[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46660-46662]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22481]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Office of Tribal Services' Proposed Funding Distribution
Methodologies
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Proposed Transfer of Funds to Tribal Priority
Allocations.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with House Report Language 103-551, notice is
hereby given that in Fiscal Year (FY) 1997, the Bureau of Indian
Affairs (BIA), Office of Tribal Services, proposes to permanently
transfer Contract Support Funds, Housing Improvement Program Funds, and
Social Services Welfare Assistance Funds to each eligible Indian
tribe's Tribal Priority Allocations (TPA) budget based on the
methodology selected for each program. Currently, funds are allotted
annually to and
[[Page 46661]]
distributed by the twelve BIA area offices and the Office of Self-
Governance (OSG) for further distribution to tribes and BIA agencies
based on the level of current year appropriations using the procedures
and guidelines established by the BIA for payment of these funds. Under
the new proposal, an initial amount of funds will be identified for
each eligible tribe, including Self-Governance Tribes, which will recur
annually.
DATES: Written comments regarding the above proposed actions must be
received by Close of Business in the Office of Tribal Services on or
before October 21, 1996 in order to be considered in the final
decisions on the distribution methodologies for the above programs.
Tribal leaders will be notified by letter of the methodology selected
for all three programs.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Tribal Services, Bureau
of Indian Affairs, MS-4603-MIB, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20240, telephone number (202) 208-3463.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this notice is to provide
Indian tribes an opportunity to submit written comments on the above
proposed actions.
Based on information received from the Congress and through tribal
consultation, the Bureau is seeking input from Indian Country on
proposed distribution methodologies for all three programs. Two
alternative proposals for each of these programs are listed for
consideration and all tribes are encouraged to comment on the
methodologies as described and identify which alternative they prefer
for each program within 45 days from the date this notice is published
in the Federal Register. In order for the BIA to select the most fair
and equitable methodology that would best serve all tribes under all
three programs, broad-based tribal support from the majority of areas
will be required. Widespread support in one or two areas for one
alternative could constitute a national majority of tribes; however,
that alternative will not automatically be implemented unless it also
receives majority support in other areas as well. The following methods
are being considered by the BIA for determining each tribe's share of
the Contract Support, Housing Improvement Program, and Social Services
Welfare Assistance program funds for allocation to the TPA budget
category.
1. The BIA's Division of Social Services proposes to transfer
welfare assistance funds to each Indian tribe currently benefitting
from a welfare assistance program or eligible to participate in a
welfare assistance program.
Alternative No. 1
The Division of Social Services proposes to use an average of the
most recent funding history covering the period of 1993-1995. Those
tribes without a three-year funding history must be eligible for
operation of a BIA social services program and use 25 CFR 20 as their
standard in order to determine funding needs for their programs. They
must submit verifiable data of actual expenditures and projected
expenditures for an entire year to the Area Director by September 15,
1996 for the Area Director's certification. If the data is not
submitted, the Area Director will formulate an average yearly funding
for that tribe based upon caseload and funding projections and certify
the results. The data certified by the Area Director will be included
in the nationwide totals for welfare assistance.
Alternative No. 2
The Division of Social Services proposes to allocate to each
eligible tribe a base amount of $20,000 plus a percentage of the
remaining funds based on the total population within the BIA Total
Category in the 1993 Bureau of Indian Affairs' Indian Service
Population and Labor Force Estimates Report. A tribe's percentage share
would represent a comparison of the tribe's data to the national
totals. For example, tribe X receives a total of $1,302,617 for its
share of welfare assistance funds. This consists of a $20,000 base and
$1,282,617 in additional funds, based on the following formula:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN04SE96.002
which translates into: 75,894,501 (total funds after $20,000 deducted
per tribe) multiplied by .0169=$1,282,617 in additional funds which
results in:
$20,000.... (base amount for tribe X) plus
$1,282,617. (additional funding)
------------
$1,302,617. total funding for tribe X
If any eligible tribe, including an OSG tribe, was not included in the
1993 BIA Labor Force Report and chooses to obtain additional funding
beyond the $20,000 tribal base, it must submit verifiable data that
tribal members in the BIA Total Category exist in its service
population to the Area Director by September 15, 1996 for
certification. If the data is not submitted, the Area Director will
formulate an average yearly funding for that tribe based upon caseload
and funding projections and certify the results. The data certified by
the Area Director will be included in the nationwide totals for welfare
assistance. If the 1995 BIA Indian Service Population and Labor Force
Estimate Report is published in final form, this document will be used
to calculate the appropriate tribal share.
2. The BIA's Division of Self-Determination Services proposes to
transfer Contract Support Funds (CSF) to the TPA budget system in FY
1997. This proposal concerns the payment of CSF for tribes and tribal
organizations contracting under the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (Pub. L. 93-638), as amended, and is limited
to ongoing or continuing contracts and would not affect the Indian
Self-Determination Fund which will continue to be maintained at the
Central Office and distributed to meet indirect cost needs for new
contracts. Under each of the alternatives explained below, the BIA will
provide a pro rata distribution of the available funds to the eligible
tribes.
Alternative No. 1
In determining the amount of the one-time transfer of CSF to the
tribal base, the Division of Self-Determination Services proposes to
use each tribe's most current indirect cost rate in effect during the
period between 1994-1996, as negotiated with the Office of the
Inspector General.
Alternative No. 2
The Division proposes to use an average of the most recent three-
year indirect cost rates, as negotiated with the Office of the
Inspector General.
It is proposed that tribes contracting under the Act without
indirect cost rates would also have CSF added to their recurring TPA
base at the time the transfer is executed. The BIA will add a standard
percentage (approximately 20 percent) based on the national average
indirect cost rate. The amount derived from this percentage will be
added to the program amount being contracted.
3. The BIA's Division of Housing Services proposes to transfer
Housing Improvement Program (HIP) funds to the TPA budget of each
federally recognized Indian tribe. The HIP is not intended to meet the
overall housing needs in Indian Country but is meant to provide
standard housing opportunities through repairs of existing homes and,
in a limited number of cases, replacement homes for eligible
applicants.
[[Page 46662]]
Alternative No. 1
The Division of Housing Services proposes to allocate to each
eligible tribe a base amount of $20,000 plus a percentage of the
remaining funds based on the total populations within the following
four categories in the 1993 Bureau of Indian Affairs' Indian Service
Population and Labor Force Estimates Report: (1) Over 65 years of age,
(2) Unable to Work, (3) Total Not Employed of the Potential Labor
Force, and (4) Total number of Labor Force earning $7,000 or less per
year. A tribe's percentage share would represent a comparison of the
tribe's data to the national totals. For example, tribe X receives a
total of $25,000 for its share of housing funds. This consists of a
$20,000 base and $5,000 additional funds based on the following
formula:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN04SE96.003
which translates into: 5,000,000 (total funds after $20,000 deducted
per tribe) multiplied by .001 = $5,000 in additional funds, which
results in: $20,000 (base amount for tribe X) plus $5,000 (additional
funding) $25,000 total funding for tribe X
If any eligible tribe, including an OSG tribe, was not included in the
1993 BIA Labor Force Report and chooses to obtain additional funding
beyond the $20,000 tribal base, it must submit verifiable data that
tribal members in the four categories exist in its service population
to the Area Director by September 15, 1996 for certification. If the
data is not submitted, the Area Director will formulate a total for the
four categories based upon Service Population estimates and certify the
results. The data certified by the Area Director will be included in
the nationwide totals for HIP. If the 1995 BIA Indian Service
Population and Labor Force Estimate Report is published in final form,
this document will be used to calculate the appropriate share.
Alternative No. 2
The Division proposes to use the same methodology as the first
alternative, but allocate a base of $10,000 rather than $20,000. If the
1995 BIA Indian Service Population and Labor Force Estimate Report is
published in final form, this document will be used to calculate the
appropriate share.
Dated: August 23, 1996.
Ada E. Deer,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 96-22481 Filed 9-03-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P