[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 149 (Thursday, August 3, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 39786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-18909]




[[Page 39785]]

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Part II





Department of the Interior





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Bureau of Indian Affairs



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Tribal Consultation of Indian Education Topics; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 149 / Thursday, August 3, 1995 / 
Notices  

[[Page 39786]]


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Tribal Consultation of Indian Education Topics

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Johnson O'Malley Program Issues.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) 
is continuing its consultation effort to obtain written comments 
concerning proposed methods of determining Johnson O'Malley (JOM) 
contract funding amounts to be transferred to the Tribal Priority 
Allocation (TPA) category or the Special Programs and pooled overhead 
category of the Tribal Budget System.

DATES: Written comments should be mailed, to be received, on or before 
August 25, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Mail or Handcarry comments to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
Office of Indian Education Programs, Mail Stop 3512-MIB, OIE-21, 1849 C 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20240, Attention: Dr. John Tippeconnic; or, 
may be hand delivered to Room 3512 at the same address. Telefax 
responses may be transmitted to (202) 219-9583.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Charles Geboe or Ms. Loretta Draper at the above address or call 
(202) 219-1127.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The publication of this notice is a follow-
up to consultation meetings conducted by the BIA since 1990. The 
purpose of the consultation, as required by 25 U.S.C. 2010(b), is to 
provide Indian tribes, school boards, parents, Indian organizations and 
other interested parties with an opportunity to comment on potential 
issues raised during previous consultation meetings or being considered 
by the BIA regarding Indian education program. Prior to finalizing the 
BIA's choice of method to be used in identifying tribal base funding 
levels for the JOM program, it is requesting final comments and 
viewpoints on the two methods under consideration.
    Both the House and Senate Reports accompanying the BIA's FY 1995 
appropriation act transferred the JOM program from the ``other 
recurring programs'' account to the ``TPA'' account in the BIA's 
budget. Senate Report No. 103-294 stated that a portion of the JOM 
funds may be transferred to the Special Programs and pooled overhead 
category where such funding is not under tribal contracts i.e., states 
and public school districts. House Report No. 103-551 required the BIA 
to consult with tribes on the development of a method of determining 
each tribe's portion of the JOM program and to publish such proposed 
methods in the Federal Register prior to finalizing such a distribution 
method.
    During October, 1994, the BIA formally consulted with Indian 
Country, as required by Pub. Law 95-561, and the FY 1995 House and 
Senate Report(s) language on the development of such a distribution 
method. Eleven regional tribal consultation meetings were held across 
the country with more than 2700 comments received on the various 
education consultation items. Most of the comments received on the JOM 
item were in opposition to the movement of the JOM program funds to the 
TPA budget category and preferred the program to be administered as 
currently is by formula distribution of funds. The majority of 
commentors chose not to agree with the Bureau's proposals and proposed 
another option for the Bureau to consider.
    Based on information received from the Congress and through the 
Tribal Consultation process, the Bureau is seeking input from Indian 
country on two final proposed distribution methodologies. The following 
methods are being considered by the BIA for determining each tribe's 
share of the JOM program funds for allocation to the TPA budget 
category:

Method A: JOM funds distributed to tribes under the TPA, which are 
earmarked for supplemental educational activities, according to tribal 
membership.
Method B: JOM funds distributed to tribes and non-tribal JOM 
contractors, which are earmarked for supplemental educational 
activities, according to service population.

    Explanation of Method A: The following steps would be initiated for 
purposes of implementing this method:
    1. Identify the number of JOM students by tribal enrollment in 
Federally recognized tribes.
    2. Divide the total amount JOM funds by the number of FY 1995 
students to arrive at an equal share per student.
    3. Distribute the JOM funds by tribal enrollment times equal share.
    4. Establish the base for each tribe under the TPA.
    Explanation Method B: The following steps would be initiated for 
purposes of implementing this method:
    1. Identify the number of JOM students served by all JOM 
contractors.
    2. Using the FY 1995 distribution method, identify the amount of 
JOM funds each tribal JOM contractor receives to establish a base for 
each tribe.
    3. Identify the amount of JOM funds each non-tribal JOM contractor 
(State and Public School Districts) receives.
    4. Add another Line Item in budget, Special Programs and Pooled 
Overhead category entitled ``Non-Tribal JOM Contractors''.
    5. Place the proportionate share of JOM funds that are provided to 
tribes, as tribal JOM contractors, for all JOM students served into 
each tribe's line item under the TPA.
    6. Place the proportionate share of JOM funds that are provided to 
States and public school districts, as JOM contractors, for all JOM 
students served into the Non-Tribal JOM contractor line item under the 
TPA category.

    Dated: July 20, 1995.
Ada E. Deer,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 95-18909 Filed 8-2-95; 8:45 am]
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