Article 8. American Indian Programs of California Government Code >> Division 3. >> Title 2. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 9. >> Article 8.

(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.

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.

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.

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.