An act to provide for the use and distribution of funds awarded the Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort Belknap Indian Community, Montana, and the Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana, in docket numbered 10-81L by the United States Court of Claims, and for other purposes.
PL 98-124 (S.1148), enacted 10/13/1983

PUBLIC LAW 98-124—OCT. 13, 1983 
97 STAT. 817 
Public Law 98-124 
98th Congress 
An Act 
To provide for the use and distribution of funds awarded the Assiniboine Tribe of the 
Fort Belknap Indian Community, Montana, and the Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort 
Peck Indian Reservation, Montana, in docket numbered 10-81L by the United 
States Court of Claims, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of 
America in Congress assembled, That, notwithstand-
ing any other provision of law, the funds appropriated on Septem-
ber 30, 1981, in accordance with section 1302 of the Supplemental 
Appropriation Act (31 U.S.C. 724a), in satisfaction of an award in 
United States Court of Claims docket numbered 10-81L, including 
all interest and investment income accrued, less attorney fees and 
litigation expenses, shall be divided on the basis of 42.5 percent of 
the award funds to the Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort Belknap Indian 
Community and 57.5 percent of the award funds to the Assiniboine 
Tribe of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and utilized for the 
purposes herein provided. 
SEC. 2. The funds apportioned to the Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort 
Belknap Indian Community, Montana, less the costs incurred by the 
Fort Belknap Assiniboine Treaty Committee in connection with 
planning for the use and distribution of such funds, including costs 
in connection with this legislation, and related attorney fees and 
expenses, shall be used and distributed as follows: 
(a) The Assiniboine membership roll of the Fort Belknap 
Indian Community shall be brought current to include all eligi-
ble members born on or prior to arid living on the date of 
enactment of this Act. Subsequent to the preparation and 
approval by the Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter "Secre-
tary") of this roll, the Secretary shall make a per capita distri-
bution of 80 percent of the funds (in a sum as equal as possible), 
to each duly enrolled member. The Secretary's determination 
concerning eligibility to share in the per capita payment shall 
be final. 
(b) 20 percent of these funds, and any amount remaining after 
the per capita payment, shall be held in trust and invested by 
the Secretary for the benefit of the members of the Assiniboine 
Tribe of the Fort Belknap Indian Community. The Treaty Com-
mittee of such Tribe, with the approval of the Secretary, shall 
distribute an annual family interest payment to all enrolled 
members of the Fort Belknap Assiniboine Tribe. All members 
on the Assiniboine tribal membership roll living on Novem-
ber 15 of each year shall be eligible for the annual interest 
payment. Members born after that date and living on the 
following November 15 shall be eligible for the next annual 
payment. 
SEC. 3. The funds apportioned to the Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort 
Peck Indian Reservation, Montana, less the costs incurred by the 
Fort Peck Assiniboine Council in connection with planning for the 
use and distribution of such funds, including costs in connection 
Oct. 13, 1983 
[S. 1148] 
Assiniboine 
Tribes of 
Indians, Mont. 
Distribution and 
use of funds. 
31 u s e 1304. 
Fort Belknap 
Indian 
Community, 
Mont. 
Membership 
roll. 
Per capita 
payment. 
Trust and 
investment. 
Annual family 
interest 
payment. 
Fort Peck Indian 
Reservation, 
Mont. 
97 STAT. 818 
PUBLIC LAW 98-124—OCT. 13, 1983 
Membership 
roll. 
Per capita 
payment. 
Trust and 
investment. 
Living and 
deceased 
individuals. 
Tax exemption. 
42 u s e 1305. 
Rules and 
regulations. 
with this legislation, and related attorney fees and expenses, shall 
be used and distributed as follows: 
(a) The Assiniboine membership roll of the Fort Peck Indian 
Reservation, Montana, shall be brought current to include all 
eligible members bom on or prior to and living on the date of 
enactment of this Act. Sul^equent to the preparation and 
approval by the Secretary of this roll, the Secretary shall m ^ e 
a per capita distribution of 70 percent of the funds (in sums as 
equal as possible), to each enrollee. 
(b) 30 percent of these funds and any amounts remaining 
after the per capita payment, shall be held in trust and invested 
by the Secretary for the benefit of the Assiniboine Tribe of the 
Fort Peck Indian Reservation and its members. The principal of 
the funds and the income therefrom shall be applied and used 
for the benefit of the Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort Peck Indian 
Reservation and its members in accordance with reasonable 
terms established by the Fort Peck Assiniboine Council with the 
concurrence of the Tribal Executive Board of the Assiniboine 
and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, and 
approved by the Secretary: Provided, That until such terms has 
been agreed upon, the Secretary shall fix the terms of the 
administration of the portion of the funds as to which there is 
no agreement. 
SEC. 4. The per capita shares of living competent adults shall be 
paid directly to them. Shares of deceased individual beneficiaries 
shall be determined and distributed in accordance with regulations 
of the Secretary. 
SEC. 5. 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, and the per capita or family interest payments shall 
not be considered as income or resources when determining the 
extent of eligibility for assistance under the Social Security Act or 
any Federal or federally assisted programs. 
SEC. 6. The Secretary is authorized to prescribe rules and regula-
tions to carry out the provisions of this Act, including the establish-
ment of deadlines for filing applications for enrollment. 
Approved October 13, 1983. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1148: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 98-390 (Comm. on Interior and Insular Affairs). 
SENATE REPORT No. 98-204 (Comm. on Indian Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 129 (1983): 
Aug. 3, considered and passed Senate. 
Oct. 3, considered and passed House.