Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Consolidation Act of 2015

To amend the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Demonstration Act of 1992 to facilitate the ability of Indian tribes to integrate the employment, training, and related services from diverse Federal sources, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Consolidation Act of 2015 2. Amendment of short title (a) In general Section 1 of the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Demonstration Act of 1992 ( 25 U.S.C. 3401 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Act of 1992 . (b) References Any reference in law to the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Demonstration Act of 1992 Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Act of 1992 3. Statement of purpose Section 2 of the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Act of 1992 25 U.S.C. 3401 (1) by striking The purposes of this Act are to demonstrate how Indian tribal governments can The purpose of this Act is to facilitate the ability of Indian tribes and tribal organizations to (2) by inserting from diverse Federal sources they provide (3) by striking and serve tribally-determined , and serve tribally determined (4) by inserting , while reducing administrative, reporting, and accounting costs policy of self-determination 4. Definitions Section 3 of the Indian Employment, Training, and Related Services Act of 1992 ( 25 U.S.C. 3402 (1) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: (2) Indian tribe (A) In general The terms Indian tribe tribe Indian tribe 25 U.S.C. 450b (B) Inclusion The term Indian tribe 25 U.S.C. 450b ; (2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and (3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: (4) Program The term program . 5. Integration of services authorized Section 4 of the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Act of 1992 25 U.S.C. 3403 4. Integration of services authorized The Secretary shall, after approving a plan submitted by an Indian tribe in accordance with section 8, authorize the Indian tribe to, in accordance with the plan— (1) integrate the programs and Federal funds received by the Indian tribe; and (2) coordinate the employment, training, and related services provided with those funds in a consolidated and comprehensive tribal plan. . 6. Programs affected and transfer of funds Section 5 of the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Act of 1992 25 U.S.C. 3404 5. Programs affected (a) Programs affected (1) In general The programs that may be integrated pursuant to a plan approved under section 8 shall be only programs— (A) implemented for the purpose of— (i) job training; (ii) welfare to work and tribal work experience; (iii) creating or enhancing employment opportunities; (iv) higher education; (v) skill development; (vi) assisting Indian youth and adults to succeed in the workforce; (vii) encouraging self-sufficiency; (viii) familiarizing individual participants with the world of work; (ix) facilitating the creation of job opportunities; (x) economic development; or (xi) any services related to the activities described in clauses (i) through (x); and (B) under which an Indian tribe or members of an Indian tribe— (i) are eligible to receive funds— (I) under a statutory or administrative formula making funds available to an Indian tribe; or (II) due to their status as Indians under Federal law; or (ii) have secured funds as a result of a competitive process, a noncompetitive process, or a specific designation. (2) Treatment of block grant funds For purposes of this section, programs funded by block grant funds provided to an Indian tribe, regardless of whether the block grant is for the benefit of the Indian tribe because of the status of the Indian tribe or the status of the beneficiaries the grant serves, shall be eligible to be integrated into the plan. (b) Program authorization The Secretary shall, in cooperation with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, after the Secretary approves a plan submitted by an Indian tribe or tribal organization under section 8, authorize the Indian tribe or tribal organization, as applicable, to coordinate, in accordance with the plan, federally funded employment, training, and related services programs and funding in a manner that integrates the programs and funding into a consolidated and comprehensive program. . 7. Plan requirements Section 6 of the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Act of 1992 25 U.S.C. 3405 6. Plan requirements A plan submitted to the Secretary for approval under this Act shall— (1) identify the programs to be integrated and consolidated; (2) be consistent with the purposes of this Act; (3) describe— (A) a comprehensive strategy identifying the full range of potential employment opportunities on and near the service area of the Indian tribe; (B) the education, training, and related services to be provided to assist Indians to access those employment opportunities; (C) the way in which services and program funds are to be integrated, consolidated, and delivered; and (D) the results expected from the plan; (4) identify the projected expenditures under the plan in a single budget covering all consolidated funds; (5) identify any agency of the Indian tribe to be involved in the delivery of the services integrated under the plan; (6) identify any statutory provisions, regulations, policies, or procedures that the Indian tribe believes need to be waived to implement the plan; and (7) be approved by the governing body of the Indian tribe. . 8. Plan review; waiver authority; and dispute resolution Section 7 of the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Act of 1992 25 U.S.C. 3406 (a) In general Upon receipt of a plan from an Indian tribe, the Secretary shall consult with— (1) the head of each Federal agency overseeing a program identified in the plan; and (2) the Indian tribe that submitted the plan. (b) Identification of waivers The parties identified in subsection (a) shall identify any waivers of applicable statutory, regulatory, or administrative requirements, or of Federal agency policies or procedures necessary to enable the Indian tribe to efficiently implement the plan. (c) Tribal waiver request In consultation with the Secretary, a participating Indian tribe may request that the head of each affected agency waive any statutory, regulatory, or administrative requirement, policy, or procedure identified subsection (b). (d) Waiver authority (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), notwithstanding any other provision of law, the head of each affected Federal agency shall waive any applicable statutory, regulatory, or administrative requirement, regulation, policy, or procedure promulgated by the agency that has been identified by the parties under subparagraph (b). (2) Exception The head of an affected Federal agency shall not grant a waiver under paragraph (1) if the head of the affected agency determines that a waiver will be inconsistent with— (A) the purposes of this Act; or (B) the provision of law from which the program included in the plan derives its authority that is specifically applicable to Indians. (e) Decision on waiver request (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the head of an affected agency receives a waiver request, the head of the affected agency shall decide whether to grant or deny the request. (2) Denial of request If the head of the affected agency denies a waiver request, not later than 30 days after the date on which the denial is made, the head of the affected agency shall provide the requesting Indian tribe and the Secretary with written notice of the denial and the reasons for the denial. (3) Failure to Act on request If the head of an affected agency does not make a decision under paragraph (1) by the deadline identified in that paragraph, the request shall be considered to be granted. (f) Secretarial review If the head of an affected agency denies a waiver request under subsection (e)(2), not later than 30 days after the date on which the request is denied, the Secretary shall review the denial and determine whether granting the waiver— (1) will be inconsistent with the provisions of this Act; or (2) will prevent the affected agency from fulfilling the obligations of the affected agency under this Act. (g) Interagency dispute resolution (1) In general Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary determines that granting the waiver will not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Act and will not prevent the affected agency from fulfilling the obligations of the affected agency under this Act, the Secretary shall establish and initiate an interagency dispute resolution process involving— (A) the Secretary; (B) the participating Indian tribe; and (C) the head of the affected agency. (2) Duration A dispute subject to paragraph (1) shall be resolved not later than 30 days after the date on which the process is initiated. (h) Final authority If the dispute resolution process fails to resolve the dispute between a participating Indian tribe and an affected agency, the head of the affected agency shall have the final authority to resolve the dispute. (i) Final decision Not later than 10 days after the date on which the dispute is resolved under this section, the Secretary shall provide the requesting Indian tribe with— (1) the final decision on the waiver request; and (2) notice of the right to file an appeal in accordance with the applicable provisions described in section 8(d). . 9. Plan approval; secretarial authority; review of decision Section 8 of the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Act of 1992 25 U.S.C. 3407 8. Plan approval; secretarial authority; review of decision (a) In general The Secretary shall have exclusive authority to approve or disapprove a plan submitted by an Indian tribe in accordance with section 6. (b) Approval process (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary receives a plan, the Secretary shall approve or deny the plan. (2) Approval If the Secretary approves a plan under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall authorize the transfer of program funds identified in the plan in accordance with section 13. (3) Denial If the Secretary denies the plan under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide to the Indian tribe a written notification of disapproval of the plan that contains a specific finding that clearly demonstrates, or that is supported by a controlling legal authority, that the plan does not meet the requirements described in section 6. (4) Partial Approval (A) In general If a plan is denied under paragraph (3) solely on the basis that a request for a waiver that is part of the plan has not been approved (or is subject to dispute resolution) under section 7, the Secretary shall, upon a request from the tribe, grant partial approval for those portions of the plan not affected by the request for a waiver. (B) Approval after resolution With respect to a plan described in subparagraph (A), on resolution of the request for a waiver under section 7, the Secretary shall, on a request from the tribe, approve the plan or amended plan not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary receives the request. (5) Failure to Act If the Secretary does not make a decision under paragraph (1) within 90 days of the date on which the Secretary receives the plan, the plan shall be considered to be approved. (c) Extension of time Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may extend or otherwise alter the 90-day period identified in subsection (b)(1) for not more than 90 additional days, if, before the expiration of the period, the Secretary obtains the express written consent of the Indian tribe. (d) Review of denial (1) Procedure upon refusal to approve plan If the Secretary denies a plan under subsection (b)(3), the Secretary shall— (A) state any objections in writing to the Indian tribe; (B) provide assistance to the Indian tribe to overcome the stated objections; and (C) unless the Indian tribe brings a civil action under paragraph (2), provide the Indian tribe with a hearing on the record with the right to engage in full discovery relevant to any issue raised in the matter and the opportunity for appeal on the objections raised, under such rules and regulations as the Secretary may promulgate. (2) Civil actions; concurrent jurisdiction; relief (A) In general The district courts of the United States shall have original jurisdiction of a civil action or claim against the appropriate Secretary arising under this section and over any civil action or claim against the Secretary for money damages arising under contracts authorized by this section. (B) Administrative hearing and appeal not required An Indian tribe may bring a civil action or claim under this paragraph without regard to whether the Indian tribe had a hearing or filed an appeal under paragraph (1). (C) Relief In an action brought under this paragraph, the court may order appropriate relief, including— (i) money damages; (ii) injunctive relief against any action by an officer or employee of the United States or any agency thereof contrary to this Act or regulations promulgated thereunder (including immediate injunctive relief to reverse a denial of a plan under this section or to compel the Secretary to approve a plan); and (iii) a writ of mandamus to compel an officer or employee of the United States, or any agency thereof, to perform a duty provided under this Act or regulations promulgated hereunder. (3) Burden of proof at hearing or appeal declining contract; final agency action (A) In general With respect to any hearing or appeal conducted under paragraph (1)(C) or any civil action brought under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall have the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence the validity of the grounds for denying approval of a plan (or portion thereof). (B) Agency action Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a decision by an official of the Department of the Interior or the Department of Health and Human Services, as appropriate (collectively referred to in this paragraph as the Department (i) by an official of the Department who holds a position at a higher organizational level within the Department than the level of the departmental agency (such as the Indian Health Service or the Bureau of Indian Affairs) in which the decision that is the subject of the appeal was made; or (ii) by an administrative judge. (4) Application of laws to administrative appeals Section 504 of title 5, United States Code, and section 2412 of title 28, United States Code, shall apply to any administrative appeals pending on or filed after October 5, 1988, by an Indian tribe regarding a plan under this Act. . 10. Employer training placements Section 10 of the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Act of 1992 25 U.S.C. 3409 10. Employer training placements (a) In general Subject to subsection (b), an Indian tribe that has in place an approved plan under this Act may use the funds made available for the plan under this Act— (1) to place participants in training positions with employers; and (2) to pay the participants a training allowance or wage for a training period of not more than 24 months, which may be nonconsecutive. (b) Requirements An Indian tribe may carry out subsection (a) only if the Indian tribe enters into a written agreement with each applicable employer under which the employer shall agree— (1) to provide on-the-job training to the participants; and (2) on satisfactory completion of the training period described in subsection (a)(2), to prioritize the provision of permanent employment to the participants. . 11. Federal responsibilities Section 11 of the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Act of 1992 25 U.S.C. 3410 11. Federal responsibilities (a) Lead agency (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the lead agency responsible for implementation of this Act shall be the Bureau of Indian Affairs. (2) Inclusions The responsibilities of the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in carrying out this Act shall include— (A) the development of a single model report for each Indian tribe that has in place an approved plan under this Act to submit to the Director reports on any consolidated activities undertaken and joint expenditures made under the plan; (B) the provision, directly or through contract, of appropriate voluntary and technical assistance to participating Indian tribes; (C) the development and use of a single monitoring and oversight system for plans approved under this Act; (D) (i) the receipt of all funds covered by a plan approved under this Act; and (ii) the distribution of the funds to the respective Indian tribes by not later than 45 days after the date of receipt of the funds from the appropriate Federal department or agency; and (E) (i) the performance of activities described in section 7 relating to agency waivers; and (ii) the establishment of an interagency dispute resolution process. (3) Memorandum of agreement (A) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Consolidation Act of 2014 (B) Inclusions The memorandum of agreement under subparagraph (A) shall include provisions relating to— (i) an annual meeting of participating Indian tribes and Federal departments and agencies, to be co-chaired by— (I) a representative of the President; and (II) a representative of the participating Indian tribes; (ii) an annual review of the achievements under this Act and any statutory, regulatory, administrative, or policy obstacles that prevent participating Indian tribes from fully and efficiently carrying out the purposes of this Act; and (iii) a forum comprised of participating Indian tribes and Federal departments and agencies to identify and resolve interagency conflicts and conflicts between the Federal Government and Indian tribes in the administration of this Act. (b) Report format (1) In general The lead agency shall develop and distribute to Indian tribes that have in place an approved plan under this Act a single report format, in accordance with the requirements of this Act. (2) Requirements The lead agency shall ensure that the report format developed under paragraph (1), together with records maintained by each participating Indian tribe, contains information sufficient— (A) to determine whether the Indian tribe has complied with the requirements of the approved plan of the Indian tribe; and (B) to provide assurances to the head of each applicable Federal department or agency that the Indian tribe has complied with all directly applicable statutory and regulatory requirements not waived under section 7. (3) Limitation The report format developed under paragraph (1) shall not require a participating Indian tribe to report on the expenditure of funds (expressed by fund source or single agency code) transferred to the Indian tribe under an approved plan under this Act. . 12. No reduction in amounts Section 12 of the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Act of 1992 25 U.S.C. 3411 12. No reduction in amounts (a) In general In no case shall the amount of Federal funds available to an Indian tribe that has in place an approved plan under this Act be reduced as a result of— (1) the enactment of this Act; or (2) the approval or implementation of a plan of an Indian tribe under this Act. (b) Interaction with other laws The inclusion of a program in a tribal plan under this Act shall not— (1) modify, limit, or otherwise affect the eligibility of the program for contracting under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 450 et seq. (2) eliminate the applicability of any provision of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 450 et seq. . 13. Transfer of funds Section 13 of the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Act of 1992 25 U.S.C. 3412 13. Transfer of funds (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, not later than 30 days after the date of apportionment to the applicable Federal department or agency, the head of a Federal agency overseeing a program identified in a plan approved under this Act shall transfer to the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs for distribution to an Indian tribe any funds identified in the approved plan of the Indian tribe. (b) Transfer of funds Notwithstanding any other provision of law, at the request of the Indian tribe, all program funds transferred to an Indian tribe in accordance with the approved plan of the Indian tribe shall be transferred to the Indian tribe pursuant to an existing contract, compact, or funding agreement awarded pursuant to title I or IV of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 450 et seq. . 14. Administration of funds Section 14 of the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Act of 1992 ( 25 U.S.C. 3413 (1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (d); (2) by striking the section designation and heading and all that follows through subsection (a) and inserting the following: 14. Administration of funds (a) Requirements (1) In general (A) Consolidation and reallocation of funds Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all amounts transferred to a tribe pursuant to an approved plan may be consolidated, reallocated, and rebudgeted as specified in the approved plan to best meet the employment, training, and related needs of the local community served by the Indian tribe. (B) Authorized use of funds The amounts used to carry out a plan approved under this Act shall be administered in such manner as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to ensure the amounts are spent on activities authorized under the approved plan. (C) Effect Nothing in this section interferes with the ability of the Secretary or the lead agency to use accounting procedures that conform to generally accepted accounting principles, auditing procedures, and safeguarding of funds that conform to chapter 75 Single Audit Act of 1984 (2) Separate records and audits not required Notwithstanding any other provision of law (including regulations and circulars of any agency (including Office of Management and Budget Circular A–133)), an Indian tribe that has in place an approved plan under this Act shall not be required— (A) to maintain separate records that trace any service or activity conducted under the approved plan to the program for which the funds were initially authorized or transferred; (B) to allocate expenditures among such a program; or (C) to audit expenditures by the original source of the program. (b) Carryover (1) In general Any funds transferred to an Indian tribe under this Act that are not obligated or expended prior to the beginning of the fiscal year after the fiscal year for which the funds were appropriated shall remain available for obligation or expenditure without fiscal year limitation, subject to the condition that the funds shall be obligated or expended in accordance with the approved plan of the Indian tribe. (2) No additional documentation The Indian tribe shall not be required to provide any additional justification or documentation of the purposes of the approved plan as a condition of receiving or expending the funds. (c) Indirect costs Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an Indian tribe shall be entitled to recover 100 percent of any indirect costs incurred by the Indian tribe as a result of the transfer of funds to the Indian tribe under this Act. ; and (3) in subsection (d) (as redesignated by paragraph (1))— (A) by striking All administrative (1) In general All administrative ; and (B) by striking regulations) regulations). (2) Treatment The amount equal to the difference between the amount of the commingled funds and the actual administrative cost of the programs, as described in paragraph (1), shall be considered to be properly spent for Federal audit purposes if the amount is used to achieve the purposes of this Act. (e) Matching Funds Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any funds transferred to an Indian tribe under this Act shall be treated as non-Federal funds for purposes of meeting matching requirements under any other Federal law. (f) Claims The following provisions of law shall apply to plans approved under this Act: (1) Section 314 of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1991 ( Public Law 101–512 (2) Chapter 171 Federal Tort Claims Act (g) Interest or other income (1) In general An Indian tribe shall be entitled to retain interest earned on any funds transferred to the tribe under an approved plan and such interest shall not diminish the amount of funds the Indian tribe is authorized to receive under the plan in the year the interest is earned or in any subsequent fiscal year. (2) Prudent investment Funds transferred under a plan shall be managed in accordance with the prudent investment standard. . 15. Labor market information on Indian work force Section 17(a) of the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Act of 1992 ( 25 U.S.C. 3416(a) (1) by striking The Secretary manner, The Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary, Indian tribes, and the Director of the Bureau of the Census, shall (2) by striking , by gender, 16. Repeals; conforming amendments (a) Repeals Sections 15 and 16 of the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Act of 1992 ( 25 U.S.C. 3414 (b) Conforming amendments Sections 17 and 18 of the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Act of 1992 ( 25 U.S.C. 3416 17. Effect of Act Nothing in this Act or any amendment made by this Act— (1) affects any plan approved under the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Act of 1992 ( 25 U.S.C. 3401 et seq. (2) requires any Indian tribe or tribal organization to resubmit a plan described in paragraph (1); or (3) modifies the effective period of any plan described in paragraph (1). March 9, 2016 Reported without amendment

Summary: Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Consolidation Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Demonstration Act of 1992 to rename the Act to the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Act of 1992 and to revise the program that provides for the integration of employment, training, and related services programs for Indian tribes. (Sec. 6) The bill revises the types of programs that may be integrated. (Sec. 8) The bill revises the process for: (1) federal agencies to grant or deny a tribe's request to waive statutory, regulatory, or administrative requirements to efficiently implement an integration plan; and (2) the Department of the Interior to approve or disapprove an integration plan. A tribe is granted certain hearing and appeal rights if Interior disapproves its plan. (Sec. 10) Tribal authority to use funds to place participants in training positions with employers is revised. (Sec. 13) The Bureau of Indian Affairs must receive and distribute funds for use in accordance with an approved integration plan. (Sec. 14) Funds transferred to a tribe must be treated as non-federal funds for purposes of meeting matching requirements. Civil liability limitations apply to approved integration plans.