Bureau of Indian Affairs Schools.

WORKING DRAFT
2006
STATE OF WYOMING
06LSO-0354.E1

HOUSE BILL
NO.
HB0132

Bureau of Indian Affairs Schools.

Sponsored by:
Select Committee On Tribal Relations

A BILL

for

AN ACT providing an appropriation for the alleviation of specified conditions on the Wind River Indian Reservation through education programs; imposing conditions upon the expenditure of appropriated funds; transferring funds to the governor's office; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

(a)

The legislature finds that:

(i)

Conditions of severe unemployment, poverty and lack of adequate job skills exist on the Wind River Indian Reservation;

(ii)

Educational programs provided by the Eastern Shoshone and the Northern Arapaho Indian Tribes address these conditions on the reservation;

(iii)

The Shoshone and Arapaho Indian Tribes are sovereign nations whose members are also citizens of the United States and residents of Wyoming;

(iv)

With assistance from the state of Wyoming, the joint business council of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Indian Tribes will be capable of continuing efforts to address conditions existing on the reservation through the provision of programs addressing the special educational needs of Indian students. The maintenance of these special educational programs unique to Indian students is of mutual benefit to the tribes and to the state, reducing future financial needs of those students as tribal members and as Wyoming residents for public education, job services, substance abuse services and income supplements.

(b)

Twenty-six thousand three hundred sixteen dollars ($26,316.00) is appropriated from the school foundation program account to the office of the governor for the fiscal biennium to be used for a cost of living increase to the budget for Saint Stephens school. One-half (1/2) of the funds shall be used for each year of the biennium. The office of the governor shall provide the funds under this section through amendment of existing contracts or creation of new contracts with the joint business council of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Indian Tribes whereby the funds appropriated under this section shall be conveyed to the joint business council to be expended by the joint business council for program enhancements, services for students at risk of failure in school and other services essential to the success and welfare of students.

(c)

There is transferred to the office of the governor from the department of education three hundred eighty-four thousand one hundred ten dollars ($384,110.00) for funding for Saint Stephens school. This transfer shall be a type 1 transfer, pursuant to W.S. 9
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2
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1707(b)(i) and shall include the transfer of all positions, personnel, property, contracts and funds associated with the funds appropriated under this section.

(d)

There is appropriated three hundred eighty-nine thousand five hundred seventy-four dollars ($389,574.00) from the school foundation program account to the office of the governor for the fiscal biennium which shall only be expended to replace federal funding that was previously available through the bureau of indian affairs for Saint Stephens school located in Fremont County, Wyoming. One-half (1/2) of this appropriation shall be expended for each year of the fiscal biennium beginning July 1, 2006 and ending June 30, 2008.

(e)

As part of the contract under which funds are provided under this section the joint business council shall agree to report to the joint appropriations interim committee, the joint education interim committee and the select committee on tribal relations on the expenditure of funds under this section and on the impact of the expenditures on student performance. The report shall be made not later than June 30, 2007.

Section 2.

This act is effective July 1, 2006.

(END)

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HB0132