Alaska Native Fund

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05. Alaska Native Fund

(a)Establishment in Treasury; deposits into Fund of general fund, interest, and revenue sharing moneys

There is hereby established in the United States Treasury an Alaska Native Fund into which the following moneys shall be deposited:

(1)$462,500,000 from the general fund of the Treasury, which are authorized to be appropriated according to the following schedule:

(A)$12,500,000 during the fiscal year in which this chapter becomes effective;

(B)$50,000,000 during the second fiscal year;

(C)$70,000,000 during each of the third, fourth, and fifth fiscal years;

(D)$40,000,000 during the period beginning July 1, 1976, and ending September 30, 1976; and

(E)$30,000,000 during each of the next five fiscal years, for transfer to the Alaska Native Fund in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year.

(2)Four percent interest per annum, which is authorized to be appropriated, on any amount authorized to be appropriated by this paragraph that is not appropriated within six months after the fiscal year in which payable.

(3)$500,000,000 pursuant to the revenue sharing provisions of section 1608 of this title.

(b)Prohibition of expenditures for propaganda or political campaigns; misdemeanor; penalty

None of the funds paid or distributed pursuant to this section to any of the Regional and Village Corporations established pursuant to this chapter shall be expended, donated, or otherwise used for the purpose of carrying on propaganda, or intervening in (including the publishing and distributing of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Any person who willfully violates the foregoing provision shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than twelve months, or both.

(c)Distribution of Fund moneys among organized Regional Corporations; basis as relative number of Native enrollees in each region; reserve for payment of attorney and other fees; retention of share in Fund until organization of corporation

After completion of the roll prepared pursuant to section 1604 of this title, all money in the Fund, except money reserved as provided in section 1619 of this title for the payment of attorney and other fees, shall be distributed at the end of each three months of the fiscal year among the Regional Corporations organized pursuant to section 1606 of this title on the basis of the relative numbers of Natives enrolled in each region. The share of a Regional Corporation that has not been organized shall be retained in the Fund until the Regional Corporation is organized.

Analysis

Summary

The Alaska Native Fund is established in the United States Treasury and receives deposits from the general fund, interest, and revenue sharing. The general fund deposits amount to $462.5 million, with scheduled appropriations over several fiscal years. Additionally, four percent interest per annum is authorized to be appropriated for any unappropriated amounts. An additional $500 million is deposited from revenue sharing.

Expenditure of these funds by Regional and Village Corporations is prohibited for propaganda or political campaigns. Violation of this provision is a misdemeanor with penalties of a fine up to $1,000 or imprisonment up to twelve months.

The distribution of fund moneys among Regional Corporations is based on the relative number of enrolled Natives in each region. After the completion of the roll, funds are distributed every three months of the fiscal year. The share of a Regional Corporation that has not been organized is retained in the Fund until the corporation is organized.

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