§ 3113. — Establishment of Indian and Alaska Native forestry education assistance.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 25USC3113]
TITLE 25--INDIANS
CHAPTER 33--NATIONAL INDIAN FOREST RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
Sec. 3113. Establishment of Indian and Alaska Native forestry
education assistance
(a) Forester intern program
(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of title 5 governing appointments
in the competitive service, the Secretary shall establish and maintain
in the Bureau of Indian Affairs at least 20 forester intern positions
for Indian and Alaska Native students.
(2) For purposes of this subsection, the term ``forester intern''
means an Indian or Alaska Native who--
(A) is acquiring necessary academic qualifications to become a
forester or a professional trained in forestry-related fields, and
(B) is appointed to one of the positions established under
paragraph (1).
(3) The Secretary shall pay all costs for tuition, books, fees and
living expenses incurred by a forester intern while attending an
approved post-secondary or graduate school in a full-time forestry-
related curriculum.
(4) A forester intern shall be required to enter into an obligated
service agreement to serve as a professional forester or other forestry-
related professional with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, an Indian tribe,
or a tribal forest-related enterprise for 2 years for each year of
education for which the Secretary pays the intern's educational costs
under paragraph (3) of this subsection.
(5) A forester intern shall be required to report for service with
the Bureau of Indian Affairs during any break in attendance at school of
more than 3 weeks duration. Time spent in such service shall be counted
toward satisfaction of the intern's obligated service agreement.
(b) Cooperative education program
(1) The Secretary shall maintain, through the Bureau of Indian
Affairs, a cooperative education program for the purpose of recruiting
promising Indian and Alaska Native students who are enrolled in
secondary schools, tribally-controlled community colleges, and other
post-secondary or graduate schools for employment as a professional
forester or other forestry-related professional with the Bureau of
Indian Affairs, an Indian tribe, or a tribal forest-related enterprise.
(2) The cooperative educational program that is to be maintained
under paragraph (1) shall be modeled on and shall have essentially the
same features of the program operated on November 28, 1990, pursuant to
chapter 308 of the Federal Personnel Manual of the Office of Personnel
Management.
(3) Under the cooperative agreement program that is to be maintained
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall pay all costs for tuition,
books, and fees of an Indian or Alaska Native student who--
(A) is enrolled in a course of study at an education institution
with which the Secretary has entered into a cooperative agreement,
and
(B) is interested in a career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs,
an Indian tribe or a tribal enterprise in the management of Indian
forest land.
(4) Financial need shall not be a requirement to receive assistance
under the cooperative agreement program that is to be maintained under
this subsection.
(5) A recipient of assistance under the cooperative education
program that is to be maintained under this subsection shall be required
to enter into an obligated service agreement to serve as a professional
forester or other forestry-related professional with the Bureau of
Indian Affairs, an Indian tribe, or a tribal forest-related enterprise
for one year for each year for which the Secretary pays the recipient's
educational costs pursuant to paragraph (3).
(c) Scholarship program
(1) The Secretary is authorized to grant forestry scholarships to
Indians and Alaska Natives enrolled in accredited programs for post-
secondary and graduate forestry and forestry-related programs of study
as full-time students.
(2) A recipient of a scholarship under paragraph (1) shall be
required to enter into an obligated service agreement with the Secretary
in which the recipient agrees to accept employment for one year for each
year the recipient received a scholarship, following completion of the
recipient's forestry or forestry-related course of study, with
(A) the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
(B) a forestry program conducted under a contract, grant, or
cooperative agreement entered into under the Indian Self-
Determination Act [25 U.S.C. 450f et seq.];
(C) an Indian enterprise engaged in a forestry or forestry-
related business; or
(D) an Indian tribe's forestry-related program.
(3) The Secretary shall not deny scholarship assistance under this
subsection solely on the basis of an applicant's scholastic achievement
if the applicant has been admitted to and remains in good standing in an
accredited postsecondary or graduate institution.
(d) Forestry education outreach
The Secretary shall conduct, through the Bureau of Indian Affairs,
and in consultation with other appropriate local, State and Federal
agencies, and in consultation and coordination with Indian tribes, a
forestry education outreach program for Indian and Alaska Native youth
to explain and stimulate interest in all aspects of Indian forest land
management and careers in forestry.
(e) Adequacy of programs
The Secretary shall administer the programs described in this
section until a sufficient number of Indians and Alaska Natives are
trained to ensure that there is an adequate number of qualified,
professional Indian foresters to manage the Bureau of Indian Affairs
forestry programs and forestry programs maintained by or for Indian
tribes.
(Pub. L. 101-630, title III, Sec. 314, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4540.)
References in Text
The provisions of title 5 governing appointments in the competitive
service, referred to in subsec. (a), are classified generally to section
3301 et seq. of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
The Indian Self-Determination Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(B),
is title I of Pub. L. 93-638, Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2206, as amended,
which is classified principally to part A (Sec. 450f et seq.) of
subchapter II of chapter 14 of this title. For complete classification
of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 450
of this title and Tables.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in section 3731 of this title.
