List of Courts of Indian Offenses; Future Publication of Updates

Citation85 FR 645
Record Number2019-27997
Published date07 January 2020
SectionRules and Regulations
CourtIndian Affairs Bureau,Interior Department
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 4 (Tuesday, January 7, 2020)
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 4 (Tuesday, January 7, 2020)]
                [Rules and Regulations]
                [Pages 645-646]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2019-27997]
                =======================================================================
                -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
                Bureau of Indian Affairs
                25 CFR Part 11
                [201A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900 253G]
                RIN 1076-AF46
                List of Courts of Indian Offenses; Future Publication of Updates
                AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.
                ACTION: Final rule.
                -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                SUMMARY: This final rule revises one section of our regulations to
                provide that the current list of areas in Indian Country with Courts of
                Indian Offenses (also known as CFR Courts) will be published and
                updated in the Federal Register and on the Bureau of Indian Affairs
                (BIA) website. Currently, that section of the Code of Federal
                Regulations, itself, lists the areas in Indian Country with CFR Courts,
                requiring a rulemaking each time a court is added or deleted. Allowing
                for publication in the Federal Register, in lieu of a rulemaking, will
                better keep Tribal members and the public updated on the current status
                of the Courts of Indian Offenses.
                DATES: This rule takes effect on January 7, 2020.
                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Appel, Director, Office of
                Regulatory Affairs & Collaborative Action, (202) 273-4680;
                [email protected].
                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Generally, Courts of Indian Offenses operate
                in those areas of Indian country where Tribes retain jurisdiction over
                Indians that is exclusive of State jurisdiction, but where Tribal
                courts have not been established to fully exercise that jurisdiction.
                The Code of Federal Regulations, at 25 CFR 11.100, currently lists each
                Tribe for which Courts of Indian Offenses have been established.
                 On occasion, a Court of Indian Offenses is established or re-
                established or, alternatively, a Court of Indian Offenses ceases
                operation because BIA and a Tribe enter into a contract or compact for
                the Tribe to provide judicial services or the Tribe establishes a court
                system that meets regulatory requirements. Each time one of these
                changes occurs, the list of Courts of Indian Offenses must be updated
                for public transparency. Because the list of Courts of Indian Offenses
                is directly in Sec. 11.100, a rulemaking is required to change the
                list. During the time it takes to conduct a rulemaking, the list in the
                Code of Federal Regulations is not accurate.
                 On July 23, 2019, BIA published a proposed rule to remove the list
                of CFR Courts from the regulations and instead require the BIA to
                publish the current list and any updates to the current list in the
                Federal Register and on its website. 84 FR 35355. During the public
                comment period, BIA received one comment which suggested requirements
                related to Tribal courts, which are not relevant to this rulemaking.
                Therefore, BIA made no changes to the proposed rule.
                 This final rule allows enables BIA to keep the list of CFR Courts
                updated and accurate, improving transparency for Tribal members and the
                public who wish to know what areas in Indian Country have CFR Courts
                established. The rule also revises Sec. 11.104 to clarify that the
                list would no longer be published directly in Sec. 11.100, but rather
                would be published in accordance with the directions in Sec. 11.100 to
                publish in the Federal Register and on the BIA website.
                A. Regulatory Planning and Review (E.O. 12866)
                 Executive Order (E.O.) 12866 provides that the Office of
                Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) at the Office of Management
                and Budget (OMB) will review all significant rules. OIRA has determined
                that this rule is not significant.
                 E.O. 13563 reaffirms the principles of E.O. 12866 while calling for
                improvements in the Nation's regulatory system to promote
                predictability, to reduce uncertainty, and to use the best, most
                innovative, and least burdensome tools for achieving regulatory ends.
                The E.O. directs agencies to consider regulatory approaches that reduce
                burdens and maintain flexibility and freedom of choice for the public
                where these approaches are relevant, feasible, and consistent with
                regulatory objectives. E.O. 13563 emphasizes further that regulations
                must be based on the best available science and that the rulemaking
                process must allow for public participation and an open exchange of
                ideas. We have developed this rule in a manner consistent with these
                requirements.
                B. E.O. 13771: Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs
                 This action is not an E.O. 13771 regulatory action because this
                rule is not significant under Executive Order 12866.
                [[Page 646]]
                C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
                 The Department of the Interior certifies that this document will
                not have a significant economic effect on a substantial number of small
                entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).
                It does not change current funding requirements and would not impose
                any economic effects on small governmental entities.
                D. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
                 This rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804(2), the Small
                Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. This rule:
                 (a) Will not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million
                or more.
                 (b) Will not cause a major increase in costs or prices for
                consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local government
                agencies, or geographic regions.
                 (c) Will not have significant adverse effects on competition,
                employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of the
                U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises.
                E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
                 This rule does not impose an unfunded mandate on State, local, or
                Tribal governments or the private sector of more than $100 million per
                year. The rule does not have a significant or unique effect on State,
                local, or Tribal governments or the private sector. A statement
                containing the information required by the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
                (2 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) is not required.
                F. Takings (E.O. 12630)
                 This rule does not effect a taking of private property or otherwise
                have taking implications under E.O. 12630. A takings implication
                assessment is not required.
                G. Federalism (E.O. 13132)
                 Under the criteria in section 1 of E.O. 13132, this rule does not
                have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a
                federalism summary impact statement. A federalism summary impact
                statement is not required.
                H. Civil Justice Reform (E.O. 12988)
                 This rule complies with the requirements of E.O. 12988.
                Specifically, this rule: (a) Meets the criteria of section 3(a)
                requiring that all regulations be reviewed to eliminate errors and
                ambiguity and be written to minimize litigation; and (b) Meets the
                criteria of section 3(b)(2) requiring that all regulations be written
                in clear language and contain clear legal standards.
                I. Consultation With Indian Tribes (E.O. 13175)
                 The Department of the Interior strives to strengthen its
                government-to-government relationship with Indian Tribes through a
                commitment to consultation with Indian Tribes and recognition of their
                right to self-governance and Tribal sovereignty. We have evaluated this
                rule under the Department's consultation policy and under the criteria
                in E.O. 13175 and have determined there are no substantial direct
                effects on Federally recognized Indian Tribes that will result from
                this rulemaking because BIA consults on an individual basis with each
                Tribe for which there is a change in the status of their CFR Court.
                J. Paperwork Reduction Act
                 The Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.,
                prohibits a Federal agency from conducting or sponsoring a collection
                of information that requires OMB approval, unless such approval has
                been obtained and the collection request displays a currently valid OMB
                control number. Nor is any person required to respond to an information
                collection request that has not complied with the PRA. There is no
                information collection requiring OMB approval associated with this
                rule. A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not
                required to respond to, a collection of information unless the form or
                regulation requesting the information displays a currently valid OMB
                Control Number.
                K. National Environmental Policy Act
                 This rule does not constitute a major Federal action significantly
                affecting the quality of the human environment. A detailed statement
                under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not
                required because this is an administrative and procedural regulation.
                (For further information see 43 CFR 46.210(i)). We have also determined
                that the rule does not involve any of the extraordinary circumstances
                listed in 43 CFR 46.215 that would require further analysis under NEPA.
                L. Effects on the Energy Supply (E.O. 13211)
                 This rule is not a significant energy action under the definition
                in E.O. 13211. A Statement of Energy Effects is not required.
                M. Determination To Issue an Final Rule With Immediate Effective Date
                 We are publishing this final rule with an immediate effective date,
                as allowed under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). Good cause for an immediate
                effective date exists because the delay in publishing this rule would
                inhibit access to justice for Tribal members and likely obstruct speedy
                trial rights for members of those Tribes coming under the jurisdiction
                of the CFR court.
                List of Subjects in 25 CFR Part 11
                 Courts, Indians-law.
                 For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Department of the
                Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, amends 25 CFR part 11 as follows:
                PART 11--COURTS OF INDIAN OFFENSES AND LAW AND ORDER CODE
                0
                1. The authority for part 11 continues to read as follows:
                 Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; R.S. 463, 25 U.S.C. 2; R.S. 465, 25
                U.S.C. 9; 42 Stat. 208, 25 U.S.C. 13; 38 Stat. 586, 25 U.S.C. 200.
                Subpart A--Application; Jurisdiction
                0
                2. Revise Sec. 11.100 to read as follows:
                Sec. 11.100 Where are Courts of Indian Offenses established?
                 (a) A list of the areas in Indian Country where Courts of Indian
                Offenses are established is available on the Bureau of Indian Affairs
                website (www.bia.gov) and is published periodically in the Federal
                Register.
                 (b) The Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, will maintain on the
                Bureau of Indian Affairs website (www.bia.gov) an updated list of the
                areas in Indian Country where Courts of Indian Offenses are established
                and, upon any change to the list, will publish notice of the change in
                the Federal Register with an updated complete list.
                0
                3. Revise Sec. 11.104(a) introductory text to read as follows:
                Sec. 11.104 When does this part apply?
                 (a) The regulations in this part continue to apply to each area in
                Indian Country listed in accordance with Sec. 11.100 until either:
                * * * * *
                 Dated: December 4, 2019.
                Tara Sweeney,
                Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
                [FR Doc. 2019-27997 Filed 1-6-20; 8:45 am]
                 BILLING CODE 4337-15-P
                

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT