Safe Academic Facilities and Environments for Tribal Youth Act or the SAFETY Act
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to carry out a Tribal School Construction Demonstration Program to award grants to Indian tribes for the construction of replacement tribal schools. The program provides additional funding and opportunities for tribes to construct schools. Tribes on the Interior priority list for construction of tribal schools receive the highest priority for a grant under this program.
This bill amends the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978 to revise the grant program for construction at tribal colleges and universities. The bill eliminates the requirements for Interior to identify the need for construction and tribal colleges and universities to provide matching funds. Restrictions on grant amounts and the use of constructed facilities are removed.
This bill amends the Housing Act of 1949 to authorize the Department of Agriculture to award grants to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal housing entities for the construction or renovation of housing in rural areas for educators at Indian schools and schools where at least 25% of the students are Indian.
The Bureau of Indian Education and the Office of Management and Budget must develop a 10-year plan to bring up to good condition certain Bureau of Indian Education school facilities.
The Government Accountability Office must report on Impact Aid for construction provided to local education agencies impacted by military dependent children and children who reside on Indian lands.
[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4744 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
114th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4744
To require the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a 5-year
demonstration program to provide grants to eligible Indian tribes for
the construction of tribal schools, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 15, 2016
Mrs. Kirkpatrick introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the
Committees on Financial Services and Natural Resources, for a period to
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a 5-year
demonstration program to provide grants to eligible Indian tribes for
the construction of tribal schools, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Safe Academic Facilities and
Environments for Tribal Youth Act'' or the ``SAFETY Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of the Interior.
(2) Indian.--The term ``Indian'' means a member of an
Indian tribe.
(3) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 3. TRIBAL SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Construction of replacement tribal school.--The term
``construction of a replacement tribal school'' includes the
construction or renovation of--
(A) 1 or more facilities of that school; or
(B) the entire campus of that school.
(2) Demonstration program.--The term ``demonstration
program'' means the Tribal School Construction Demonstration
Program carried out under subsection (b).
(3) Eligible indian tribe.--The term ``eligible Indian
tribe'' means an Indian tribe that submits an application that
is approved by the Secretary under subsection (b)(4).
(4) Tribal school.--The term ``tribal school'' means--
(A) a school operated by the Bureau of Indian
Affairs;
(B) a school operated pursuant to the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
450 et seq.); and
(C) a tribally controlled school (as defined in
section 5212 of the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of
1988 (25 U.S.C. 2511)).
(b) Demonstration Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a
demonstration program to be known as the ``Tribal School
Construction Demonstration Program'' for fiscal years 2017
through 2021, to provide grants to eligible Indian tribes for
the construction of replacement tribal schools.
(2) Purposes.--The purposes of the demonstration program
shall be--
(A) to provide additional Indian tribes fair
opportunities to construct replacement tribal schools;
(B) to accelerate construction of needed
educational facilities in Indian country; and
(C) to permit additional funds to be provided for
the priority list of the Department for construction of
replacement tribal schools.
(3) Grant recipients.--
(A) In general.--In carrying out the demonstration
program, subject to the availability of appropriations,
the Secretary shall award a grant to each eligible
Indian tribe.
(B) Priority.--The Secretary shall ensure that an
eligible Indian tribe currently on the priority list of
the Department for construction of replacement tribal
schools receives the highest priority for a grant under
this section.
(4) Grant applications.--An application for a grant under
the section shall--
(A) include a proposal for the construction of a
replacement tribal school of the Indian tribe that
submits the application; and
(B) be in such form as the Secretary determines
appropriate.
(5) Grant agreement.--As a condition of receiving a grant
under this section, the eligible Indian tribe shall enter into
an agreement with the Secretary that specifies--
(A) the costs of construction under the grant;
(B) that the Indian tribe shall be required to
contribute towards the cost of the construction a
tribal share equal to at least 25 percent of the cost;
and
(C) any other term or condition that the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.
(c) Effect of Grant.--A grant received under this section--
(1) shall be in addition to any other funds received by an
Indian tribe under any other provision of law; and
(2) shall not affect the eligibility of an Indian tribe
receiving funding, or the amount of funding received by the
Indian tribe, under--
(A) the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 (25
U.S.C. 2501 et seq.); or
(B) the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.).
(d) Report.--At the conclusion of the demonstration program, the
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on whether the
demonstration program has achieved the purposes of the demonstration
program, as described in subsection (b)(2).
SEC. 4. FUNDING FOR TRIBAL COLLEGES CONSTRUCTION.
Section 113 of the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities
Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1813) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 113. CONSTRUCTION OF NEW FACILITIES.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Construction.--The term `construction' includes any
effort to address the facility construction, maintenance,
renovation, reconstruction, and replacement needs of a Tribal
College or University.
``(2) Tribal college or university.--The term `Tribal
College or University' has the meaning given the term in
section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1059c(b)).
``(b) Grants.--With respect to any eligible Tribal College or
University that identifies a need for construction, the Secretary
shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, provide grants
for the construction in accordance with this section.
``(c) Application.--Each eligible applicant desiring a grant under
this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time,
in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
require.
``(d) Eligible Activities.--Activities eligible for a grant under
this section shall be activities that address a wide variety of
facilities and infrastructure needs, including--
``(1) building of new facilities, including--
``(A) classrooms;
``(B) administrative offices;
``(C) libraries;
``(D) health and cultural centers;
``(E) day care centers;
``(F) technology centers; and
``(G) other education-related facilities;
``(2) renovating or expanding existing or acquired
facilities;
``(3) providing existing facilities with equipment,
including--
``(A) laboratory equipment;
``(B) computer infrastructure and equipment;
``(C) library books; and
``(D) furniture; and
``(4) property acquisition.
``(e) No Matching Requirement.--A recipient of a grant under this
section shall not be required to make a matching contribution for
Federal amounts received.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2017 through 2021.''.
SEC. 5. HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR EDUCATORS IN SCHOOLS WITH INDIAN
STUDENTS.
Title V of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 545. HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR EDUCATORS IN SCHOOLS WITH INDIAN
STUDENTS.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
``(1) the term `covered educator' means an individual who
is employed full-time as a teacher, principal, administrator,
or other licensed professional educator by a covered school;
``(2) the term `covered school' means--
``(A) a school operated by the Bureau of Indian
Affairs;
``(B) a school operated pursuant to the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25
U.S.C. 450 et seq.);
``(C) a tribally controlled school (as defined in
section 5212 of the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of
1988 (25 U.S.C. 2511)); and
``(D) a public elementary school or secondary
school in which not less than 25 percent of the
students are Indian students;
``(3) the terms `elementary school' and `secondary school'
have the meanings given those terms in section 8101 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; and
``(4) the term `eligible applicant' means--
``(A) an Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of
the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance
Act (25 U.S.C. 450b));
``(B) an Indian organization (as defined in section
1141 of the Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C.
2021)); or
``(C) a tribally designated housing entity (as
defined in section 4 of the Native American Housing
Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25
U.S.C. 4103)).
``(b) Grant Program.--The Secretary may award grants to eligible
applicants to construct, including by reconstructing, renovating, and
repairing, and provide housing to covered educators in rural areas.
``(c) Application.--Each eligible applicant desiring a grant under
this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time,
in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
require.
``(d) Non-Federal Share.--A recipient of a grant under this section
shall not be required to obtain or provide a non-Federal share in order
to receive assistance under this section.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $5,000,000 for
fiscal year 2017 and each fiscal year thereafter.''.
SEC. 6. BIE AND OMB PLAN.
(a) In General.--The Bureau of Indian Education and the Office of
Management and Budget shall jointly develop a 10-year plan to bring up
to good condition, as determined by the facilities evaluation process
of the Department of the Interior, in compliance with all applicable
tribal requirements all of the following Bureau of Indian Education
school facilities:
(1) An elementary or secondary day or boarding school
operated by the Bureau of Indian Education.
(2) A school operated pursuant to the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et
seq.).
(3) A tribally controlled school (as defined in section
5212 of the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 (25 U.S.C.
2511)).
(4) A dormitory operated by the Bureau of Indian Education
for students attending a school other than a school specified
in paragraphs (1) through (3).
(b) Inclusions.--The plan developed under subsection (a) shall
include--
(1) proposed budget requests and timelines; and
(2) additional factors such as increasing enrollment
capacities.
(c) Effect.--For the purpose of developing the plan under
subsection (a) only, section 1125(a)(5) of the Education Amendments of
1978 (25 U.S.C. 2005(a)(5)) shall not apply.
(d) Report.--As soon as practicable after completion of the plan
developed under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit a report
describing the plan to--
(1) the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related
Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate;
(3) the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related
Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
(4) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives.
SEC. 7. GAO REPORT.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a
comprehensive report describing the implementation of section 8007 of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (as in effect on
December 9, 2015), for fiscal years preceding fiscal year 2017, and
section 7007 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (as
in effect for fiscal year 2017), for fiscal year 2017 and subsequent
fiscal years, that--
(1) evaluates the adequacy of the distribution of payments
between subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (a)(3) of those
sections;
(2) evaluates unmet need; and
(3) determines the age, condition, and remaining utility of
school facilities (as the term is defined in section 7013 of
that Act (as in effect for fiscal year 2017)) for those local
educational agencies enrolling students described in section
7003(a)(1)(C) of that Act (as so in effect) that are eligible
to receive a basic support payment under--
(A) section 8003(b) of that Act (as in effect on
December 9, 2015) for fiscal years preceding fiscal
year 2017; and
(B) section 7003(b) of that Act (as in effect for
fiscal year 2017) for fiscal year 2017 and subsequent
fiscal years.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.