not later than 6 months after the student ceases to carry at an institution of higher education at least one-half the normal full-time academic workload as determined by the institution; or

(B)to repay such assistance to the Secretary, together with interest thereon at a rate prescribed by the Secretary by regulation, in monthly or quarterly installments over not more than 5 years.

(b)Service limitations and conditions

The tribe or tribal organization shall agree that a student performing services under a critical area service agreement—

(1)shall be provided compensation, benefits, and working conditions at the same level and to the same extent as any other employee working a similar length of time and doing the same type of work;

(2)may be treated as providing services to the tribe or organization if the student provides services for members of the tribe or organization that are approved by the tribe or organization and agreed to by the student even though such services are performed while the student is employed by a Federal, State, or local agency or instrumentality or by a nonprofit or for-profit private institution or organization; and

(3)may obtain the benefits of a waiver or suspension in accordance with the requirements of subsection (c).

(c)Waiver and suspension of service agreement

(1)Waiver

An Indian tribe or tribal organization may, by formal action, waive the service agreement of an Indian student for just cause, as determined in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary. The tribe or organization shall notify the Secretary in writing of any waiver granted under this subsection.

(2)Suspension

The obligation of a student to perform services under a critical area service agreement—

(A)shall be suspended for not more than 18 months if, at the request of the student, the tribe or organization determines that there are no employment opportunities available in any critical service area; and

(B)shall be suspended if the student ceases to attend an institution of higher education as a consequence of an institutional determination of unsatisfactory performance.

If, at the end of a period of suspension under subparagraph (A), there are still no employment opportunities available in any critical service area, the student’s obligations under the agreement shall terminate. A suspension under subparagraph (B) shall be reviewed by the tribe or organization annually, but may be continued indefinitely.

(d)Pro rata reduction for partial services

The Secretary shall, by regulation, provide for the pro rata reduction of repayment obligations under subsection (a)(2) in the case of any student who partially completes the service obligation of that student under subsection (a)(2)(A).

(e)Certification of service

An Indian tribe or tribal organization receiving services under a critical area service agreement—

(1)shall establish procedures for monitoring and evaluating the provisions of this subchapter, and provide a copy of such procedures to the Secretary and to each individual providing services under a critical area service agreement;

(2)shall annually certify to the Secretary the identities of the individuals performing service under such agreements; and

(3)shall annually certify to the Secretary the amount of service performed, and the amount remaining to be performed, by each such individual under such agreements.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 3323(b) of this title, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(A), was in the original a reference to “section 1322(b)”, meaning section 1322(b) of Pub. L. 102–325, which has been translated as reading section 1323(b) of Pub. L. 102–325 to reflect the probable intent of Congress because section 1322 does not have a subsec. (b) and section 1323(b) relates to designation of critical areas by tribes.

§3324 Critical Area Service Agreements

Summary

Title 25, §3324

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Citations & Metadata