SECTIONS 12770-12773 - California Statutes

GOVERNMENT CODE

SECTION 12770-12773

12770. (a) The purpose of this article is to set aside funds for
assisting American Indians and Alaskan Natives residing in
off-reservation and reservation areas of this state to achieve a
greater degree of self-sufficiency through the principles of
community self-help.
(b) Allocation of funds under this article shall be consistent
with the sovereign legal status of federally recognized tribes as
dependent nations within the United States, consistent with the
specific rights accorded other tribes and tribal organizations by the
federal government and consistent with the fiduciary
responsibilities of the United States government for Indian people.
Tribes shall be entitled to receive a share of the total funds
made available pursuant to this article which is commensurate with
the number of low-income American Indians and Alaskan Natives
residing in their reservation areas.
(c) Off-reservation American Indian programs shall be entitled to
receive a share of the total funds made available pursuant to this
article which is commensurate with the number of low-income American
Indians and Alaskan Natives residing in the off-reservation areas and
shall be consistent with and cognizant of the needs of
off-reservation American Indians and Alaskan Natives residing in this
state.

12771. These set-aside funds shall be used to implement programs
consistent with the purposes of this chapter and as are permissible
under Section 12745 with specific focus on the special needs of
American Indians and Alaskan Natives and their families.

12772. American Indian entities funded by the department shall be
limited to tribes and other Indian organizations in urban or rural
off-reservation areas who demonstrate community governance, such as
Indian nonprofit organizations, who meet the criteria of eligible
entity, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 12730. In a county
having a population of over 7,000,000 persons, the County Community
Action Agency may serve as the eligible entity if (a) requested to
serve in this capacity by a commission composed of representatives of
American Indian beneficiaries in that county, and (b) the board of
supervisors of the county shares grant allocation authority with an
appropriate American Indian entity. American Indian programs funded
under this article shall coordinate their plans and activities with
other eligible entities funded by the department to avoid duplication
of services and to maximize services for eligible beneficiaries.

12773. American Indian entities funded by the department and
operating under authority of this chapter in the prior program year
shall have the same protections against defunding, as defined in
subdivision (e) of Section 12736.