Indian Employment, Training, and Related Services Demonstration Act Amendments of 2000

Summary: Permits a regional consortium of Alaska Native villages or regional or village corporations to carry out a project under a plan that meets the Act's requirements through a resolution adopted by the governing body of that consortium or corporation. Provides that such authorization shall not prohibit such a village or corporation from withdrawing from participation in any portion of a program.
(Sec. 104) Requires the Secretaries of the Interior, Health and Human Services, and Labor, and the tribes and organizations participating in the integration initiative under the Act to report to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and the House Committee on Resources on the opportunities for expanding the integration of human resource development and economic development programs, and the feasibility of establishing Joint Funding Agreements to authorize tribes to access and coordinate funds and resources from various agencies for purposes of human resources development, physical infrastructure development, and economic development assistance in general. Requires such report to identify programs or activities that might be integrated and make recommendations for the removal of any statutory or other barriers to such integration.
Title II: Limitation on Parties Liable in Certain Land Disputes
 - Provides that, in any action brought claiming an interest in land or natural resources located in Oneida or Madison counties in the State of New York that arises from: (1) the failure of Congress to approve or ratify the transfer of such land or natural resources from, by, or on behalf of any Indian nation, tribe, or band; or (2) a violation of any U.S. law that is specifically applicable to the transfer of land or natural resources from, by, or on behalf of any Indian nation, tribe, or band, liability shall be limited to the party to whom the Indian nation, tribe, or band allegedly transferred the land or natural resources.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Indian Employment, Training and 
Related Services Demonstration Act Amendments of 2000''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS, PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
            (1) Indian tribes and Alaska Native organizations that have 
        participated in carrying out programs under the Indian 
        Employment, Training, and Related Services Demonstration Act of 
        1992 (25 U.S.C. 3401 et seq.) have--
                    (A) improved the effectiveness of employment-
                related services provided by those tribes and 
                organizations to their members;
                    (B) enabled more Indian and Alaska Native people to 
                prepare for and secure employment;
                    (C) assisted in transitioning tribal members from 
                welfare to work; and
                    (D) otherwise demonstrated the value of integrating 
                employment, training, education and related services.
                    (E) the initiatives under the Indian Employment, 
                Training, and Related Services Demonstration Act of 
                1992 should be strengthened by ensuring that all 
                Federal programs that emphasize the value of work may 
                be included within a demonstration program of an Indian 
                or Alaska Native organization;
                    (F) the initiatives under the Indian Employment, 
                Training, and Related Services Demonstration Act of 
                1992 should have the benefit of the support and 
                attention of the officials with policymaking authority 
                of--
                            (i) the Department of the Interior;
                            (ii) other Federal agencies that administer 
                        programs covered by the Indian Employment, 
                        Training, and Related Services Demonstration 
                        Act of 1992.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to demonstrate how 
Indian tribal governments can integrate the employment, training and 
related services they provide in order to improve the effectiveness of 
those services, reduce joblessness in Indian communities, foster 
economic development on Indian lands, and serve tribally-determined 
goals consistent with the policies of self-determination and self-
governance.

SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE INDIAN EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING AND RELATED 
              SERVICES DEMONSTRATION ACT OF 1992.

    (a) Definitions.--Section 3 of the Indian Employment, Training, and 
Related Services Demonstration Act of 1992 (25 U.S.C. 3402) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as 
        paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting before paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(1) Federal agency.--The term `federal agency' has the 
        same meaning given the term `agency' in section 551(1) of title 
        5, United States Code.''.
    (b) Programs Affected.--Section 5 of the Indian Employment, 
Training, and Related Services Demonstration Act of 1992 (25 U.S.C. 
3404) is amended by striking ``job training, tribal work experience, 
employment opportunities, or skill development, or any program designed 
for the enhancement of job opportunities or employment training'' and 
inserting the following: ``assisting Indian youth and adults to succeed 
in the workforce, encouraging self-sufficiency, familiarizing Indian 
Youth and adults with the world of work, facilitating the creation of 
job opportunities and any services related to these activities''.
    (c) Plan Review.--Section 7 of the Indian Employment, Training, and 
Related Services Demonstration Act of 1992 (25 U.S.C. 3406) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``Federal department'' and inserting 
        ``Federal agency'';
            (2) by striking ``Federal departmental'' and inserting 
        ``Federal agency'';
            (3) by striking ``department'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``agency''; and
            (4) in the third sentence, by inserting ``statutory 
        requirement,'', after ``to waive any''.
    (d) Plan Approval.--Section 8 of the Indian Employment, Training, 
and Related Services Demonstration Act of 1992 (25 U.S.C. 3407) is 
amended--
            (1) in the first sentence, by inserting before the period 
        at the end the following; ``, including any request for a 
        waiver that is made as part of the plan submitted by the tribal 
        government'';
            (2) in the second sentence, by inserting before the period 
        at the end the following: ``, including reconsidering the 
        disapproval of any waiver requested by the Indian tribe''.
    (e) Job Creation Activities Authorized.--Section 9 of the Indian 
Employment, Training, and Related Services Demonstration Act of 1992 
(25 U.S.C. 3407) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``The plan 
        submitted''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Job Creation Opportunities.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provisions of 
        law, including any requirement of a program that is integrated 
        under a plan under this Act, a tribal government may use a 
        percentage of the funds made available under this Act (as 
        determined under paragraph (2)) for the creation of employment 
        opportunities, including providing private sector training 
        placement under section 10.
            ``(2) Determination of percentage.--The percentage of funds 
        that a tribal government may use under this subsection is the 
        greater of--
                    ``(A) the rate of unemployment in the service area 
                of the tribe up to a maximum of 25 percent; or
                    ``(B) 10 percent.
    ``(c) Limitation.--The funds used for an expenditure described in 
subsection (a) may only include funds made available to the Indian 
tribe by a Federal agency under a statutory or administrative 
formula.''.

SEC. 4. REPORT ON EXPANDING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROGRAM INTEGRATION.

    Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the 
Secretary of Labor, and the tribes and organizations participating in 
the integration initiative under this Act shall submit a report to the 
Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
Resources of the House of Representatives on the opportunities for 
expanding the integration of human resource development and economic 
development programs under this Act, and the feasibility of 
establishing Joint Funding Agreements to authorize tribes to access and 
coordinated funds and resources from various agencies for purposes of 
human resources development, physical infrastructure development, and 
economic development assistance in general. Such report shall identify 
programs or activities which might be integrated and make 
recommendations for the removal of any statutory or other barriers to 
such integration.

SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on 
the date of enactment of this Act.

            Passed the Senate May 18, 2000.

            Attest:

                                                    GARY SISCO,

                                                             Secretary.