Native American Census Participation Enhancement Act of 1999

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Native American Census Participation 
Enhancement Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) 2000 Census.--The term ``2000 census'' means the 2000 decennial 
census of population.
    (b) Bureau.--The term ``Bureau'' means the Bureau of the Census.
    (c) Indian Tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the meaning given 
that term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and 
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(e)).
    (d) Indian Lands.--For purposes of this title, the term ``Indian 
lands'' shall include lands within the definition of ``Indian 
country'', as defined in 18 U.S.C. 1151; or ``Indian reservations'' as 
defined in section 3(d) of the Indian Financing Act of 1974, 25 U.S.C. 
1452(d), or section 4(10) of the Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 U.S.C. 
1903(10). For purposes of this definition, such section 3(d) of the 
Indian Financing Act of 1974 shall be applied by treating the term 
``former Indian reservations in Oklahoma'' as including only those 
lands which are within the jurisdictional area of an Oklahoma Indian 
Tribe (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior) and are 
recognized by such Secretary as eligible for trust land status under 25 
CFR part 151 (as in effect on the date of enactment of this sentence).
    (e) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
Commerce.
    (f) Tribal Organization.--The term ``tribal organization'' has the 
meaning given that term by section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination 
and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).

SEC. 3. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) article I of the United States Constitution provides 
        that an enumeration be taken of the United States population 
        every 10 years to permit the apportionment of Representatives 
        and for other purposes;
            (2) information collected through the decennial census is 
        used to determine--
                    (A) the boundaries of congressional districts 
                within States;
                    (B) the boundaries of the districts for the 
                legislature of each State and the boundaries of other 
                political subdivisions within the States; and
                    (C) the allocation of billions of dollars of 
                Federal and State funds;
            (3) the enumeration of Native Americans has not been 
        accurate and has led to an undercounting of the Native American 
        population living on Indian lands and in rural areas;
            (4) the United States has a legal obligation to conduct an 
        enumeration of the census in all communities in the United 
        States, including Native communities; and
            (5) Tribal governments and Native Americans have an 
        obligation to answer the census and ensure they are represented 
        in the census.

              TITLE I--GRANTS TO TRIBES AND ORGANIZATIONS

SECTION 1. PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION.

    In order to improve Native American participation in the 2000 
census, the Secretary may, in accordance with the provisions of this 
Act, provide for grants to be made to Indian tribes and tribal 
organizations, consistent with the purposes of this Act.

SEC. 2. APPLICATIONS.

    (a) Applications Required.--Each entity referred to in section 2 
that wishes to receive a grant under this Act shall submit an 
application at such time, in such form, and complete with such 
information as the Secretary shall by regulation require, except that 
any such application shall include at least--
            (1) a statement of the objectives for which the grant is 
        sought; and
            (2) a description of the types of programs and activities 
        for which the grant is sought.
    (b) Notice of Approval or Disapproval.--Each entity submitting an 
application under subsection (a) shall, not later than 60 days after 
the date of its submission, be notified in writing as to whether such 
application is approved or disapproved.

SEC. 3. MATCHING REQUIREMENT.

    (a) In General.--A grant may not be made to an entity under this 
Act unless such entity agrees, with respect to the costs to be incurred 
by such entity in carrying out the programs an activities for which the 
grant is made, to make available non-Federal contributions in an amount 
equal to not less than 50 percent of the Federal funds provided under 
the grant.
    (b) Non-Federal Contributions.--An entity receiving a grant under 
this Act may meet the requirement under subsection (a) through--
            (1) the use of amounts from non-Federal sources; or
            (2) in-kind contributions, fairly evaluated, but only if 
        and to the extent allowable under section 9.

SEC. 4. ALLOCATION.

    The Secretary shall allocate the amounts appropriated to carry out 
this Act equitably and in a manner that best achieves the purposes of 
this Act.

SEC. 5. USE OF GRANT FUNDS.

    A grant made under this Act may be used only for one or more of the 
following:
            (1) To train volunteers to assist individuals residing on 
        Indian lands to complete and return census questionnaires.
            (2) To educate Native American and the public about the 
        importance of participating in the 2000 census.
            (3) To educate Native Americans and the public about the 
        confidentiality that is accorded to information collected in 
        the 2000 census.
            (4) To recruit candidates to apply for census office and 
        field enumerator positions.
            (5) To sponsor community events to promote the 2000 census.
            (6) To produce community-tailored promotional materials.
            (7) To rent space to provide any of the training described 
        in this section.

SEC. 6. REGULATIONS.

    Any regulations to carry out this Act shall be prescribed not later 
than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act. The regulations 
shall include--
            (1) provisions requiring that any application for a grant 
        under this Act be submitted to the appropriate regional center 
        or area office of the Bureau of the Census, as identified under 
        the regulations; and
            (2) provisions under which the decision to approve or 
        disapprove any such application shall be made by the head of 
        the appropriate center or office in accordance with guidelines 
        set forth in the regulations.

              TITLE II--RECRUITMENT OF TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES

SECTION 1. RECRUITING TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES.

    (a) Compensation Shall Not Be Taken Into Account.--Section 23 of 
title 13, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(d)(1) As used in this subsection, the term `temporary census 
position' shall mean a temporary position within the Bureau, 
established for purposes related to the 2000 census, as determined 
under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe.
    ``(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the earning or 
receipt by an individual of compensation for service performed by such 
individual in a temporary census position shall not have the effect of 
causing--
            ``(A) such individual or any other individual to become 
        eligible for any benefits described in paragraph (3)(A); or
            ``(B) a reduction in the amount of any benefits described 
        in paragraph (3)(A) for which such individual or any other 
        individual would otherwise be eligible.
    ``(3) This subsection--
            ``(A) shall apply with respect to benefits provided under 
        any Federal program or under any State, tribal or local program 
        financed in whole or in part with Federal funds;
            ``(B) shall apply only with respect to compensation for 
        service performed during calendar year 2000; and
            ``(C) shall not apply if the individual performing the 
        service involved was first appointed to a temporary census 
        position (whether such individual's then current position or a 
        previous one) before January 1, 2000.''.
    (2) Nothing in the amendment made by paragraph (1) shall be 
considered to apply with respect to Public Law 101-86 or the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986.
    (b) Reemployed Annuitants and Former Members of the Uniformed 
Services.--Public Law 101-86 (13 U.S.C. 23) is amended--
            (1) in section 1(b) and the long title by striking ``the 
        1990 decennial census'' and inserting ``the 2000 decennial 
        census''; and
            (2) in section 4 by striking ``December 31, 1990'' and 
        inserting December 31, 2000''.

SECTION 2. CENSUS ASSISTANTS.

    (a) In General.--Subject to available appropriations, and after 
consulting with Indian tribes, the Secretary may provide such 
reasonable and appropriate incentives to facilitate and encourage 
volunteers to assist in the enumeration of Native Americans.
    (b) Reimbursements.--In his discretion, the Secretary may reimburse 
volunteers for fuel and mileage expenses; meals and related expenses; 
and other reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by assistants in 
the conduct of the Census.
    (c) Debt Relief.--In consultation with the Secretary of the 
Treasury, the Secretary shall develop and implement a program of 
undergraduate or graduate debt relief for those Census assistants that 
have provided significant service in the conduct of the enumeration of 
the Census.

Summary: (Sec. 3) Requires: (1) grant applications to include at least a statement of objectives, and a description of the programs and activities, for which the grant is sought; and (2) grant applicants to agree to make available non-Federal contributions in an amount equal to 50 percent of the Federal funds provided under the grant.
(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary to allocate the amounts appropriated to carry out this Act equitably and in a manner that best achieves the purposes of this Act.
(Sec. 5) Allows a grant to be used only to: (1) train volunteers to assist individuals residing on Indian lands to complete and return census questionnaires; (2) educate Native Americans and the public about the importance of participating in the 2000 census and the confidentiality that is accorded to information collected; (3) recruit candidates to apply for census office and field enumerator positions; (4) sponsor community events to promote the 2000 census; (5) produce community-tailored promotional materials; or (6) rent space to provide any such training.
Title II: Recruitment of Temporary Employees
 - Prohibits the earning or receipt of compensation for service performed by an individual in a temporary census position (a temporary position within the Bureau of the Census established for purposes relating to the 2000 decennial census of population) from having the effect of causing: (1) such individual or any other individual to become ineligible for any benefits provided under any Federal program or any State, tribal, or local program financed with Federal funds; or (2) a reduction in the amount of any such benefits for which such individual or any other individual would otherwise be eligible. Makes such requirement applicable only with respect to compensation for service performed during calendar year 2000. Prohibits the application of such requirement if the individual performing the service involved was first appointed to such position (whether such individual's then current position or a previous one) before January 1, 2000.
Modifies Federal law regarding exemptions from certain provisions relating to offsets from pay and other benefits for reemployed annuitants and former uniformed service members to make such law: (1) applicable to service in any temporary position within the Bureau established for purposes relating to the 2000 decennial census; and (2) inapplicable to any service performed after December 31, 2000.
 Allows the Secretary to provide such reasonable and appropriate incentives to facilitate and encourage volunteers to assist in the enumeration of Native Americans and reimburse them for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by assistants in conducting the Census.
Directs the Secretary to develop and implement a program of undergraduate or graduate debt relief for those Census assistants that have provided significant service.