---
kind: "range"
citation: "25 U.S.C. §§ 5342–5348"
title: "25"
from: "5342"
to: "5348"
count: 7
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/25/5342..5348"
---

# §5342. Contracts for education, medical attention, relief and social welfare of Indians


The [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) of the Interior is authorized, in his discretion, to enter into a contract or contracts with any State or Territory, or political subdivision thereof, or with any State university, college, or school, or with any appropriate State or private corporation, agency, or institution, for the education, medical attention, agricultural assistance, and social welfare, including relief of distress, of [Indians](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d) in such State or Territory, through the agencies of the State or Territory or of the corporations and organizations hereinbefore named, and to expend under such contract or contracts, moneys appropriated by Congress for the education, medical attention, agricultural assistance, and social welfare, including relief of distress, of [Indians](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d) in such State or Territory.


# §5343. Use of Government property by States and Territories


The [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) of the Interior, in making any contract authorized by [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title, may permit such [contracting party](/usc/25/5348.md?p=a-1) to utilize, for the purposes of said sections, existing school buildings, hospitals, and other facilities, and all equipment therein or appertaining thereto, including livestock and other personal property owned by the Government, under such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon for their use and maintenance.


# §5344. Rules and regulations; minimum standards of service


The [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) of the Interior is authorized to perform any and all acts and to make such rules and regulations, including minimum standards of service, as may be necessary and proper for the purpose of carrying the provisions of [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title into effect: Provided, That such minimum standards of service are not less than the highest maintained by the States or Territories within which said contract or contracts, as herein provided, are to be effective.


# §5345. Contracts for education in public schools; submission of education plan by contractor as prerequisite; criteria for approval of plan by Secretary of the Interior; participation by non-Indian students


The [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) of the Interior shall not enter into any contract for the education of [Indians](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d) unless the prospective contractor has submitted to, and has had approved by the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) of the Interior, an education plan, which plan, in the determination of the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1), contains educational objectives which adequately address the educational needs of the [Indian](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d) students who are to be beneficiaries of the contract and assures that the contract is capable of meeting such objectives: Provided, That where students other than [Indian](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d) students participate in such [programs](/usc/25/3402.md?p=4), money expended under such contract shall be prorated to cover the participation of only the [Indian](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d) students.


# §5346. Local committee of Indian parents in school districts having school boards composed of non-Indian majority

- (a) **Election; functions—** Whenever a school district affected by a contract or contracts for the education of [Indians](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d) pursuant to [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title has a local school board not composed of a majority of [Indians](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d), the parents of the Indian children enrolled in the school or schools affected by such contract or contracts shall elect a local [committee](/usc/25/5411.md?p=3) from among their number. Such [committee](/usc/25/5411.md?p=3) shall fully participate in the development of, and shall have the authority to approve or disapprove [programs](/usc/25/3402.md?p=4) to be conducted under such contract or contracts, and shall carry out such other duties, and be so structured, as the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) of the Interior shall by regulation provide: Provided, however, That, whenever a local [Indian](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d) [committee](/usc/25/5411.md?p=3) or [committees](/usc/25/5411.md?p=3) established pursuant to [section 7424(c)(4) of title 20](/usc/20/7424.md?p=c-4) or an [Indian](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d) advisory school board or boards established pursuant to [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title prior to January 4, 1975, exists in such school district, such [committee](/usc/25/5411.md?p=3) or board may, in the discretion of the affected tribal governing body or bodies, be utilized for the purposes of this section.
- (b) **Revocation of contracts—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) of the Interior may, in his discretion, revoke any contract if the contractor fails to permit a local [committee](/usc/25/5411.md?p=3) to perform its duties pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a) of this section.

# §5347. Reimbursement to school districts for educating non-resident students


Any school district educating [Indian](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d) students who are members of recognized [Indian tribes](/usc/25/81.md?p=a-2), who do not normally reside in the State in which such school district is located, and who are residing in Federal boarding facilities for the purposes of attending public schools within such district may, in the discretion of the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) of the Interior, be reimbursed by him for the full per capita costs of educating such [Indian](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d) students.


# §5348. Computation of student count

- (a) **Definitions—** For the purposes of [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title, the following definitions apply:
  - (1) **Contracting party—** The term “contracting party” means an entity that has a contract through a [program](/usc/25/3402.md?p=4) authorized under [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title.
  - (2) **Eligible entity—** The term “[eligible entity](/usc/25/4302.md?p=2)” means an entity that is eligible to apply for a contract for a supplemental or operational support [program](/usc/25/3402.md?p=4) under [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title, as outlined in [section 5342 of this title](/usc/25/5342.md).
  - (3) **Existing contracting party—** The term “existing contracting party” means a [contracting party](#a-1) that has a contract under [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title that is in effect on December 31, 2018.
  - (4) **JOM Modernization Act—** The term “JOM Modernization Act” means the Johnson-O’Malley Supplemental [Indian](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d) Education [Program](/usc/25/3402.md?p=4) Modernization Act.
  - (5) **New contracting party—** The term “new contracting party” means an entity that enters into a contract under [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title after December 31, 2018.
  - (6) **Secretary—** The term “[Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1)” means the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) of the Interior.
- (b) **Determination of the number of eligible Indian students—**
  - (1) **Initial determinations—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) shall make an initial determination of the number of [eligible Indian students](/usc/25/2511.md?p=2) served or potentially served by each [eligible entity](/usc/25/4302.md?p=2) in accordance with [subparagraph (B)](#b-1-B).
    - (B) **Process for making the initial determination—**
      - (i) **Preliminary report—** Not later than 180 days after December 31, 2018, the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) shall publish a preliminary report describing the number of [eligible Indian students](/usc/25/2511.md?p=2) served or potentially served by each [eligible entity](/usc/25/4302.md?p=2), using the most applicable and accurate data (as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) in consultation with [eligible entities](/usc/25/4302.md?p=2)) from the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the initial determination is to be made from—
        - (I) the Bureau of the Census;
        - (II) the National Center for Education Statistics; or
        - (III) the [Office](/usc/25/4001.md?p=4) of [Indian](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d) Education of the Department of Education.
      - (ii) **Data reconciliation—** To improve the accuracy of the preliminary report described in [clause (i)](#b-1-B-i) prior to publishing, the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) shall reconcile the data described in the preliminary report with—
        - (I) each [existing contracting party](#a-3)’s data regarding the number of [eligible Indian students](/usc/25/2511.md?p=2) served by the [existing contracting party](#a-3) for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the initial determination is made; and
        - (II) identifiable tribal enrollment information.
      - (iii) **Comment period—** After publishing the preliminary report under [clause (i)](#b-1-B-i) in accordance with [clause (ii)](#b-1-B-ii), the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) shall establish a 60-day comment period to gain feedback about the preliminary report from [eligible entities](/usc/25/4302.md?p=2), which the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) shall take into consideration in preparing the final report described in [clause (iv)](#b-1-B-iv).
      - (iv) **Final report—** Not later than 120 days after concluding the consultation described in [clause (iii)](#b-1-B-iii), the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) shall publish a final report on the initial determination of the number of [eligible Indian students](/usc/25/2511.md?p=2) served or potentially served by each [eligible entity](/usc/25/4302.md?p=2), including justification for not including any feedback gained during such consultation, if applicable.
  - (2) **Subsequent academic years—** For each academic year following the fiscal year for which an initial determination is made under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) to determine the number of [eligible Indian students](/usc/25/2511.md?p=2) served or potentially served by a [contracting party](#a-1), the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) shall determine the number of [eligible Indian students](/usc/25/2511.md?p=2) served by the [contracting party](#a-1) based on the reported [eligible Indian student](/usc/25/2511.md?p=2) count numbers identified through the reporting process described in [subsection (c)](#c).
- (c) **Contracting party student count reporting compliance—**
  - (1) **In general—** For each academic year following the fiscal year for which an initial determination is made under [subsection (b)](#b) to determine the number of [eligible Indian students](/usc/25/2511.md?p=2) served or potentially served by a [contracting party](#a-1), the [contracting party](#a-1) shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) a report describing the number of [eligible Indian students](/usc/25/2511.md?p=2) who were served using amounts allocated to such party under [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title during the previous fiscal year. The report shall also include an accounting of the amounts and purposes for which the contract funds were expended.
  - (2) **Failure to comply—** A [contracting party](#a-1) that fails to submit a report under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) shall receive no amounts under [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title for the fiscal year following the academic year for which the report should have been submitted.
  - (3) **Notice—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) shall provide [contracting parties](#a-1) with timely information relating to—
    - (A) initial and final reporting deadlines; and
    - (B) the consequences of failure to comply outlined in [paragraph (2)](#c-2).
  - (4) **Technical assistance—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1), acting through the [Director](/usc/25/4302.md?p=1) of the Bureau of [Indian](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d) Education, shall provide technical assistance and training on compliance with the reporting requirements of this subsection to [contracting parties](#a-1).
- (d) **Annual report—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) shall prepare an annual report, including the most recent determination of the number of [eligible Indian students](/usc/25/2511.md?p=2) served by each [contracting party](#a-1), recommendations on appropriate funding levels for the [program](/usc/25/3402.md?p=4) based on such determination, and an assessment of the contracts under [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title that the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1)—
    - (A) may include in the budget request of the Department of the Interior for each fiscal year;
    - (B) shall submit to—
      - (i) the [Committee](/usc/25/5411.md?p=3) on [Indian](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d) Affairs of the Senate;
      - (ii) the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies of the [Committee](/usc/25/5411.md?p=3) on Appropriations of the Senate;
      - (iii) the [Committee](/usc/25/5411.md?p=3) on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives; and
      - (iv) the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies of the [Committee](/usc/25/5411.md?p=3) on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
    - (C) shall make publicly available.
  - (2) **Manner of preparation—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) shall prepare the report under [paragraph (1)](#d-1) in a manner so as to prevent or minimize new administrative burdens on [contracting parties](#a-1) receiving funds under [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title.
- (e) **Hold harmless—**
  - (1) **Initial hold harmless—**
    - (A) **In general—** Except as provided under [subparagraph (B)](#e-1-B) and subject to subparagraphs [(C)](#e-1-C) and [(D)](#e-1-D), for a fiscal year, an [existing contracting party](#a-3) shall not receive an amount under [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title that is less than the amount that such [existing contracting party](#a-3) received under [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title for the fiscal year preceding December 31, 2018.
    - (B) **Exceptions—**
      - (i) **In general—** An [existing contracting party](#a-3) shall receive an amount under [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title for a fiscal year that is less than the amount that the [existing contracting party](#a-3) received under [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title for the fiscal year preceding December 31, 2018, if one or more of the following conditions is met:
        - (I) **Failure to report—** The [existing contracting party](#a-3) failed to submit a complete report described in [subsection (c)](#c) that was most recently due from the date of the determination.
        - (II) **Violations of contract or law—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) has found that the [existing contracting party](#a-3) has violated the terms of a contract entered into under [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title or has otherwise violated Federal law.
        - (III) **Student count decrease—** The number of [eligible Indian students](/usc/25/2511.md?p=2) reported by such [existing contracting party](#a-3) under [subsection (c)](#c) has decreased below the number of [eligible Indian students](/usc/25/2511.md?p=2) served by the [existing contracting party](#a-3) in the fiscal year preceding December 31, 2018.
      - (ii) **Amount of funding reduction for existing contracting parties reporting decreased student counts—** A reduction in an amount pursuant to [clause (i)(III)](#e-1-B-i-III) shall not be done in such a manner that the [existing contracting party](#a-3) receives an amount of funding per [eligible Indian student](/usc/25/2511.md?p=2) that is less than the amount of funding per [eligible Indian student](/usc/25/2511.md?p=2) such party received for the fiscal year preceding December 31, 2018.
    - (C) **Ratable reductions in appropriations—** If the funds available under [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title for a fiscal year are insufficient to pay the full amounts that all [existing contracting parties](#a-3) are eligible to receive under [subparagraph (A)](#e-1-A) for the fiscal year, the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) shall ratably reduce those amounts for the fiscal year.
    - (D) **Sunset—** This paragraph shall cease to be effective 4 years after December 31, 2018.
  - (2) **Maximum decrease after 4 years—** Beginning 4 years after December 31, 2018, no [contracting party](#a-1) shall receive for a fiscal year more than a 10 percent decrease in funding per [eligible Indian student](/usc/25/2511.md?p=2) from the previous fiscal year.
- (f) **Funding allocation and reform—**
  - (1) **Funding reform—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) may make recommendations for legislation to increase the amount of funds available per [eligible Indian student](/usc/25/2511.md?p=2) through contracts under [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title to equal to or greater than the amount of funds that were available per [eligible Indian student](/usc/25/2511.md?p=2) through contracts under [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title for fiscal year 1995, and attempt to identify additional sources of funding that do not reallocate existing funds otherwise utilized by [Indian](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d) students served—
    - (A) by the Bureau of [Indian](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d) Education; or
    - (B) under title VI of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ([20 U.S.C. 7401](/usc/20/7401.md) et seq.).
  - (2) **Increases in program funding—**
    - (A) **In general—** Subject to [subsection (e)](#e) and [subparagraph (B)](#f-2-B), for any fiscal year for which the amount appropriated to carry out [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title exceeds the amount appropriated to carry out [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title for the preceding fiscal year, the excess amounts shall—
      - (i) be allocated only to those [contracting parties](#a-1) that did not receive their full per student funding allocation for the previous fiscal year; and
      - (ii) be allocated first to [new contracting parties](#a-5) that did not receive their full per student funding allocation for the previous fiscal year.
    - (B) **Parity in funding—** [Subparagraph (A)](#f-2-A) shall have no effect after the first fiscal year for which each [contracting party](#a-1) receives their full per student funding allocation.
- (g) **Increased geographical and tribal participation in the Johnson-O’Malley supplementary education program—** To the maximum extent practicable, the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) shall consult with [Indian tribes](/usc/25/81.md?p=a-2) and contact State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and Alaska [Native](/usc/25/5802.md?p=5) organizations that have not previously entered into a contract under [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title—
  - (1) to determine the interest of the [Indian tribes](/usc/25/81.md?p=a-2), State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and Alaska [Native](/usc/25/5802.md?p=5) organizations, in entering into such contracts; and
  - (2) to share information relating to the process for entering into a contract under [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title.
- (h) **Rulemaking—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 1 year after December 31, 2018, the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1), acting through the [Director](/usc/25/4302.md?p=1) of the Bureau of [Indian](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d) Education, shall undertake and complete a rulemaking process, following the provisions of subchapter II of [chapter 5](/usc/5/chptI-ch5.md) of title 5, to—
    - (A) determine how the regulatory definition of “[eligible Indian student](/usc/25/2511.md?p=2)” may be revised to clarify eligibility requirements for [contracting parties](#a-1) under [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title;
    - (B) determine, as necessary, how the funding formula described in [section 273.31 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations](/cfr/25/273.31.md) (as in effect on the day before December 31, 2018) may be clarified and revised to ensure full participation of [contracting parties](#a-1) and provide clarity on the funding process under [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title; and
    - (C) otherwise reconcile and modernize the rules to comport with the activities of the [contracting parties](#a-1) under [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title as of December 31, 2018.
  - (2) **Report—** Not later than 30 days after the date the rulemaking under [paragraph (1)](#h-1) is complete, the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) shall submit a report to Congress describing the results of such rulemaking and necessary recommendations to ensure the full implementation of such rulemaking.
- (i) **Student privacy—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) shall ensure that data is collected and each report is prepared under this section in a manner that protects the rights of [eligible Indian students](/usc/25/2511.md?p=2) in accordance with [section 1232g of title 20](/usc/20/1232g.md) (commonly referred to as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974).
- (j) **GAO Report—** Not later than 18 months after the final report described in [subsection (b)(1)(B)(iv)](#b-1-B-iv) is published, the Comptroller General shall—
  - (1) conduct a review of the implementation of this section during the preceding 2-year period, including any factors impacting—
    - (A) the accuracy of the determinations of the number of [eligible Indian students](/usc/25/2511.md?p=2) under this section;
    - (B) the communication between the Bureau of [Indian](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d) Education and [contracting parties](#a-1); and
    - (C) the efforts by the Bureau of [Indian](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d) Education to ensure accurate and sufficient distribution of funding for [Indian](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d) students;
  - (2) submit a report describing the results of the review under [paragraph (1)](#j-1) to—
    - (A) the [Committee](/usc/25/5411.md?p=3) on [Indian](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d) Affairs of the Senate;
    - (B) the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies of the [Committee](/usc/25/5411.md?p=3) on Appropriations of the Senate;
    - (C) the Subcommittee on [Indian](/usc/25/5304.md?p=d), Insular and Alaska [Native](/usc/25/5802.md?p=5) Affairs of the [Committee](/usc/25/5411.md?p=3) on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and
    - (D) the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies of the [Committee](/usc/25/5411.md?p=3) on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
  - (3) make such report publicly available.
- (k) **Effect—** Nothing in this section—
  - (1) creates a new [program](/usc/25/3402.md?p=4) or duplicates [program](/usc/25/3402.md?p=4) activities under [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title; or
  - (2) replaces or diminishes the effect of regulations to carry out [sections 5342 to 5348](/usc/25/5342..5348.md) of this title existing on the day before December 31, 2018, unless expressly provided in this section.