Montana Title 53. Social Services and Institutions § 53-4-210. Tribal family assistance plan

(1) As used in this section, “Indian tribe” means an Indian tribe that has a federally recognized governing body carrying out substantial governmental duties and powers over any area.

(2) The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, 42 U.S.C. 612, authorizes an Indian tribe or a combination of tribes to request federal approval to implement a tribal family assistance plan.

(4) The Indian tribe or combination of tribes retain eligibility to form a partnership with the department and share funding for approved special projects related to welfare reform.

(5) The department shall provide the Indian tribe or combination of tribes with a reasonable level of technical assistance in the form of eligibility and case management training, policy interpretation, and automated system background information. The technical assistance must be provided at no cost to the Indian tribe or combination of tribes for a period of 1 year after the inception of the tribal family assistance plan. After 1 year, the Indian tribe or combination of tribes may contract with the department for continued technical assistance.

(6) The tribe or combination of tribes may contract with the department for the provision of participant services or associated administrative functions that the tribe and the department find appropriate.

(7) The department shall transfer to each new tribal family assistance plan after April 28, 1999, $100,000 of general fund money from existing general fund appropriation authority for each of the fiscal years of the succeeding biennium for the use of each tribe implementing a family assistance plan.