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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
higher education grants; Indian education
Purpose
Urges the U.S. Congress to take affirmative steps to forward fund the Higher Education Grant Program (Grant Program) of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Education (U.S. BIE).
Background
The Secretary of the Interior, through the U.S. BIE, administers the Grant Program which provides grants to Indian tribes to provide financial education assistance to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native students. An Indian tribe may also use grant monies for Grant Program administrative costs as specified (25 U.S.C. § 3305). A student seeking assistance must: 1) be a member, or at least one-quarter degree Indian blood descendent of a member, of an American Indian tribe that is eligible for U.S. BIE programs and services; 2) be accepted to a nationally accredited institution of higher learning that offers an associate's or baccalaureate's degree; and 3) demonstrate financial need as determined by a financial aid officer of the collegiate institution (U.S. BIE).
The Secretary of the Interior must make one payment no later than October 1 of each fiscal year in an amount equal to one-half of the amount paid during the preceding year and a second payment consisting of the remainder by January 1 of the fiscal year. For an Indian tribe where no payment was made in the preceding fiscal year, a full payment of the amount computed for each fiscal year must be made by January 1 of the fiscal year (25 U.S.C. § 3306).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Urges the U.S. Congress to take affirmative steps to forward fund the U.S. BIE Grant Program.
2. Directs the Secretary of State to transmit copies of this memorial to the President of the U.S. Senate, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and each Member of Congress from Arizona.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 21, 2022
LB/MS/slp