[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 18, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 53932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-25810]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Tribal Consultation of Indian Education Topics

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Final Notice of Johnson O'Malley Program Issues.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) 
has determined that Method B (as described in the Federal Register 
notice of August 3, 1995, and below) will be utilized in the 
distribution of Johnson O'Malley (JOM) program funds beginning in FY 
1996. This decision was based upon comments received during the comment 
period of August 3, 1995, through August 25, 1995, and comments 
received through the Bureau's tribal consultation process. The August, 
1995, comments were in response to the Federal Register notice of 
August 3, 1995, same subject as above. There were 269 comments received 
as a direct result of the Federal Register notice. Ninety percent 
favored Method B as the method by which JOM funds should be 
distributed. Two percent of the comments submitted favored Method A and 
eight percent of the comments suggested alternative methods of 
distribution, primarily modified forms of Method B.
    Beginning in FY 1996, Method B will include the following steps:
    1. Identification of the number of JOM students served by all JOM 
contractors in FY 1995.
    2. Using the FY 1995 distribution method, identify the amount of 
JOM funds each prime tribal JOM contractor receives to establish a base 
for each tribe.
    3. Identification of the amount of JOM funds each prime non-tribal 
JOM contractor (States, public school districts and tribal 
organizations) 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 prime tribal JOM Contractors, for all JOM students served 
into each tribes' line item under the TPA.
    6. Place the proportionate share of JOM funds that are provided to 
States, public school districts and tribal organizations, as prime JOM 
Contractors, for all JOM students served into the non-Tribal JOM 
contractor line item under the Special Projects and Pooled Overhead 
category.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Geboe or Garry Martin at the 
following address: Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
Office of Indian Education Programs, MS-3512-MIB, 1849 C St. NW, 
Washington, D.C. 20240, or call (202) 219-1127.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The publication of this notice is to 
finalize consultation meetings dealing with JOM that have been 
conducted by the BIA since 1990. The purpose of 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 programs. 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, public school districts and tribal organizations. 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.

    Dated: October 6, 1995.
Ada E. Deer,
Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 95-25810 Filed 10-17-95; 8:45 am]
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