[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 247 (Friday, December 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80387-80388]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32896]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Renewal of Agency Information Collection for Law and Order on 
Indian Reservations--Marriage & Dissolution Applications; Request for 
Comments

AGENCIES: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of submission to OMB.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is submitting to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) a request for renewal for the collection of 
information titled ``Law and Order on Indian Reservations--Marriage & 
Dissolution Applications.'' The information collection is currently 
authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0094, which expires December 31, 
2011.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
January 23, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the information collection to the 
Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior at the Office of 
Management and Budget, by facsimile to (202) 395-5806 or you may send 
an email to: [email protected]. Please send a copy of your 
comments to Tricia Tingle, Associate Director, Tribal Justice Support, 
Office of Justice Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street 
NW., MS-4141, Washington, DC 20240; [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tricia Tingle (202) 208-2675. You may 
review the ICR online at http://www.reginfo.gov. Follow the 
instructions to review Department of the Interior collections under 
review by OMB.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Bureau of Indian Affairs is seeking renewal of the approval for 
the information collection conducted under 25 CFR 11.600(c) and 
11.606(c). This information collection allows the Clerk of the Court of 
Indian Offenses to collect personal information necessary for a Court 
of Indian Offenses to issue a marriage license or dissolve a marriage. 
Courts of Indian Offenses have been established on certain Indian 
reservations under the authority vested in the Secretary of the 
Interior by 5 U.S.C. 301 and 25 U.S.C. 2, 9, and 13, which authorize 
appropriations for ``Indian judges.'' The courts provide for the 
administration of justice for Indian tribes in those areas where the 
tribes

[[Page 80388]]

retain jurisdiction over Indians, exclusive of State jurisdiction, but 
where tribal courts have not been established to exercise that 
jurisdiction and the tribe has, by resolution or constitutional 
amendment, chosen to use the Court of Indian Offenses. Accordingly, 
Courts of Indian Offenses exercise jurisdiction under 25 CFR part 11. 
Domestic relations are governed by 25 CFR 11.600, which authorizes the 
Court of Indian Offenses to conduct and dissolve marriages. In order to 
obtain a marriage license in a Court of Indian Offenses, applicants 
must provide the six items of information listed in 25 CFR 11.600(c), 
including identifying information such as Social Security number, 
information on previous marriage, relationship to the other applicant, 
and a certificate of the results of any medical examination required by 
applicable tribal ordinances or the laws of the State in which the 
Indian country under the jurisdiction of the Court of Indian Offenses 
is located. To dissolve a marriage, applicants must provide the six 
items of information listed in 25 CFR 11.606(c), including information 
on occupation and residency (to establish jurisdiction), information on 
whether the parties have lived apart for at least 180 days or if there 
is serious marital discord warranting dissolution, and information on 
the children of the marriage and whether the wife is pregnant (for the 
court to determine the appropriate level of support that may be 
required from the non-custodial parent). (25 CFR 11.601) Two forms are 
used as part of this information collection, the Marriage License 
Application and the Dissolution of Marriage Application. BIA published 
a notice on September 14, 2011, in the Federal Register seeking comment 
for 60 days on renewal of this information collection, but received no 
comments. See 76 FR 56786.

II. Request for Comments

    BIA requests that you send your comments on this collection to the 
location listed in the ADDRESSES section. Your comments should address: 
(a) The necessity of the information collection for the proper 
performance of the agency, including whether the information will have 
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of our estimate of the burden 
(hours and cost) of the collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways we could 
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (d) ways we could minimize the burden of the collection 
of the information on the respondents, such as through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Please note that an agency may not sponsor or conduct, and an 
individual need not respond to, a collection of information unless it 
has a valid OMB Control Number. This information collection expires 
December 31, 2011.
    It is our policy to make all comments available to the public for 
review at the location listed in the ADDRESSES section during the hours 
of 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday except for legal 
holidays. Before including your address, phone number, email address or 
other personally identifiable information, be advised that your entire 
comment--including your personally identifiable information--may be 
made public at any time. While you may request that we withhold your 
personally identifiable information, we cannot guarantee that we will 
be able to do so.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1076-0094.
    Title: Law and Order on Indian Reservations--Marriage & Dissolution 
Applications.
    Brief Description of Collection: Submission of this information 
allows applicants to obtain a benefit, namely, the issuance of a 
marriage license or a decree of dissolution of marriage from the Court 
of Indian Offenses.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Respondents: Individuals.
    Number of Respondents: 260 per year, on average.
    Total Number of Responses: 260 per year, on average.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 65 hours.

    Dated: December 9, 2011.
Alvin Foster,
Assistant Director for Information Resources.
[FR Doc. 2011-32896 Filed 12-22-11; 8:45 am]
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