H.R. 4390 — Introduced in House

I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4390 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 13, 2016 Ms. McCollum (for herself, Mr. Cole, Mr. Huffman, and Mr. Young of Alaska) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce A BILL To amend and reform the Johnson-O’Malley Act to award contracts to certain tribal organizations, Indian corporations, school districts, States, and consortia of tribal organizations, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Johnson-O’Malley Supplemental Indian Education Program Modernization Act. 2. Supplemental Indian Education Program Modernization The Act of April 16, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 452 et seq.) (commonly known as the Johnson-O'Malley Act), is amended by adding at the end the following: 7. Supplemental Indian Education Program Modernization (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Elementary school The term elementary school has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. (2) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means an entity that educates or serves Indian students and is— (A) a tribal organization; (B) an Indian corporation; (C) a school district; (D) a State; or (E) a consortium of tribal organizations. (3) Eligible Indian student The term eligible Indian student means an Indian student who is eligible under section 273.12 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations (or any corresponding similar regulation or ruling). (4) Indian tribe The term Indian tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b). (5) Secondary school The term secondary school has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. (6) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. (7) Tribal College or University The term Tribal College or University has the meaning given the term in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)). (b) Establishment The Secretary, in coordination with the Director of the Bureau of Indian Education, shall establish a program to enter into contracts and to monitor and review contractual obligations with eligible entities to provide educational benefits to eligible Indian students. (c) Uses of funds An eligible entity that enters into a contract under subsection (b) shall use the funds available under the contract for the educational benefit of eligible Indian students— (1) to establish and carry out programs, or to expand and carry out programs in existence before the period of time covered by the contract, to provide— (A) remedial instruction, counseling, and cultural programs; (B) courses related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; (C) school supplies and other items that enable students to participate in curricular and extra-curricular programs; or (D) activities that were available to Indian students under contracts entered into under this Act before October 1, 2012; (2) to establish targeted, culturally sensitive, dropout prevention activities; and (3) to purchase equipment to facilitate— (A) training for professional trade skills; and (B) intensified college preparation programs. (d) Computation of awards (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (3), the Secretary shall base the amount that an eligible entity receives under a contract entered into under subsection (b) for any fiscal year on the number of eligible Indian students of the eligible entity, as determined by the Secretary under paragraph (2). (2) Determination of number of eligible Indian students (A) In general The Secretary shall determine the number of eligible Indian students of an eligible entity in accordance with this paragraph. (B) Initial determination Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall publish a report describing the number of potentially eligible Indian students of each eligible entity, using data described in subparagraph (D) from, as determined by the Secretary, the most applicable, accurate, and current of— (i) the Bureau of the Census; or (ii) the National Center for Education Statistics. (C) Reconciliation After publishing the report under subparagraph (B), the Secretary, in coordination with the Director of the Bureau of Indian Education, shall consult with entities party to a contract under subsection (b)— (i) to establish a process to reconcile the data described in the report published under subparagraph (B) with— (I) data described in subparagraph (D) of entities party to a contract under subsection (b); and (II) tribal enrollment information; and (ii) to determine an accurate number of eligible Indian students of each eligible entity. (D) Data use (i) In general Subject to clause (ii), the Secretary shall use data from not earlier than the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which an eligible entity is applying for a contract under subsection (b) to determine the number of eligible Indian students. (ii) New contractors To determine the number of eligible Indian students of an entity party to a contract under subsection (b) that the Secretary recognized as an eligible entity during or after fiscal year 2012, the Secretary shall, for the first year of the period of time covered by the contract, use data of the school districts served by the entity for the fiscal year for which the entity is applying for a contract under subsection (b). (3) Hold harmless An eligible entity that educates or serves eligible Indian students attending a public school that has been afforded supplemental services under a contract under this Act that took effect during or before fiscal year 1995 shall receive an amount under a contract entered into under subsection (b) equal to or greater than the amount that the eligible entity would have received under the contract entered into under this Act during or before fiscal year 1995, for a period of time ending not sooner than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section. (4) Funding reform The Secretary shall submit to Congress recommendations for legislation to provide resources to restore the amount of funds available through contracts under this Act per Indian student to the amount of funds available through contracts under this Act per Indian student during fiscal year 1995. (e) Additional considerations (1) Geographic coverage and enhanced participation In entering into contracts under subsection (b), the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure— (A) full geographic coverage; and (B) the full participation of eligible entities. (2) Increased participation of eligible entities To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall— (A) contact and consult with Indian tribes and school districts with significant populations of eligible Indian students that have not previously contracted under this Act; and (B) determine the interest in and eligibility for administering services under this Act of the Indian tribes and school districts described in subparagraph (A). (3) Complementary program participants In entering into contracts under subsection (b), the Secretary may give preference to a consortium of tribal organizations, including a consortium of tribal organizations that includes a Tribal College or University, to encourage as many students and professionals as possible to benefit from the program established under subsection (b). (f) Annual report The Secretary shall include in the budget request of the Department of the Interior for each fiscal year an annual assessment of the program established under subsection (b). (g) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out this section. .