Bureau of Indian Affairs May 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This proposed rule would revise regulations governing the process and criteria by which the Secretary acknowledges an Indian tribe. The revisions seek to make the process and criteria more transparent, promote consistent implementation, and increase timeliness and efficiency, while maintaining the integrity of the process. The current process has been criticized as ``broken'' or in need of reform. Specifically, the process has been criticized as too slow (a petition can take decades to be decided), expensive, burdensome, inefficient, intrusive, less than transparent and unpredictable. The proposed rule would reform the process by, among other things, institutionalizing a phased review that allows for faster decisions; reducing the documentary burden; allowing for a hearing on the proposed finding to promote transparency and process integrity; establishing the Assistant Secretary's final determination as final for the Department to promote efficiency; and establishing objective standards, where appropriate, to ensure transparency and predictability. This publication also announces the dates and locations for tribal consultation sessions and public meetings on this proposed rule.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for renewal for the collection of information for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) Part B and C Child Count. The information is currently authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0176, which expires May 31, 2014.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is seeking comments on the renewal of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the collection of information for the Solicitation of Nominations for the Advisory Board for Exceptional Children authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0179. This information collection expires September 30, 2014.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is amending its regulations to reflect a change of address for filing copies of Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) notices to the Eastern Regional Director and to update the titles of ``Area Directors'' to ``Regional Directors.'' This technical amendment is a nomenclature change that updates and corrects BIA officials' titles and the address for filing ICWA notices to the Eastern Regional Director.