enforcement of regulations for, or management of, the former Joint Use Area.

Subparts O-Q [Reserved]

Subpart R-Other Provisions

§ 12.95 Indian Police.

The Project Officer shall be recognized as commander of the Indian police of the former Joint Use Area and shall be held responsible for the general efficiency and conduct of the members thereof. It shall be the duty of the Project Officer or his duly authorized representative to keep himself informed as to the efficiency of the Indian police in the discharge of their duties, to subject them to regular inspection, to inform them of their duties, and keep a strict accounting of the equipment issued them in connection with their official duties. It shall be the duty of the Project Officer to detail such Indian Policemen as may be necessary to carry out the orders of the Court and to preserve order during court sessions. The Project Officer shall investigate all reports and charges of misconduct on the part of Indian Policemen and shall exercise such proper disciplinary measures as may be consistent with existing regulations.

§ 12.96 Police commissioners.

The Project Officer may, with the approval of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, designate as police commissioner any qualified person. Such Police Commissioner shall obey the orders of the Project Officer and see that the orders of the Court are properly carried out. The police commissioner shall be responsible to the Project Officer for the conduct and efficiency of the Indian Police under his direction and shall give such instruction and advice to them as may be necessary. The police commissioner shall also report to the Project Officer all violations of law or regulation and any misconduct of any member of the Indian Police.

§ 12.97 Police training.

It shall be the duty of the Project Officer to maintain from time to time as circumstances require and permit classes of instruction for the Indian Policemen. Such classes shall familiarize the Policemen with the manner of making searches and arrests, the proper and humane handling of prisoners, the keeping of records of offenses and the duties of the police in relation thereto, and other subjects of importance for efficient police duty. It shall further be the purpose of the classes to consider methods of preventing crime and of securing cooperation with Indian communities in establishing better social relations.

§ 12.98 Indian Policemen.

(a) The Project Officer may, with the approval of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, employ and appoint Indians as Indian Police whose qualifications shall be as follows:

(1) A candidate must be in sound physical condition and of sufficient size and strength to perform the duties required.

(2) He must be possessed of courage, self-reliance, intelligence, and a high sense of loyalty and duty.

(3) He must never have been convicted of a felony, nor have been convicted of any misdemeanor for a period of one year prior to appointment.

(b) The duties of an Indian policeman shall be:

(1) To obey promptly all orders of the police commissioner or the Court when assigned to that duty;

(2) To lend assistance to brother officers;

(3) To report and investigate all violations of any law or regulation coming to his notice or reported for attention;

(4) To arrest all persons observed violating the laws and regulations for which he is held responsible;

(5) To inform himself as to the laws and regulations applicable to the jurisdiction where employed and as to the laws of arrest;

(6) To prevent violations of the laws and regulations;

(7) To report to his superior officers all accidents, births, deaths, or other

events or impending events of importance;

(8) To abstain from the use of intoxicants or narcotics and to refrain from engaging in any act which would reflect discredit upon the police department;

(9) To refrain from the use of profane, insolent, or vulgar language;

(10) To use no unnecessary force or violence in making an arrest, search, or seizure;

(11) To keep all equipment furnished by the government in reasonable repair and order;

(12) To report the loss of any and all property issued by the government in connection with official duties;

(13) To collect and issue receipts for bail.

§ 12.99 Dismissal.

The Project Officer may remove any Indian Policeman for any noncompliance with the duties and requirements as set out in the police duty guidelines or for neglect of duty.

§ 12.100 Return of equipment.

Upon the resignation, death, or discharge of any member of the Indian police, all articles or property issued him in connection with his official duties must be returned to the Project Officer or his representative.

PART 15-DETERMINATION OF HEIRS AND APPROVAL OF WILLS, EXCEPT AS TO MEMBERS OF THE FIVE CIV. ILIZED TRIBES AND OSAGE INDIANS

§ 15.1 Cross reference.

For special rules applicable to proceedings in Indian Probate (Determination of Heirs and Approval of Wills, Except as to Members of the Five Civilized Tribes and Osage Indians), including hearings, and appeals relating to such matters within the jurisdiction of the Board of Indian Appeals, Office of Hearings and Appeals, see Subpart D of Part 4 of Subtitle A-Office of the Secretary of the Interior, of Title 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Subpart A of Part 4 and all of the general rules in Subpart B of Part 4, not inconsistent with the special rules in Subpart D of Part 4 are also applicable to such Indian probate proceedings.

(Secs. 1, 2, 36 Stat. 855, as amended, 856, as amended, sec. 1, 38 Stat. 588, 42 Stat. 1185, as amended, secs. 1, 2, 56 Stat. 1021, 1022; 25 U.S.C. 372, 373, 374, 373a, 373b)

[36 FR 7184, Apr. 15, 1971]

16.2 Scope of regulations.

16.3 Legal representation in State courts. 16.4 Exchange of information within the Department.

16.5 Acceptance and acknowledgement of service of process.

16.6 Authority of attorneys in State court litigation.

16.7 Performance of Federal functions by successor State courts.

16.8 Summary distribution of small liquid estates.

16.9 Escheat of estates of decedents.

AUTHORITY: 5 U.S.C. 301 (Interprets or applies Act of Apr. 26, 1906, ch. 1876, 34 Stat. 137, see 25 U.S.C. 355nt (1970); Act of May 27, 1908, ch. 199, 35 Stat. 312, see 25 U.S.C. 355nt (1970); Act of June 14, 1918, ch. 101, 40 Stat. 606, 25 U.S.C. 355, 375 (1970); Act of Apr. 12, 1926, ch. 115, 44 Stat. 239, see 25 U.S.C. 355nt (1970); Act of June 26, 1936, ch.

831, 49 Stat. 1967, 25 U.S.C. 501-509 (1970); Act of Aug. 4, 1947, ch. 458, 61 Stat. 731, 25 U.S.C. 502 (1970) and see 25 U.S.C. 355nt (1970); Act of Aug. 12, 1953, ch. 409, 67 Stat. 558, 25 U.S.C. 375c (1970) and see 25 U.S.C. 355nt (1970); Act of Aug. 11, 1955, ch. 786, 69 Stat. 666, see 25 U.S.C. 355nt (1970); Act of Aug. 29, 1967, Pub. L. 90-76, 81 Stat. 177, 25 U.S.C. 786-788 (1970); and Act of May 7, 1970, Pub. L. 91-240, 84 Stat. 203, 25 U.S.C. 375d (1970)).

SOURCE: 37 FR 7082, Apr. 8, 1972, unless otherwise noted.

§ 16.1 Definitions.

(a) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior and his authorized representatives.

(b) The term "Bureau" means the Bureau of Indian Affairs, acting through the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and his authorized representatives, including field officials who are responsible for matters affecting properties in which a restricted interest is owned by an Indian of the Five Civilized Tribes.

(c) The term "Field Solicitor" means the supervising attorney in charge of the field office of the Solicitor in Muskogee, Okla.

(d) The term "Indian of the Five Civilized Tribes" means an individual who is either an enrolled member of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, or Seminole Tribes of Oklahoma, or a descendant of an enrolled member thereof.

(e) The term "restricted interest" means an interest owned in real or personal property subject to restraints upon alienation imposed either by Federal statute or by administrative action authorized by Federal statute. Although this term includes property subject to restraints which may be removed by administrative action, its use in this part refers primarily to property subject to restraints which State courts have jurisdiction to remove in proceedings such as those specified in § 16.2.

§ 16.2 Scope of regulations.

The regulations in this part set forth procedures for discharging the respon

sibilities of the Secretary in connection with the performance by State courts, as authorized by Federal statutes, of certain functions which affect properties in which a restricted interest is owned by an Indian of the Five Civilized Tribes. These State court functions pertain to such proceedings as guardianship, heirship determination, will probate, estate administration, conveyance approval, partition of real property, confirmation of title to real property, and appeal from action removing or failing to remove restrictions against alienation. In addition, the regulations in this part set forth procedures for discharging certain other responsibilities of the Secretary not necessarily involving State court functions, such as escheat of estates of deceased Indians of the Five Civilized Tribes.

The statutory duties of the Secretary to furnish legal advice to any Indian of the Five Civilized Tribes, and to represent such Indian in State courts, in matters affecting a restricted interest owned by such Indian, shall be performed by attorneys on the staff of the Solicitor, under the supervision of the Field Solicitor. Such advice and representation shall be undertaken to the extent that the Field Solicitor in his discretion shall consider necessary to discharge said duties, with due regard to the complexity of the legal action contemplated, the availability of staff attorneys for such purposes, the value and extent of the restricted interests involved, possible conflicts between Indians claiming to be owners of such interests, the preference of such owners concerning legal representation, the financial resources available to such owners, the extent to which such owners require similar legal services in connection with their unrestricted properties, and any other factor appropriate for consideration.

§ 16.4 Exchange of information within the Department.

To the extent that information may be useful in discharging the duties covered by the regulations in this part,

the Bureau shall furnish to the Field Solicitor, either on a current basis or at periodic intervals, processes and notices received concerning court cases and information, as current and complete as may reasonably be obtainable, concerning the estate and status of an Indian of the Five Civilized Tribes for whom legal assistance should be rendered pursuant to the regulations in this part. Similarly, to the extent that such information may be useful for Bureau action or records, the Field Solicitor shall advise the Bureau of court proceedings, information received, and action taken in furnishing legal services pursuant to the regulations in this part.

§ 16.5 Acceptance and acknowledgment of service of process.

Service by the Field Solicitor or any other person of any process or notice, pursuant to any Federal statute which by its express terms is applicable to Indians of the Five Civilized Tribes, may be accepted and acknowledged by the Field Solicitor, or by any attorney authorized to perform the duties specified in § 16.3, on behalf of the Secretary and the Bureau, notwithstanding any specific designation in such statute of the official to be served (such as the Secretary, superintendent for the Five Civilized Tribes, Probate Attorney, etc.).

§ 16.6 Authority of attorneys in State court litigation.

Attorneys authorized to perform the duties specified in § 16.3 appearing in State court litigation in their official capacities are authorized to take such action as the Secretary could take if he were personally appearing in his official capacity as counsel therein, including but not limited to the filing or decision against filing of initial, responsive, or supplemental pleadings and appeals from adverse judgments, the exercise or decision against exercise of a preferential right to purchase property subject to sale, the removal or decision against removal of actions to Federal courts, and the waiver or decision against waiver of the failure to make timely service of process or notice.

§ 16.7 Performance of Federal functions by successor State courts.

All authority to perform functions relating to Indians of the Five Civilized Tribes which by express provisions of Federal statute had been conferred upon probate or county courts of Oklahoma before such county courts were abolished on January 12, 1969, has since that date been vested in the successor district courts of that State, and all rights of litigants continue undiminished in the successor forum, including the right to appeal from adverse decisions rendered therein to the successor appellate court. (Interprets or applies Okla. Op. Atty. Gen. No. 68-381 (Dec. 20, 1968))

Where information, furnished by the Bureau pursuant to § 16.4 or otherwise obtained, reveals that the estate of a deceased Indian of the Five Civilized Tribes contains no restricted land but consists of a restricted interest in funds not exceeding $500 on deposit to the credit of the decedent, the Field Solicitor shall, in the absence of any final decree determining the heirs or legatees of the decedent, prepare and furnish to the Bureau a finding and order of distribution, based on affidavit or other proof of death and heirship or bequest, setting forth the facts of death and heirship or bequest and the amount payable from the estate to each person determined to be an heir or legatee of the decedent. The Field Solicitor shall mail to each person considered a possible claimant to any portion of the estate, as an heir or legatee or otherwise, a copy of the order with a notice that the order shall become final 30 days after the Idate of mailing thereof unless within that period the officer by whom the order was signed shall have received a written request for reconsideration of the order. After final action on any order has been taken by the Field Solicitor, the Bureau shall distribute the funds in the estate of the decedent in accordance with such final action, unless a timely appeal therefrom has been filed in accordance with Part 2 of this title.

§ 16.9 Escheat of estates of decedents.

Where information, furnished by the Bureau pursuant to § 16.4 or otherwise obtained, reveals that the estate of a deceased Indian of the Five Civilized Tribes, who has been dead 5 or more years after having died intestate without heirs, consists of restricted interests in lands or rents or profits therefrom, the Field Solicitor shall, in the absence of any final decree determining that the decedent died without heirs or devisees, prepare and furnish to the Bureau a finding and order of escheat, based on affidavit or other proof of intestate death without heirs, setting forth the restricted interests in lands or rents or profits therefrom which have by escheat vested in the tribe which allotted the lands. The Field Solicitor shall mail to each person considered a possible claimant to any portion of the estate, as an heir or devisee or otherwise, a copy of the order with a notice that the order shall become final 30 days after the date of mailing thereof unless within that period the officer by whom the order was signed shall have received a written request for reconsideration of the order. After final action on any order has been taken by the Field Solicitor, the Bureau shall cause a certified copy thereof to be filed in the land records of each county within which are located any escheated lands described therein and shall cause the tribe to be credited with any funds in said estate which arose from rents or profits from such lands, unless a timely appeal therefrom has been filed in accordance with Part 2 of this title.