Volume 81 · 166
Public Law 90–63
To provide for the disposition of funds appropriated to pay a judgment in favor of the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma in docket numbered 303 of the Indian Claims Commission, and for other purposes.
Approved August 11, 1967
Statutory text
AN ACT
To provide for the disposition of funds appropriated to pay a judgment in favor of the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma in docket numbered 303 of the Indian Claims Commission, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That the unexpended balance of funds on deposit in the United States Treasury to the credit of the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma that were appropriated by the Act of
April 30, 1965, to pay a judgment of the Indian Claims Commission in docket numbered 303, and the interest thereon, after deduction of litigation expenses and estimated costs of distribution, shall be distributed per capita to all persons whose names appear on the final roll of the Ottawa Tribe prepared pursuant to the Act of August 3, 1956
(70 Stat. 963).
Sec. 2.
The Secretary of the Interior shall distribute a share payable to a living enrollee directly to such enrollee, or in such manner as is deemed by the Secretary to be in the enrollee’s best interest. The Secretary shall distribute the per capita share of a deceased enrollee to his heirs or legatees upon proof of death and inheritance satisfactory to the Secretary whose findings upon such proof shall be final and conclusive. Sums payable to enrollees or their heirs or legatees who are less than twenty-one years of age or who are under a legal disability shall be paid to the persons whom the Secretary determines will best protect their interests. Any per capita shares unclaimed for a period of two years from the date or the administrative directive to make the payment shall be turned over to the Ottawa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma, incorporated under the laws of the State of Oklahoma, to be used for purposes set forth in its articles of incorporation, filed July 14, 1959. In the event that the sum of money reserved by the Secretary to pay the costs of distributing the individual shares exceeds the amount actually necessary to accomplish this purpose, such funds shall remain to the credit of the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma until all claims filed against the United States by the tribe have been settled and the last judgment distributed per capita, at which time any sums remaining shall be turned over to the Ottawa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.
Sec. 3.
The funds distributed under the provisions of this Act shall not be subject to Federal or State income taxes.
Sec. 4.
The Secretary is authorized to prescribe rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Approved August 11, 1967.