Library / Laws / 113th / hr / H.R. 409 / Introduced in House
I
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 409
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 23, 2013
Mr. Simpson
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural
Resources
A BILL
To provide for Indian trust asset management reform, and
for other purposes.
1.
Short title; table of
contents
(a)
Short
title
This Act may be cited
as the Indian Trust Asset Reform
Act.
(b)
Table of
contents
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I—RECOGNITION OF TRUST RESPONSIBILITY
Sec. 101. Congressional statement of findings.
Sec. 102. Congressional reaffirmation of policy.
TITLE II—INDIAN TRUST ASSET MANAGEMENT DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
ACT
Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Definitions.
Sec. 203. Establishment of demonstration project; selection of
participating Indian tribes.
Sec. 204. Indian trust asset management plan.
Sec. 205. Effect of title.
TITLE III—RESTRUCTURING BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS AND OFFICE OF
SPECIAL TRUSTEE
Sec. 301. Purpose.
Sec. 302. Definitions.
Sec. 303. Under Secretary for Indian Affairs.
Sec. 304. Transfer of functions of Assistant Secretary for
Indian Affairs.
Sec. 305. Office of Special Trustee for American
Indians.
Sec. 306. Cost savings recommendations.
Sec. 307. Hiring preference.
I
RECOGNITION OF
TRUST RESPONSIBILITY
101.
Congressional
statement of findings
The
Congress, after careful review of the Federal Government’s historical and
special legal relationship with, and resulting responsibilities to, American
Indian people, finds that—
(1) the relationship
of Indian tribes to the United States is founded in part on the settled
doctrine of the law of nations that when a stronger sovereign assumes authority
over a weaker sovereign, the stronger one assumes a duty of protection for the
weaker one, which does not surrender its right to self-government;
(2) the United States
fiduciary responsibilities to Indians also constitutes a foundational basis
for, not merely a function of, congressional legislation regarding Indians
because it constitutes an inherent presupposition of our constitutional
structure, which provides an inherent limit on the exercise and application of
the Indian Commerce Clause and the Treaty Clause of the Constitution;
(3) the United States
fiduciary responsibilities to Indians also are founded in part on specific
commitments made through written treaties and agreements securing peace, in
exchange for which Indians have surrendered claims to vast tracts of land,
which provided legal consideration for permanent, ongoing performance of
Federal trust duties; and
(4) the foregoing
historic Federal-tribal relations and understandings have benefitted the people
of the United States as a whole for centuries and established enduring and
enforceable Federal obligations to which the national honor has been
committed.
102.
Congressional
reaffirmation of policy
Pursuant to its constitutionally vested
authority over Indian affairs, the Congress hereby reaffirms the following
regarding the proper discharge of the United States fiduciary responsibilities
to Indians—
(1) enforceable
fiduciary duties necessarily arise when the United States assumes control or
supervision over tribal trust assets even though nothing is said expressly in
the governing statutes or regulations, unless Congress has expressly specified
otherwise;
(2) in general, the
most exacting common-law fiduciary standards which govern private trustees also
govern the United States when it manages Indian trust assets, and enforceable
Federal trust duties for Indian trust asset management are not limited to the
express terms of statutes and regulations;
(3) the fact that the
United States simultaneously performs another task for another interest that
Congress has obligated it by statute to do does not compromise or limit the
United States enforceable fiduciary obligations to Indians; and
(4) the United States
fiduciary responsibilities to Indian tribes include and are not limited by a
duty to promote tribal self-determination regarding governmental authority and
economic development.
II
INDIAN TRUST
ASSET MANAGEMENT DEMONSTRATION PROJECT ACT
201.
Short
title
This title may be cited
as the Indian Trust Asset Management
Demonstration Project Act of 2013.
202.
Definitions
In this title:
(1)
Project
The
term Project means the Indian trust asset management demonstration
project established under section 103(a).
(2)
Indian
tribe
The term Indian tribe means an Indian tribe
that—
(A) is federally
recognized; and
(B) submits an
application under section 203(c).
(3)
Secretary
The
term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
203.
Establishment
of demonstration project; selection of participating Indian tribes
(a)
In
general
The Secretary shall establish and carry out an Indian
trust asset management demonstration project, in accordance with this
title.
(b)
Selection of
participating Indian tribes
(1)
Indian
tribes
(A)
In
general
Any Indian tribe shall be eligible to participate in the
Project if—
(i) the
Indian tribe submits to the Secretary an application under subsection (c);
and
(ii) the
Secretary approves the application of the Indian tribe.
(2)
Notice
(A)
In
general
The Secretary shall provide a written notice to each
Indian tribe approved to participate in the Project.
(B)
Contents
A
notice under subparagraph (A) shall include—
(i) a
statement that the application of the Indian tribe has been approved by the
Secretary; and
(ii) a
requirement that the Indian tribe shall submit to the Secretary a proposed
Indian trust asset management plan in accordance with section 104.
(c)
Application
(1)
In
general
To be eligible to participate in the Project, an Indian
tribe shall submit to the Secretary a written application in accordance with
paragraph (2).
(2)
Requirements
The
Secretary shall take into consideration an application under this subsection
only if the application—
(A) includes a copy of
a resolution or other appropriate action by the governing body of the Indian
tribe, as determined by the Secretary, in support of or authorizing the
application;
(B) is received by the
Secretary after the date of enactment of this Act; and
(C) states that the
Indian tribe is requesting to participate in the Project.
(d)
Duration
The
Project shall remain in effect for a period of 8 years after the date of
enactment of this Act.
204.
Indian trust
asset management plan
(a)
Proposed
plan
(1)
Submission
After the date on which an Indian tribe
receives a notice from the Secretary under section 203(b)(2), the Indian tribe
shall submit to the Secretary a proposed Indian trust asset management plan in
accordance with paragraph (2).
(2)
Contents
A
proposed Indian trust asset management plan shall include provisions
that—
(A) identify the trust
assets that will be subject to the plan, including financial and nonfinancial
trust assets;
(B) establish trust
asset management objectives and priorities for Indian trust assets that are
located within the reservation, or otherwise subject to the jurisdiction, of
the Indian tribe;
(C) allocate trust
asset management funding that is available for the Indian trust assets subject
to the plan in order to meet the trust asset management objectives and
priorities;
(D) if the Indian
tribe has contracted or compacted functions or activities under the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.)
relating to the management of trust assets—
(i) identify the
functions or activities that are being performed by the Indian tribe under the
contracts or compacts; and
(ii) describe the
proposed management systems, practices, and procedures that the Indian tribe
will follow;
(E) establish
procedures for nonbinding mediation or resolution of any dispute between the
Indian tribe and the United States relating to the trust asset management
plan;
(F) include a process
for the Indian tribe and the Federal agencies affected by the trust asset
management plan to conduct annual evaluations to ensure that trust assets are
being managed in accordance with the plan; and
(G) identify any
Federal regulations that will be superseded by the plan.
(3)
Authority of
Indian tribes to develop systems, practices, and procedures
For
purposes of preparing and carrying out a management plan under this section, an
Indian tribe that has compacted or contracted activities or functions under the
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.),
for purposes of carrying out the activities or functions, may develop and carry
out trust asset management systems, practices, and procedures that differ from
any such systems, practices, and procedures used by the Secretary in managing
the trust assets if the systems, practices, and procedures of the Indian tribe
meet the requirements of the laws, standards, and responsibilities described in
subsection (c).
(4)
Technical
assistance and information
The Secretary shall provide to an
Indian tribe any technical assistance and information, including budgetary
information, that the Indian tribe determines to be necessary for preparation
of a proposed plan on receipt of a written request from the Indian
tribe.
(b)
Approval and
disapproval of proposed plans
(1)
Approval
(A)
In
general
Not later than 120 days after the date on which an Indian
tribe submits a proposed Indian trust asset management plan under subsection
(a), the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the proposed plan.
(B)
Requirements for
disapproval
The Secretary shall approve a proposed plan unless
the Secretary determines that—
(i) the
proposed plan fails to address a requirement under subsection (a)(2);
(ii) the
proposed plan includes one or more provisions that are inconsistent with
subsection (c); or
(iii) the cost of
implementing the proposed plan exceeds the amount of funding available for the
management of trust assets that would be subject to the proposed plan.
(2)
Action on
disapproval
(A)
Notice
If
the Secretary disapproves a proposed plan under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary
shall provide to the Indian tribe a written notice of the disapproval,
including any reason why the proposed plan was disapproved.
(B)
Action by
tribes
If a proposed plan is disapproved under paragraph (1)(B),
the Indian tribe may resubmit an amended proposed plan not later than 90 days
after the date on which the Indian tribe receives the notice under subparagraph
(A).
(3)
Failure to
approve or disapprove
If the Secretary fails to approve or
disapprove a proposed plan in accordance with paragraph (1), the plan shall be
considered to be approved.
(4)
Judicial
review
An Indian tribe may seek judicial review of the
determination of the Secretary in accordance with subchapter II of chapter 5,
and chapter 7, of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the
Administrative Procedure Act) if—
(A) the Secretary
disapproves the proposed plan of the Indian tribe under paragraph (1) or (3);
and
(B) the Indian tribe
has exhausted any other administrative remedy available to the Indian
tribe.
(c)
Applicable laws;
standards; trust responsibility
(1)
Applicable
laws
An Indian trust asset management plan, and any activity
carried out under the plan, shall not be approved unless the proposed plan is
consistent with—
(A) all Federal
treaties, statutes, Executive orders, and court decisions that are applicable
to the trust assets, or the management of the trust assets, identified in the
plan; and
(B) all tribal laws
that are applicable to the trust assets, or the management of trust assets,
identified in the plan, except to the extent that the laws are inconsistent
with the treaties, statutes, Executive orders, and court decisions referred to
in subparagraph (A).
(2)
Standards
Subject
to the laws referred to in paragraph (1)(A), an Indian trust asset management
plan shall not be approved unless the Secretary determines that the plan
will—
(A) protect trust
assets from loss, waste, and unlawful alienation;
(B) promote the
interests of the beneficial owner of the trust asset;
(C) conform, to the
maximum extent practicable, to the preferred use of the trust asset by the
beneficial owner, unless the use is inconsistent with a treaty, statute,
regulation, Executive order, or court decision referred to in paragraph
(1)(A);
(D) protect any
applicable treaty-based fishing, hunting and gathering, and similar rights
relating to the use, access, or enjoyment of a trust asset; and
(E) require that any
activity carried out under the plan be carried out in good faith and with
loyalty to the beneficial owner of the trust asset.
(3)
Trust
responsibility
An Indian trust asset management plan shall not be
approved unless the Secretary determines that the plan is consistent with the
trust responsibility of the United States to the Indian tribe and individual
Indians.
(d)
Termination of
plan
(1)
In
general
An Indian tribe may terminate an Indian trust asset
management plan on any date after the date on which a proposed Indian trust
asset management plan is approved by providing to the Secretary—
(A) a notice of the
intent of the Indian tribe to terminate the plan; and
(B) a resolution of
the governing body of the Indian tribe authorizing the termination of the
plan.
(2)
Effective
date
A termination of an Indian trust asset management plan under
paragraph (1) takes effect on October 1 of the first fiscal year following the
date on which a notice is provided to the Secretary under paragraph
(1)(A).
205.
Effect of
title
(a)
Liability
Nothing
in this title, or a trust asset management plan approved under section 204,
shall independently diminish, increase, create, or otherwise affect the
liability of the United States or an Indian tribe participating in the Project
for any loss resulting from the management of an Indian trust asset under an
Indian trust asset management plan.
(b)
Effect on other
laws
Except for any regulation superseded by a trust asset
management plan approved under section 204, nothing in this title amends or
otherwise affects the application of any treaty, statute, regulation, Executive
order, or court decision that is applicable to Indian trust assets or the
management or administration of Indian trust assets.
(c)
Trust
responsibility
Nothing in this title diminishes or otherwise
affects the trust responsibility of the United States to Indian tribes and
individual Indians.
III
RESTRUCTURING
BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS AND OFFICE OF SPECIAL TRUSTEE
301.
Purpose
The purpose of this title is to ensure a
more effective and accountable administration of duties of the Secretary of the
Interior with respect to providing services and programs to Indians and Indian
tribes, including the management of Indian trust resources.
302.
Definitions
In this title:
(1)
Bureau
The
term Bureau means the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
(2)
Office
The
term Office means the Office of Trust Reform Implementation and
Oversight referred to in section 303(c).
(3)
Secretary
The
term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
(4)
Under
secretary
The term Under Secretary means the
individual appointed to the position of Under Secretary for Indian Affairs,
established by section 303(a).
303.
Under Secretary
for Indian Affairs
(a)
Establishment of
position
There is established in the Department of the Interior
the position of Under Secretary for Indian Affairs, who shall report directly
to the Secretary.
(b)
Appointment
(1)
In
general
Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Under Secretary
shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate.
(2)
Exception
The
officer serving as the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs on the date of
enactment of this Act may assume the position of Under Secretary without
appointment under paragraph (1) if—
(A) the officer was
appointed as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs by the President by and
with the advice and consent of the Senate; and
(B) not later than 180
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary approves the
assumption.
(c)
Duties
In
addition to the duties transferred to the Under Secretary under sections 304
and 305, the Under Secretary, acting through an Office of Trust Reform
Implementation and Oversight, shall—
(1) carry out any
activity relating to trust fund accounts and trust resource management of the
Bureau (except any activity carried out under the Office of the Special Trustee
for American Indians before the date on which the Office of the Special Trustee
is abolished), in accordance with the American Indian Trust Fund Management
Reform Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.);
(2) develop and
maintain an inventory of Indian trust assets and resources;
(3) coordinate with
the Special Trustee for American Indians to ensure an orderly transition of the
functions of the Special Trustee under section 305;
(4) supervise any
activity carried out by the Department of the Interior, including but not
limited to—
(A) to the extent that
the activities relate to Indian affairs, activities carried out by—
(i) the
Commissioner of Reclamation;
(ii) the
Director of the Bureau of Land Management;
(iii) the Director of
the Office of Natural Resources Revenue;
(iv) the
Director of the National Park Service; and
(v) the
Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and
(B) intergovernmental
relations between the Bureau and Indian tribal governments;
(5) to the maximum
extent practicable, coordinate activities and policies of the Bureau with
activities and policies of—
(A) the Bureau of
Reclamation;
(B) the Bureau of Land
Management;
(C) the Office of
Natural Resources Revenue;
(D) the National Park
Service; and
(E) the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service;
(6) provide for
regular consultation with Indians and Indian tribes that own interests in trust
resources and trust fund accounts;
(7) manage and
administer Indian trust resources in accordance with any applicable Federal
law;
(8) take steps to
protect the security of data relating to individual Indian and Indian tribal
trust accounts; and
(9) take any other
measure the Under Secretary determines to be necessary with respect to Indian
affairs.
304.
Transfer of
functions of Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs
(a)
Transfer of
functions
There is transferred to the Under Secretary any
function of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs that has not been
carried out by the Assistant Secretary as of the date of enactment of this
Act.
(b)
Determinations
of certain functions by the office of management and budget
If
necessary, the Office of Management and Budget shall make any determination
relating to the functions transferred under subsection (a).
(c)
Personnel
provisions
(1)
Appointments
The
Under Secretary may appoint and fix the compensation of such officers and
employees as the Under Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out any
function transferred under this section.
(2)
Requirements
Except
as otherwise provided by law—
(A) an officer or
employee described in paragraph (1) shall be appointed in accordance with the
civil service laws; and
(B) the compensation
of the officer or employee shall be fixed in accordance with title 5, United
States Code.
(d)
Delegation and
assignment
(1)
In
general
Except as otherwise expressly prohibited by law or
otherwise provided by this section, the Under Secretary may—
(A) delegate any of
the functions transferred to the Under Secretary by this section and any
function transferred or granted to the Under Secretary after the date of
enactment of this Act to such officers and employees of the Office as the Under
Secretary may designate; and
(B) authorize
successive redelegations of such functions as the Under Secretary determines to
be necessary or appropriate.
(2)
Delegation
No
delegation of functions by the Under Secretary under this section shall relieve
the Under Secretary of responsibility for the administration of the
functions.
(e)
Reorganization
The
Under Secretary may allocate or reallocate any function transferred under this
section among the officers of the Office, and establish, consolidate, alter, or
discontinue such organizational entities in the Office, as the Under Secretary
determines to be necessary or appropriate.
(f)
Rules
The
Under Secretary may prescribe, in accordance with the provisions of chapters 5
and 6 of title 5, United States Code, such rules and regulations as the Under
Secretary determines to be necessary or appropriate to administer and manage
the functions of the Office.
(g)
Transfer and
allocations of appropriations and personnel
(1)
In
general
Except as otherwise provided in this section, the
personnel employed in connection with, and the assets, liabilities, contracts,
property, records, and unexpended balances of appropriations, authorizations,
allocations, and other funds employed, used, held, arising from, available to,
or to be made available in connection with, the functions transferred by this
section, subject to section 1531 of title 31, United States Code, shall be
transferred to the Office.
(2)
Unexpended
funds
Unexpended funds transferred pursuant to this subsection
shall be used only for the purposes for which the funds were originally
authorized and appropriated.
(h)
Incidental
transfers
(1)
In
general
The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, at
any time the Director may provide, may make such determinations as are
necessary with regard to the functions transferred by this section, and make
such additional incidental dispositions of personnel, assets, liabilities,
grants, contracts, property, records, and unexpended balances of
appropriations, authorizations, allocations, and other funds held, used,
arising from, available to, or to be made available in connection with such
functions, as are necessary, to carry out this section.
(2)
Termination of
affairs
The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall
provide for the termination of the affairs of all entities terminated by this
section and for any further measures and dispositions as are necessary to
effectuate the purposes of this section.
(i)
Effect on
personnel
(1)
In
general
Except as otherwise provided by this section, the
transfer pursuant to this section of full-time personnel (except special
Government employees) and part-time personnel holding permanent positions shall
not cause any such employee to be separated or reduced in grade or compensation
for a period of at least 1 year after the date of transfer of the employee
under this section.
(2)
Executive
schedule positions
Except as otherwise provided in this section,
any person who, on the day preceding the date of enactment of this Act, held a
position compensated in accordance with the Executive Schedule prescribed in
chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, and who, without a break in service,
is appointed to a position in the Office having duties comparable to the duties
performed immediately preceding such appointment shall continue to be
compensated in the new position at not less than the rate provided for the
previous position, for the duration of the service of the person in the new
position.
(3)
Termination of
certain positions
Positions whose incumbents are appointed by the
President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, the functions of
which are transferred by this title, shall terminate on the date of enactment
of this Act.
(j)
Separability
If
a provision of this section or the application of this section to any person or
circumstance is held invalid, neither the remainder of this section nor the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances shall be
affected.
(k)
Transition
The
Under Secretary may use—
(1) the services of
the officers, employees, and other personnel of the Assistant Secretary for
Indian Affairs relating to functions transferred to the Office by this section;
and
(2) funds appropriated
to the functions for such period of time as may reasonably be needed to
facilitate the orderly implementation of this section.
(l)
References
Any
reference in a Federal law, Executive order, rule, regulation, delegation of
authority, or document relating to the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs,
with respect to functions transferred under this section, shall be deemed to be
a reference to the Under Secretary.
(m)
Recommended
legislation
Not later than 180 days after the effective date of
this title, the Under Secretary, in consultation with the appropriate
committees of Congress and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget,
shall submit to Congress any recommendations relating to additional technical
and conforming amendments to Federal law to reflect the changes made by this
section.
(n)
Effect of
section
(1)
Continuing
effect of legal documents
Any legal document relating to a
function transferred by this section that is in effect on the date of enactment
of this Act shall continue in effect in accordance with the terms of the
document until the document is modified or terminated by—
(A) the
President;
(B) the Under
Secretary;
(C) a court of
competent jurisdiction; or
(D) operation of
Federal or State law.
(2)
Proceedings not
affected
This section shall not affect any proceeding (including
a notice of proposed rulemaking, an administrative proceeding, and an
application for a license, permit, certificate, or financial assistance)
relating to a function transferred under this section that is pending before
the Assistant Secretary on the date of enactment of this Act.
305.
Office of
Special Trustee for American Indians
(a)
Termination
Notwithstanding
sections 302 and 303 of the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of
1994 (25 U.S.C. 4042; 4043), the Office of Special Trustee for American Indians
shall terminate on the effective date of this section.
(b)
Transfer of
functions
There is transferred to the Under Secretary any
function of the Special Trustee for American Indians that has not been carried
out by the Special Trustee as of the effective date of this section.
(c)
Determinations
of certain functions by the office of management and budget
If
necessary, the Office of Management and Budget shall make any determination
relating to the functions transferred under subsection (b).
(d)
Personnel
provisions
(1)
Appointments
The
Under Secretary may appoint and fix the compensation of such officers and
employees as the Under Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out any
function transferred under this section.
(2)
Requirements
Except
as otherwise provided by law—
(A) any officer or
employee described in paragraph (1) shall be appointed in accordance with the
civil service laws; and
(B) the compensation
of such an officer or employee shall be fixed in accordance with title 5,
United States Code.
(e)
Delegation and
assignment
(1)
In
general
Except as otherwise expressly prohibited by law or
otherwise provided by this section, the Under Secretary may—
(A) delegate any of
the functions transferred to the Under Secretary under this section and any
function transferred or granted to the Under Secretary after the effective date
of this section to such officers and employees of the Office as the Under
Secretary may designate; and
(B) authorize
successive redelegations of the functions as are necessary or
appropriate.
(2)
Delegation
No
delegation of functions by the Under Secretary under this section shall relieve
the Under Secretary of responsibility for the administration of the
functions.
(f)
Reorganization
The
Under Secretary may allocate or reallocate any function transferred under
subsection (b) among the officers of the Office, and establish, consolidate,
alter, or discontinue such organizational entities in the Office as the Under
Secretary determines to be necessary or appropriate.
(g)
Rules
The
Under Secretary may prescribe, in accordance with the provisions of chapters 5
and 6 of title 5, United States Code, such rules and regulations as the Under
Secretary determines to be necessary or appropriate to administer and manage
the functions of the Office.
(h)
Transfer and
Allocations of Appropriations and Personnel
Except as otherwise
provided in this section, the personnel employed in connection with, and the
assets, liabilities, contracts, property, records, and unexpended balances of
appropriations, authorizations, allocations, and other funds employed, used,
held, arising from, available to, or to be made available in connection with
the functions transferred by this section, subject to section 1531 of title 31,
United States Code, shall be transferred to the Office.
(i)
Incidental
transfers
(1)
In
general
The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, at
any time the Director may provide, may make such determinations as are
necessary with regard to the functions transferred by this section, and make
such additional incidental dispositions of personnel, assets, liabilities,
grants, contracts, property, records, and unexpended balances of
appropriations, authorizations, allocations, and other funds held, used,
arising from, available to, or to be made available in connection with such
functions, as are necessary, to carry out this section.
(2)
Termination of
affairs
The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall
provide for the termination of the affairs of all entities terminated by this
section and for any further measures and dispositions as are necessary to
effectuate the purposes of this section.
(j)
Effect on
personnel
(1)
In
general
Except as otherwise provided by this section, the
transfer pursuant to this section of full-time personnel (except special
Government employees) and part-time personnel holding permanent positions shall
not cause any such employee to be separated or reduced in grade or compensation
for a period of at least 1 year after the date of transfer of the employee
under this section.
(2)
Executive
schedule positions
Except as otherwise provided in this section,
any person who, on the day preceding the effective date of this section, held a
position compensated in accordance with the Executive Schedule prescribed in
chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, and who, without a break in service,
is appointed to a position in the Office having duties comparable to the duties
performed immediately preceding such appointment, shall continue to be
compensated in the new position at not less than the rate provided for the
previous position, for the duration of the service of the person in the new
position.
(3)
Termination of
certain positions
Positions the incumbents of which are appointed
by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and the
functions of which are transferred by this title, shall terminate on the
effective date of this section.
(k)
Separability
If
a provision of this section or the application of this section to any person or
circumstance is held invalid, neither the remainder of this section nor the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances shall be
affected.
(l)
Transition
The
Under Secretary may use—
(1) the services of
the officers, employees, and other personnel of the Special Trustee relating to
functions transferred to the Office by this section; and
(2) funds appropriated
to those functions for such period of time as may reasonably be needed to
facilitate the orderly implementation of this section.
(m)
References
Any
reference in a Federal law, Executive order, rule, regulation, delegation of
authority, or document relating to the Special Trustee, with respect to
functions transferred under this section, shall be deemed to be a reference to
the Under Secretary.
(n)
Recommended
legislation
Not later than 180 days after the effective date of
this title, the Under Secretary, in consultation with the appropriate
committees of Congress and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget,
shall submit to Congress any recommendations relating to additional technical
and conforming amendments to Federal law to reflect the changes made by this
section.
(o)
Effect of
section
(1)
Continuing
effect of legal documents
Any legal document relating to a
function transferred by this section that is in effect on the effective date of
this section shall continue in effect in accordance with the terms of the
document until the document is modified or terminated by—
(A) the
President;
(B) the Under
Secretary;
(C) a court of
competent jurisdiction; or
(D) operation of
Federal or State law.
(2)
Proceedings not
affected
This section shall not affect any proceeding (including
a notice of proposed rulemaking, an administrative proceeding, and an
application for a license, permit, certificate, or financial assistance)
relating to a function transferred under this section that is pending before
the Special Trustee on the effective date of this section.
(p)
Effective
date
This section shall take effect on April 1, 2014, or 180 days
following enactment of this Act into law, whichever is earlier.
306.
Cost savings
recommendations
(a)
Cost savings
identification
Within 60 days of the effective date in section
305(p), the Under Secretary shall initiate procedures to—
(1) identify the
programs, functions, services, and activities (or any portions of programs,
functions, services, or activities) that will not have to operate or carry out
as a result of any transfer of functions and personnel under section
305;
(2) identify the
amounts that the Secretary would have otherwise expended to operate or carry
out each program, function, service, and activity (or any portion of a program,
function, service, or activity) identified pursuant to paragraph (1);
and
(3) provide to the
Secretary and the tribal representatives of the Tribal/Interior Budget Council,
within 120 days of the effective date in section 305(p), a list of the
programs, functions, services, and activities (or any portions of programs,
functions, services, or activities) identified pursuant paragraph (1) and the
amounts associated with each program, function, service, and activity (or any
portion of a program, function, service, or activity) identified pursuant to
paragraph (2).
(b)
Tribal
recommendations
Within 120 days of receipt of the information in
subsection (a)(3), the tribal representatives of the Tribal/Interior Budget
Council may provide recommendations to the Secretary and the Office of
Management and Budget on how any amounts or cost savings should be reallocated
and/or incorporated into future budget requests.
307.
Hiring
preference
In appointing or
otherwise hiring any employee to the Office, the Under Secretary shall give
preference to Indians in accordance with section 12 of the Act of June 8, 1934
(25 U.S.C. 472).