‘‘(1) 
KINSHIP
GUARDIANSHIP
ASSISTANCE 
AGREEMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—In order to receive 
payments under section 474(a)(6), a State 
shall— 
‘‘(i) negotiate and enter into a writ-
ten, binding kinship guardianship assist-
ance agreement with the prospective rel-
ative guardian of a child who meets the re-
quirements of this paragraph; 
‘‘(ii) provide the prospective relative 
guardian with a copy of the agreement; 
and 
‘‘(iii) certify that any child on whose 
behalf kinship guardianship assistance pay-
ments are made under the agreement shall 
be provided medical assistance under title 
XIX 
in 
accordance 
with 
section 
1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(I). 
‘‘(B) 
MINIMUM
REQUIREMENTS.—The 
agreement shall specify, at a minimum— 
‘‘(i) the amount of, and manner in 
which, each kinship guardianship assist-
ance payment will be provided under the 
agreement;
‘‘(ii) the additional services and assist-
ance that the child and relative guardian 
will be eligible for under the agreement; 
‘‘(iii) the procedure by which the rel-
ative guardian may apply for additional 
services as needed; and 
‘‘(iv) subject to subparagraph (D), 
that the State will pay the total cost of 
nonrecurring expenses associated with ob-
taining legal guardianship of the child, to 
the extent the total cost does not exceed 
$2,000. 
‘‘(C) INTERSTATE
APPLICABILITY.—The 
agreement shall provide that the agreement 
shall remain in effect without regard to the 
State residency of the kinship guardian. 
‘‘(D) NO
EFFECT
ON
FEDERAL
REIM-
BURSEMENT.—Nothing in subparagraph (B)(iv) 
shall be construed as affecting the ability of the 
State to obtain reimbursement from the Fed-
eral Government for costs described in that 
subparagraph. 
‘‘(2) KINSHIP GUARDIANSHIP ASSISTANCE PAY-
MENT.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The kinship guardian-
ship assistance payment shall be equal to the 
amount of the foster care maintenance payment 
for which the child would have been eligible if 
the child had remained in a foster family home, 
or, at State option, the amount of the adoption 
assistance payment for which the child would 
have been eligible if the child had been adopted, 
and may be readjusted periodically based on 
changes in the circumstances of the relative 
guardians involved and the needs of the child. 
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the 
amount of the kinship guardianship assistance 
payment may not exceed the foster care mainte-
nance payment which would have been paid 
during the period involved if the child had been 
in a foster family home. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—A State may not make 
a kinship guardianship assistance payment to a 
relative guardian for any child who has attained 
18 years of age, or such greater age as the 
State may elect under section 475(8)(B)(iii). 
‘‘(3) CHILD’S
ELIGIBILITY
FOR
A
KINSHIP 
GUARDIANSHIP ASSISTANCE PAYMENT.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A child is eligible for 
a kinship guardianship assistance payment 
under this subsection if the State agency deter-
mines the following: 
‘‘(i) The child has been— 
‘‘(I) removed from his or her 
home pursuant to a voluntary place-
ment agreement or as a result of a ju-
dicial determination to the effect that 
continuation in the home would be 
contrary to the welfare of the child; 
‘‘(II) under the care of the State 
agency for the 12-month period end-
ing on the date of the agency deter-
mination; 
‘‘(III) eligible for foster care 
maintenance payments under section 
472 while in the home of the prospec-
tive relative guardian; and 
‘‘(IV) residing for at least 6 
months with the prospective relative 
guardian. 
‘‘(ii) Being returned home or adopted 
are not appropriate permanency options 
for the child.
‘‘(iii) The child demonstrates a strong 
attachment to the prospective relative 
guardian and the relative guardian has a 
strong commitment to caring permanently 
for the child. 
‘‘(iv) With respect to a child who has 
attained 14 years of age, the child has 
been consulted regarding the kinship 
guardianship arrangement. 
‘‘(B) TREATMENT OF SIBLINGS.—With re-
spect to a child described in subparagraph (A) 
whose sibling or siblings are not so described— 
‘‘(i) the child and any sibling of the 
child may be placed in the same kinship 
guardianship arrangement if the State 
agency and the relative agree on the appro-
priateness of the arrangement for the sib-
lings; and 
‘‘(ii) kinship guardianship assistance 
payments may be paid for the child and 
each sibling so placed.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) ELIGIBILITY
FOR
ADOPTION
ASSISTANCE 
PAYMENTS.—Section 473(a)(2) of such Act (42
U.S.C. 673(a)(2)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(D) In determining the eligibility for adoption 
assistance payments of a child in a legal guardian-
ship arrangement described in section 471(a)(28), 
the placement of the child with the relative guardian 
involved shall be considered never to have been 
made.’’. 
(2) STATE PLAN REQUIREMENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 471(a)(20) of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)(20)) is amended— 
(i) by adding ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (C); and 
(ii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(D) provides procedures for criminal 
records 
checks, 
including 
fingerprint-based 
checks of national crime information databases 
(as defined in section 534(e)(3)(A) of title 28, 
United States Code), on any relative guardian, 
and for checks described in subparagraph (C) 
of this paragraph on any relative guardian and 
any other adult living in the home of any rel-
ative guardian, before the relative guardian may 
be finally approved for placement of a child re-
gardless of whether kinship guardianship assist-
ance payments are to be made on behalf of the 
child under the State plan under this part;’’. 
(B) REDESIGNATION OF NEW PROVISION 
AFTER
AMENDMENT
MADE
BY
PRIOR
LAW 
TAKES EFFECT.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Section 471(a)(20) 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
671(a)(20)) is amended— 
(I) in subparagraph (D), by 
striking ‘‘(C)’’ and inserting ‘‘(B)’’; 
and 
(II) by redesignating subpara-
graph (D) as subparagraph (C). 
(ii) EFFECTIVE
DATE.—The amend-
ments made by clause (i) shall take effect 
immediately after the amendments made 
by section 152 of Public Law 109–248 
take effect. 
(3) PAYMENTS TO STATES.—Section 474(a) of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 674(a)) is amended— 
(A) by striking the period at the end and 
inserting ‘‘; plus’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(6) an amount equal to the percentage by 
which the expenditures referred to in paragraph (2) 
of this subsection are reimbursed of the total 
amount expended during such quarter as kinship 
guardianship assistance payments under section 
473(d) pursuant to kinship guardianship assistance 
agreements.’’. 
(4) DEFINITIONS.—Section 475(1) of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 675(1)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(F) In the case of a child with respect to 
whom the permanency plan is placement with a 
relative and receipt of kinship guardianship as-
sistance payments under section 473(d), a de-
scription of— 
‘‘(i) the steps that the agency has 
taken to determine that it is not appro-
priate for the child to be returned home or 
adopted; 
‘‘(ii) the reasons for any separation of 
siblings during placement; 
‘‘(iii) the reasons why a permanent 
placement with a fit and willing relative 
through a kinship guardianship assistance 
arrangement is in the child’s best interests;
‘‘(iv) the ways in which the child 
meets the eligibility requirements for a kin-
ship guardianship assistance payment; 
‘‘(v) the efforts the agency has made 
to discuss adoption by the child’s relative 
foster parent as a more permanent alter-
native to legal guardianship and, in the 
case of a relative foster parent who has 
chosen not to pursue adoption, documenta-
tion of the reasons therefor; and 
‘‘(vi) the efforts made by the State 
agency to discuss with the child’s parent or 
parents the kinship guardianship assist-
ance arrangement, or the reasons why the 
efforts were not made.’’. 
(d) CONTINUED SERVICES UNDER WAIVER.—Sec-
tion 474 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 674) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) For purposes of this part, after the termination 
of a demonstration project relating to guardianship con-
ducted by a State under section 1130, the expenditures 
of the State for the provision, to children who, as of Sep-
tember 30, 2008, were receiving assistance or services 
under the project, of the same assistance and services 
under the same terms and conditions that applied during
the conduct of the project, are deemed to be expenditures 
under the State plan approved under this part.’’. 
SEC. 3. FAMILY CONNECTION GRANTS. 
Part B of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 620–629i) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘Subpart 3—Family Connection Grants 
‘‘SEC. 441. FAMILY CONNECTION GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services may make matching grants to State, 
local, or tribal child welfare agencies, and private non-
profit organizations that have experience in working with 
foster children or children in kinship care arrangements, 
for the purpose of helping children who are in, or at risk 
of entering, foster care reconnect with family members 
through the implementation of— 
‘‘(1) kinship navigator programs designed to as-
sist kinship caregivers in navigating their way 
through programs and services, and to help the care-
givers learn about and obtain assistance to meet the 
needs of the children they are raising and their own 
needs; 
‘‘(2) intensive family-finding efforts that utilize 
search technology to find biological family members 
for children in the child welfare system, and once
identified, work to reestablish relationships and ex-
plore ways to find a permanent family placement for 
the children; or 
‘‘(3) family group decision-making meetings for 
children in the child welfare system that engage and 
empower families to make decisions and develop 
plans that nurture children and protect them from 
enduring further abuse and neglect. 
‘‘(b) APPLICATIONS.—An entity desiring to receive a 
matching grant under this section shall submit to the Sec-
retary an application, at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Secretary may require, 
including— 
‘‘(1) a description of how the grant will be used 
to implement 1 or more of the activities described in 
subsection (a); 
‘‘(2) a description of the types of children and 
families to be served, including how the children and 
families will be identified and recruited, and an ini-
tial projection of the number of children and families 
to be served; 
‘‘(3) if the entity is a private organization— 
‘‘(A) documentation of support from the 
relevant local or State child welfare agency; or
‘‘(B) a description of how the organization 
plans to coordinate its services and activities 
with those offered by the relevant local or State 
child welfare agency; and 
‘‘(4) an assurance that the entity will cooperate 
fully with any evaluation provided for by the Sec-
retary under this section. 
‘‘(c) LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) GRANT
DURATION.—The Secretary may 
award a grant under this section for a period of not 
less than 1 year and not more than 3 years. 
‘‘(2) NUMBER OF NEW GRANTEES PER YEAR.— 
The Secretary may not award a grant under this 
section to more than 20 new grantees each fiscal 
year. 
‘‘(d) FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION.—The amount of a 
grant payment to be made to a grantee under this section 
during each year in the grant period shall be the following 
percentage of the total expenditures proposed to be made 
by the grantee in the application approved by the Sec-
retary under this section: 
‘‘(1) 75 percent, if the payment is for the 1st 
or 2nd year of the grant period. 
‘‘(2) 50 percent, if the payment is for the 3rd 
year of the grant period.
SEC. 4. NOTIFICATION TO RELATIVES OF FOSTER CARE 
PLACEMENTS. 
Section 471(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
671(a)), as amended by section 2(a) of this Act, is amend-
ed— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph 
(27); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (28) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(29) provides that, not later than 30 days 
after the date the State places a child in foster care, 
the State agency shall attempt to locate and notify 
any noncustodial parents, siblings, grandparents, 
aunts, or uncles of the child who are adults, of the 
removal of the child from the custody of the child’s 
parent or parents and explain the options the rel-
ative has to participate in the care and placement of 
the child, subject to exceptions due to family or do-
mestic violence which shall be provided for under 
State law.’’.
SEC. 5. STATE OPTION FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE, 
AND CERTAIN CHILDREN IN AN ADOPTIVE OR 
GUARDIANSHIP PLACEMENT, AFTER ATTAIN-
ING AGE 18. 
(a) DEFINITION OF CHILD.—Section 475 of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 675) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(8)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the term 
‘child’ means an individual who has not attained 18 
years of age. 
‘‘(B) At the option of a State, the term shall 
include an individual— 
‘‘(i)(I) who is in foster care under the re-
sponsibility of the State; 
‘‘(II) with respect to whom an adoption as-
sistance agreement is in effect under section 
473 if the child had attained 16 years of age 
before the agreement became effective; or 
‘‘(III) with respect to whom a kinship 
guardianship assistance agreement is in effect 
under section 473(d) if the child had attained 
16 years of age before the agreement became 
effective; 
‘‘(ii) who has attained 18 years of age; 
‘‘(iii) who has not attained 19, 20, or 21 
years of age, as the State may elect; and
‘‘(iv) who is— 
‘‘(I) completing secondary education 
or a program leading to an equivalent cre-
dential; 
‘‘(II) enrolled in an institution which 
provides post-secondary or vocational edu-
cation; 
‘‘(III) participating in a program or 
activity designed to promote, or remove 
barriers to, employment; or 
‘‘(IV) employed for at least 80 hours 
per month.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT TO DEFINITION OF 
CHILD-CARE INSTITUTION.—Section 472(c)(2) of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 672(c)(2)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, ex-
cept, in the case of a child who has attained 18 years of 
age, the term shall include a supervised setting in which 
the individual is living independently, in accordance with 
such conditions as the Secretary shall establish in regula-
tions’’ before the period. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO AGE LIMITS AP-
PLICABLE TO CHILDREN ELIGIBLE FOR ADOPTION AS-
SISTANCE
OR KINSHIP GUARDIANSHIP ASSISTANCE.— 
Section 473(a)(4) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 673(a)(4)) is 
amended to read as follows:
‘‘(4)(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
section, a payment may not be made pursuant to this sec-
tion to parents or relative guardians with respect to a 
child— 
‘‘(i) who has attained— 
‘‘(I) 18 years of age, or such greater age 
as 
the 
State 
may 
elect 
under 
section 
475(8)(B)(iii); or 
‘‘(II) 21 years of age, if the State deter-
mines that the child has a mental or physical 
handicap which warrants the continuation of 
assistance; 
‘‘(ii) who has not attained 18 years of age, if 
the State determines that the parents or relative 
guardians, as the case may be, are no longer legally 
responsible for the support of the child; or 
‘‘(iii) if the State determines that the child is 
no longer receiving any support from the parents or 
relative guardians, as the case may be. 
‘‘(B) Parents or relative guardians who have been re-
ceiving adoption assistance payments or kinship guardian-
ship assistance payments under this section shall keep the 
State or local agency administering the program under 
this section informed of circumstances which would, pur-
suant to this subsection, make them ineligible for the pay-
ments, or eligible for the payments in a different 
amount.’’. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on October 1, 2010. 
SEC. 6. SHORT-TERM TRAINING FOR CHILD WELFARE 
AGENCIES, PROSPECTIVE RELATIVE GUARD-
IANS, AND COURT PERSONNEL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 474(a)(3)(B) of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 674(a)(3)(B)) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘or relative guardians’’ after 
‘‘adoptive parents’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘and the members’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘, the members’’; 
(3) by inserting ‘‘, or State-licensed or State- 
approved child welfare agencies providing services,’’ 
after ‘‘providing care’’; 
(4) by inserting ‘‘, and members of the staff of 
abuse and neglect courts, agency attorneys, attor-
neys representing children or parents, guardians ad 
litem, or other court-appointed special advocates rep-
resenting children in proceedings of such courts’’ 
after ‘‘part,’’; 
(5) by inserting ‘‘guardians,’’ before ‘‘staff 
members,’’; and
(6) by striking ‘‘and institutions’’ and inserting 
‘‘institutions, attorneys, and advocates’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2008. 
(c) PHASE-IN.—With respect to an expenditure de-
scribed in section 474(a)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act 
by reason of an amendment made by subsection (a) of this 
section, in lieu of the percentage set forth in such section 
474(a)(3)(B), the percentage that shall apply is— 
(1) 55 percent, if the expenditure is made in 
fiscal year 2009; 
(2) 60 percent, if the expenditure is made in 
fiscal year 2010; 
(3) 65 percent, if the expenditure is made in 
fiscal year 2011; or 
(4) 70 percent, if the expenditure is made in 
fiscal year 2012. 
SEC. 7. EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR FOSTER CARE AND ADOP-
TION SERVICES FOR INDIAN CHILDREN IN 
TRIBAL AREAS. 
(a) AUTHORITY FOR INDIAN TRIBES TO RECEIVE 
DIRECT
FEDERAL
TITLE
IV–E 
FUNDS.—Section 
472(a)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
672(a)(2)(B)) is amended— 
(1) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end;
(2) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end 
and inserting ‘‘or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(iii) an Indian tribe or a tribal orga-
nization (as defined in section 479B(a)) or 
a tribal consortium, if the Indian tribe, 
tribal organization, or tribal consortium— 
‘‘(I) operates a program under 
section 479B; 
‘‘(II) has a cooperative agree-
ment with a State under section 
479B(d); or 
‘‘(III) submits to the Secretary a 
description 
of 
the 
arrangements 
(jointly developed in consultation with 
the State) made by the Indian tribe or 
tribal consortium for the payment of 
funds and the provision of the child 
welfare services and protections re-
quired by this title; and’’. 
(b) PROGRAMS OPERATED BY INDIAN TRIBAL ORGA-
NIZATIONS.—Part E of title IV of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
670 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘SEC. 479B. PROGRAMS OPERATED BY INDIAN TRIBAL OR-
GANIZATIONS. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS OF INDIAN TRIBE; TRIBAL ORGA-
NIZATIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the terms ‘Indian tribe’ and ‘tribal orga-
nization’ have the meanings given those terms in 
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b). 
‘‘(2) SPECIAL RULE FOR ALASKAN TRIBES.— 
The term ‘Indian tribe’ means, with respect to the 
State of Alaska, only the Metlakatla Indian Commu-
nity of the Annette Islands Reserve and the fol-
lowing Alaska Native regional nonprofit corpora-
tions: 
‘‘(A) Artice Slope Native Association. 
‘‘(B) Kawerak, Inc. 
‘‘(C) Maniilaq Association. 
‘‘(D) Association of Village Council Presi-
dents. 
‘‘(E) Tanana Chiefs Conference. 
‘‘(F) Cook Inlet Tribal Council. 
‘‘(G) Bristol Bay Native Association. 
‘‘(H) Aleutian and Pribilof Island Associa-
tion. 
‘‘(I) Chugachmuit.
‘‘(J) Tlingit Haida Central Council. 
‘‘(K) Kodiak Area Native Association. 
‘‘(L) Copper River Native Association. 
‘‘(b) APPLICATION.—Except as provided in sub-
sections (c) and (e), this part shall apply to an Indian 
tribe, tribal organization, or a tribal consortium that elects 
to operate a program under this part in the same manner 
as this part applies to a State. 
‘‘(c) MODIFICATION OF PLAN AND OTHER REQUIRE-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In the case of an Indian 
tribe, a tribal organization, or a tribal consortium 
submitting a plan for approval under section 471, 
the plan— 
‘‘(A) shall— 
‘‘(i) in lieu of the requirements of sec-
tion 471(a)(3), identify the service area or 
areas and population to be served by the 
Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal 
consortium; and 
‘‘(ii) in lieu of the requirements of 
section 471(a)(10), provide for the estab-
lishment and application of standards for 
foster family homes and child care institu-
tions pursuant to tribal standards and in a
manner that ensures the safety of, and ac-
countability for, children placed in foster 
care; and 
‘‘(B) may, at the option of the Indian 
tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium, 
in 
lieu 
of 
the 
requirements 
of 
section 
471(a)(20), provide procedures for conducting 
background checks in accordance with the re-
quirements of section 408 of the Indian Child 
Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act 
(25 U.S.C. 3207) and regulations issued there-
under, and for conducting checks of child abuse 
and neglect registries maintained by the Fed-
eral Government, by a State, and by an Indian 
tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium 
in a manner that ensures the safety of, and ac-
countability for, children placed in foster care 
or who are being placed for adoption. 
‘‘(2) DETERMINATION
OF
FEDERAL
SHARE; 
SOURCES OF NON-FEDERAL SHARE.— 
‘‘(A) PER CAPITA INCOME.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—For purposes of 
determining the Federal medical assistance 
percentage applicable to an Indian tribe, a 
tribal organization, or a tribal consortium
under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 
474(a) (and for purposes of payments 
made under an arrangement described in 
section 472(a)(2)(B)(iii)(III)), the calcula-
tion of the per capita income of the Indian 
tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consor-
tium shall be based upon the service popu-
lation of the Indian tribe, tribal organiza-
tion, or tribal consortium as defined in the 
plan of the Indian tribe, tribal organiza-
tion, or tribal consortium, in accordance 
with paragraph (1)(A), except that in no 
case shall an Indian tribe, a tribal organi-
zation, or a tribal consortium receive less 
than the Federal medical assistance per-
centage for any State in which the tribe is 
located. 
‘‘(ii) CONSIDERATION OF OTHER IN-
FORMATION.—Before making a calculation 
under clause (i), the Secretary shall con-
sider any information submitted by an In-
dian tribe, a tribal organization, or a tribal 
consortium that the Indian tribe, tribal or-
ganization, or tribal consortium considers 
relevant to making the calculation of the
per capita income of the Indian tribe, trib-
al organization, or tribal consortium. 
‘‘(B) ADMINISTRATIVE, 
TRAINING, 
AND 
DATA COLLECTION EXPENDITURES.—The Sec-
retary shall, by regulation, determine the pro-
portions to be paid to Indian tribes, tribal orga-
nizations, and tribal consortiums pursuant to 
section 474(a)(3) for purposes of this section 
(and for purposes of payments made under an 
arrangement 
described 
in 
section 
472(a)(2)(B)(iii)(III)), except that in no case 
shall an Indian tribe, a tribal organization, or 
a tribal consortium receive a lesser proportion 
than the corresponding amount specified for a 
State in that section. 
‘‘(C) 
SOURCES
OF
NON-FEDERAL 
SHARE.—An Indian tribe, tribal organization, 
or tribal consortium may use Federal, State, 
tribal, or private funds, which may be in kind, 
fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, ad-
ministration, and services, to match payments 
for which the tribe, organization, or consortium 
is eligible under section 474. 
‘‘(3) MODIFICATION
OF
OTHER
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—On the request of an Indian tribe, tribal
‘‘(2) APPLICATION.—An Indian tribe, tribal or-
ganization, or tribal consortium desiring an allot-
ment under paragraph (1) shall submit an applica-
tion to the Secretary to directly receive such allot-
ment that includes a plan that satisfies such require-
ments of paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (b) 
as the Secretary determines are appropriate. 
‘‘(3) PAYMENTS.—The Secretary shall pay an 
Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium 
with an application and plan approved under this 
subsection from the allotment determined for the 
tribe, organization, or consortium under paragraph 
(4) of this subsection in the same manner as is pro-
vided in section 474(a)(4) (and, where requested, 
and if funds are appropriated, section 474(e)) with 
respect to a State, or in such other manner as is de-
termined appropriate by the Secretary, except that 
in no case shall an Indian tribe, a tribal organiza-
tion, or a tribal consortium receive a lesser propor-
tion of such funds than a State is authorized to re-
ceive under those sections. 
‘‘(4) ALLOTMENT.—From the amounts allotted 
to a State under subsection (c) of this section for a 
fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each Indian 
tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium with