A bill to provide for the disposition of funds appropriated to pay a judgment in favor of the Grand River Band of Ottawa Indians in Indian Claims Commission Docket numbered 40-K, and for other purposes.
PL 94-540 (S.1659), enacted 10/18/1976

PUBLIC LAW 94-540—OCT. 18, 1976 
90 STAT. 2503 
Public Law 94-540 
94th Congress 
An Act 
To provide for the disposition of funds appropriated to pay a judgment in favor 
of the Grand River Band of Ottawa Indians in Indian Claims Commission 
docket numbered 40-K, and for other purposes. 
Oct. 18, 1976 
[S. 1659] 
Grand River 
Band of Ottawa 
Indians. 
Judgment funds. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assemhled, That, notwithstand-
ing any other provision of law, the funds appropriated by the Act of 
October 21,1968 (82 Stat. 1190,1198), to pay a judgment to the Grand 
River Band of Ottawa Indians in Indian Claims Commission docket 
numbered 40-K, together with any interest thereon, after payment 
of attorney fees and litigation expenses and such expenses as may be 
necessary in effecting the provisions of this Act, shall be distributed 
as provided herein. 
SEC. 2. The Secretary of the Interior shall prepare a roll of all Requirements, 
persons of Grand River Band of Ottawa Indian blood who meet the 
following requirements for eligibility: (a) they were born on or prior 
to and were living on the date of this Act; and (b) their name or the 
name of a lineal ancestor from whom they claim eligibility appears 
as a Grand River Ottawa on the Ottawa and Chippewa Tribe of 
Michigan, Durant Roll of 1908, approved by the Secretary of the 
Interior, February 18, 1910, or on any available census rolls or other 
records acceptable to the Secretary of the Interior; (c) who possess 
Grand River Ottawa Indian blood of the degree or one-fourth or 
more; and (d) are citizens of the United States. 
SEC. 3. Applications for enrollment must be filed with the Great Applications. 
Lakes Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs at Ashland, Wisconsin, 
in the manner and within the time limits prescribed for that purpose. 
The determination of the Secretary of the Interior regarding the 
eligibility of an applicant shall be final. 
SEC. 4. The judgment funds shall be distributed per capita to the Distribution, 
persons whose names appear on the roll prepared in accordance with 
section 2 of this Act. 
SEC. 5. Sums payable to adult living enrollees or to adult heirs or 
legatees of deceased enrollees shall be paid directly to such persons. 
Sums payable to enrollees or their heirs or legatees who are less than 
eighteen years of age or who are under legal disability shall be paid 
in accordance with such procedures, including the establishment of 
trustees, as the Secretary of the Interior determines appropriate to 
protect the best interests of such persons. 
90 STAT. 2504 
PUBLIC LAW 94-540—OCT. 18, 1976 
Income tax, 
exemption. 
Rules and 
regulations. 
SEC. 6. None of the funds distributed per capita or held in trust 
under the provisions of this Act shall be subject to Federal or State 
income taxes, nor shall such funds or their availability be considered 
as income or other resources or otherwise utilized as the basis for 
denying or reducing the financial assistance or other benefits to which 
such household or member would otherwise be entitled to under the 
Social Security Act or any other Federal or federally assisted program. 
SEC. 7. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to prescribe 
rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
Approved October 18, 1976. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
SENATE REPORT No. 94-577 (Comm. on Interior and Insular Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 121 (1975): Dec. 19, considered and passed Senate. 
Vol. 122 (1976): Oct. 1, considered and passed House.