CLASSIFICATION: #5. CEREMONIAL GROUNDS/CHURCHES

NCA 24-023

CLASSIFICATION: #5. CEREMONIAL GROUNDS/CHURCHES

A LAW OF THE MUSCOGEE (CREEK) NATION AMENDING MCNCA TITLE 5,

CHAPTER 2 ENTITLED “FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE” AND AMENDING MCNCA TITLE

37, CHAPTER 2 “BUDGET AND FINANCE”

Be it enacted by the National Council of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation:

SECTION ONE. AMENDMENT. These amendments shall be codified in Title 5,

Chapter 2, of the Code of Laws of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation; provided that for

purposes of codification of said amendment and its inclusion in pocket parts of the Code

of Laws of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the Attorney General is hereby authorized: (1)

to approve any changes related to the manner in which sections, articles, chapters and

sub-chapters are designated consistent with the format in the Code of Laws published in

2010 by West Publishing Company; (2) to include footnoted references to the legislative

history in said pocket parts to the Code of Laws; and (3) to note in said pocket parts any

editorial correction of minor clerical or grammatical errors in the following amendment,

without further National Council approval:

SECTION TWO. AMENDMENT. MCNCA Title 5 §§ 2-103 A. and D., 2-104 B.and F.,

2-106 A. and D., and 2-107 A. and F. are hereby amended to read as follows:

§ 2-103. Ceremonial Ground maintenance assistance

A. Each Ceremonial Ground shall receive SixTwelve Thousand and No/100

Dollars ($612,000.00) every four (4) years, beginning with Fiscal Year 20237, for the

purchase of tools, equipment and expenses related to the continued safe and healthy

environmental maintenance of each respective Ceremonial Ground.

D. The appropriation every four (4) years for Ceremonial Ground maintenance

assistance shall be established at One Hundred Ninety-SixTwo Thousand and No/100

Dollars ($1962,000.00).

§ 2-104. Green Corn and Supportive Ceremonial Assistance

B. A Ceremonial Ground shall be eligible for assistance in the amount of

$195,000.00, which shall be disbursed equally among camps of Ceremonial Ground for

the duration of its season by the person(s) authorized by the Ceremonial Ground.

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F. The annual appropriation for Green Corn and Supportive Ceremonial

Assistance shall be established OneTwo Hundred SidyForty Thousand and No/100

Dollars ($469240,000.00).

§ 2-106. Church Heating Expense Grant

A. Each Church shall complete and submit application signed by the Pastor or

Church officer, if there is no Pastor, for the Heating Expenses Grant to the National

Council in order to receive financial assistance up to $751,000.00 for the purchase of

propane or $7508.00 for natural gas or electric utilities once per fiscal year.

D. The annual appropriation for the Church Heating Expenses Grant shall be

established at Fif#ySeventy Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($570,000.00).

§ 2-107. Summer Church Camp and Mission Trip Grant

A. A Church may apply for the Summer Church Camp and Mission Trip Grant

to receive assistance up $23,5000.00 for expenses related to a summer Church camp or

mission trip every year.

F. The annual appropriation for the Summer Church Camp and Mission Trip

Grant shall be established at Forty-Eight Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($498,000.00).

SECTION THREE. AMENDMENT. MCNCA Title 5 §§ 2-109 and 2-110 are hereby

amended to read as follows:

§ 2-109. Ceremonial Ground and Church Grant

A. Ceremonial Grounds are eligible for assistance for tables, benches,

bathrooms, showers, new camps, construction/renovation projects and installation of/or

repair of water wells or water lines, fencing, surveying, plumbing and electrical issues, but

not limited to the aforementioned.

B. Churches are eligible for assistance for construction/renovation of their

churches and fellowship halls, construction of new camp houses, installation of/or repair

of water wells or water lines, plumbing, electrical issues, demolishing, fencing, surveying,

exterminator costs, piano and ice machine, but not limited to the aforementioned.

C. A Ceremonial Ground or Church may apply for one of the following six grant

awards:

1. Grant Award 1 is available once per fiscal year beginning October 1

and shall not exceed $5,000.

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NCA 24-023

2.

Grant Award 2 shall be in the amount of $5,001 to $10,000.

Applicant shall not be eligible to receive a Grant Award for the next

two (2) fiscal years.

Grant Award 3 shall be in the amount of $10,001 to $20,000.

Applicant shall not be eligible to receive a Grant Award for the next

four (4) fiscal years.

Grant Award 4 shall be in the amount of $20,001 to $30,000.

Applicant shall not be eligible to receive a Grant Award for the next

six (6) fiscal years.

Grant Award 5 shall be in the amount of $30,001 to $40,000.

Applicant shall not be eligible to receive a Grant Award for the next

eight (8) fiscal years.

Grant Award 6 shall be in the amount of $40,001 to $759,000.

Applicant shall not be eligible to receive a Grant Award for the next

ten (10) fiscal years.

D. | The Ceremonial Ground or Church shall submit a complete application

signed by the Mekko or authorized person or Pastor or Church Officer if there is no Pastor,

to the National Council office.

E. If the assistance request is for renovations/construction, plumbing or

electrical issues, the application shall be forwarded by email to Tribal Construction

Services.

. Upon review of the application, Tribal Construction Services may visit

the Ceremonial Ground or Church site.

If applicable, Tribal Construction Services shall submit an RFP to CESO

to secure bids for job.

If required amount of bids aren’t secured through CESO, the Ceremonial

Ground or Church shall provide bid(s) and submit to the National Council

office.

Upon completion of the bid process, Tribal Construction Services shall

forward all information/documentation to the LNC Committee, which

shall be addressed at the next LNC Committee meeting.

If Tribal Construction Services is unable to provide assistance, said

request may be addressed in § 2-109. F.

F. If the assistance request involves contractual services not covered under §

2-109. E., an RFP shall be submitted to CESO to secure bids for job.

1.

2.

If there aren’t enough bids secured, the Ceremonial Ground or

Church shall provide bid(s) to the National Council office.

Once the required amount of bids are received, the assistance

request shall be addressed at the next LNC Committee meeting.

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NCA 24-023

G. If the assistance request involves only the purchase of items and/or

equipment, a quick quote form shall be completed and forwarded to CESO to secure

quotes.

H. The grant award limitation set forth in § 2-109.C. may be waived in the event

that the LNC Committee determines that repairs or renovations to the property of a church

or ceremonial ground are necessary due to damage caused by a natural disaster.

L. In the event a Ceremonial Ground or Church would like to change the scope

of the awarded assistance from its approved application, the Ceremonial Ground or

Church must revise its application and submit to the LNC Committee for approval before

expending any funds.

J. The LNC Committee shall provide a copy of the approved application to the

Controller, who shall remit payment to the appropriate vendor, Mekko or designee or

Pastor or Church Officer, and provide a courtesy copy of the approved application to the

Office of the Principal Chief.

K. Accountability.

1. Each grant recipient shall expend funds in accordance with the approved

grant.

2. Each grant recipient, if applicable, shall submit the following records to

the National Council for expenditures of a Grant award within thirty (30)

days of completion of the awarded assistance project or purchase of

items and/or equipment: invoices or receipts with proof of payment

evidenced by cancelled checks or other bank records. All records shall

be forwarded to the Office of the Controller.

3. If grant recipient does not expend the entire appropriation, said grant

recipient shall be required to return the remaining funds to the National

Council office in the form of a check.

4. Failure to comply with § 2-109(K) 1-3, may require full restitution and

shall prohibit grant recipient from receiving this grant for a period of:

one (1) year if received the Grant Award 1;

two (2) years if received the Grant Award 2;

three (3) years if received the Grant Award 3;

four (4) years if received the Grant Award 4;

five (5) years if received the Grant Award 5; or

six (6) years if received the Grant Award 6.

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L. Grant recipients awarded assistance under the former Church and

Ceremonial Ground Grant, previous law, shall still be required to adhere to the grant

award restrictions in § 2-109.C.

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NCA 24-023

M. Tribal Construction Services shall oversee all construction/renovation

projects that are processed through CESO. Construction/renovation projects done by

Ceremonial Ground or Church members shall be assisted by Tribal Construction

Services.

N. The annual appropriation for the Ceremonial Ground and Church Grant

shall be established at Three Hundred Sixty-Five Thousand and No/100 Dollars

($365,000.00).

O. Upon enactment of this law, if a Ceremonial Ground or Church applied

and received this assistance in the amount of $50,000.00 in fiscal year 2024. it shall

be eligible to reapply for an additional $25,000.00.

§ 2-110. Ceremonial Ground Camp and Church Camp House Grant

A. Muscogee (Creek) citizens who are members of a Ceremonial Ground or

Church and have a camp house/camp shall be eligible to apply for a one-time grant award

up to the amount of Fer Twenty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($420,000.00).

B. Financial assistance will be specifically for the renovation/repair of a

structure of the Ceremonial Ground Camp or Church Camp House, which shall include

roofs, floors, walls, windows and doors, as well as, any electric, water, heating or air

problems.

C. Financial assistance will not be provided for appliances (stoves,

refrigerators, ice-makers, etc.) and furnishings (tables, chairs, dishes, etc.).

D. The citizen shall submit a complete application signed by the Mekko or

authorized person or Pastor or Church Officer, if there is no Pastor, to the National Council

office.

1. If the member is not going to do the renovation/repair, said application

shall be forwarded by email to Tribal Construction Services.

a. Upon review of the application, Tribal Construction Services may visit

the Ceremonial Ground or Church site.

b. Tribal Construction Services shall submit an RFP to CESO to secure

bids for job.

c. Ifthe required amount of bids aren’t secured for the job, the member

shall provide bid(s) and submit to the National Council office.

d. Upon completion of the bid process, Tribal Construction Services

shall forward all information/documentation to the LNC Committee,

which shall be addressed at the next LNC Committee meeting.

2. If the member is going to do the renovation/repair, said member must

submit a line item budget and two quotes for supplies/materials with

completed application.

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NCA 24-023

E. The LNC Committee shall provide a copy of the approved application to the

Controller, who shall remit payment to vendor or Mekko or authorized person or Pastor

or Church Officer, if there is no Pastor, and provide a courtesy copy of said application to

the Office of Principal Chief.

F. Muscogee (Creek) citizens who are members of more than one Ceremonial

Ground or Church are allowed to use this program only once at the Ground or Church of

their choice.

G. Accountability.

1. Each grant recipient shall expend funds in accordance with the approved

grant.

2. Each grant recipient, if applicable, shall submit the following records to

the National Council within thirty (30) days of completion of

renovation/repair: invoices or receipts with proof of payment evidenced

by cancelled checks or other bank records. All records shall be

forwarded to the Office of the Controller.

3. If grant recipient does not expend the entire appropriation, said grant

recipient shall be required to return the remaining funds to the National

Council office in the form of a check.

4. Failure to comply with § 2-110(G) 1-3 may require full restitution of any

and all funds received.

H. Tribal Construction Services shall oversee all construction/renovation

projects that are processed through CESO. Construction/renovation projects done by

Ceremonial Ground or Church members shall be assisted by Tribal Construction

Services.

I. The annual appropriation for the Ceremonial Ground Camp and Church

Camp House Grant shall be established at One Hundred Seventy Thousand and No/100

Dollars ($170,000.00).

J. Upon enactment of this law, if a grant recipient previously received

$10,000.00 said grant recipient shall be eligible to reapply for an additional

$10,000.00.

SECTION FOUR. AMENDMENT. MCNCA Title 5 § 2-112 A. and D. are hereby

amended to read as follows:

§ 2-112. Christmas Assistance

A. On October 15 of every year, Ceremonial Grounds and Churches are

eligible to apply for Christmas Assistance in the amount of Five HundredOne Thousand

and No/100 Dollars ($51,000.00) for Christmas candy and gifts or other expenses related

to Christmas.

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NCA 24-023

D. The annual appropriation for Christmas Assistance shall be established at

Fifty-EightOne Hundred Sixteen Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($58116,000.00).

SECTION FIVE. AMENDMENT. MCNCA Title 5 § 2-115 is hereby amended to read

as follows:

§ 2-115. Funding

A. Funding for Ceremonial Grounds and/or Churches shall be established at

the following per fiscal year beginning Fiscal Year 20225 and annually thereafter:

1. OrneTwo Hundred SieyForty Thousand and No/100 Dollars

($469240,000.00) for the Green Corn and sSupportive eCeremonial

aAssistance;

2. One Hundred Fifty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($150,000.00) for the

Ceremonial Ground Land Acquisition Assistance;

3. FiftySeventy Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($870,000.00) for the

Heating Expense Grant;

4. Forty-Eight Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($498,000.00) for the

Summer Church Camp and Mission Trip Grant;

5. Three Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand and No/100 _ Dollars

($325,000.00) for the Church Passenger Van Assistance Grant;

6. Three Hundred Sixty-Five Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($365,000.00)

for the Ceremonial Ground and Church Grant;

7. One Hundred Seventy Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($170,000.00) for

the Ceremonial Ground Camp and Church Camp House Grant;

8. Seventy-Five Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($75,000.00) for the

Lawnmower grant;

9. Fifty-EightOne Hundred Sixteen Thousand and No/100 Dollars

($88116,000.00) for Christmas Assistance; and

10. One Hundred Fifty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($150,000.00) for the

Emergency Assistance.

B. Funding for the Ceremonial Ground maintenance assistance shall be

established at Ninety $9

Ninety-Two Thousand and No/1 00 Dollars ($192,000.00) every four years beginning

with Fiscal Year 20237.

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NCA 24-023

SECTION SIX. AMENDMENT. This amendment shall be codified in Title 37,

Chapter 2, of the Code of Laws of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation; provided that for

purposes of codification of said amendment and its inclusion in pocket parts of the Code

of Laws of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the Attorney General is hereby authorized: (1)

to approve any changes related to the manner in which sections, articles, chapters and

sub-chapters are designated consistent with the format in the Code of Laws published in

2010 by West Publishing Company; (2) to include footnoted references to the legislative

history in said pocket parts to the Code of Laws; and (3) to note in said pocket parts any

editorial correction of minor clerical or grammatical errors in the following amendment,

without further National Council approval:

- SECTION SEVEN. AMENDMENT. MCNCA Title 37 §§ 2-109 and 2-118 shall be

amended to read as follows:

§ 2-109. Ceremonial Ground Maintenance Assistance

The appropriation for the Ceremonial Ground Maintenance Assistance shall be

established at ninety-six—thousand—dollars—($96,000-08)one hundred ninety-two

thousand dollars ($192,000.00) beginning with the FY 20237 Comprehensive Annual

Budget and every four years thereafter.

§ 2-118. Financial Assistance for Ceremonial Grounds and Churches

The appropriation for Financial Assistance for established Ceremonial Grounds and

Churches shall be established at one million, fiveseven hundred ferty-threenine dollars

($1,543709,000.00) beginning with the FY 20225 Comprehensive Annual Budget, and

annually thereafter. Any unexpended funds at the end of each Fiscal Year shall be

- returned to the Tribal Treasury.

SECTION EIGHT. APPROPRIATION. The sum of Eighty-Eight Thousand and No/100

Dollars ($88,000.00) is hereby appropriated from the Gaming Fund Account for the

implementation of this Act. All unexpended funds appropriated by implementation of this

Act shall be returned to the Tribal Treasury and shall be available for future appropriation

by the National Council.

SECTION NINE. AUTHORIZATION. The National Council hereby authorizes the

Principal Chief or his designee to expend the sum of Eighty-Eight Thousand and No/100

Dollars ($88,000.00) from the Gaming Fund Account, with Eighty Thousand and

No/Dollars ($80,000.00) for the Green Corn and Supportive Ceremonial Assistance and

Eight Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($8,000.00) for the Summer Church Camp and

Mission Trip Grant line items for this fiscal year.

SECTION TEN. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act shall become effective immediately |

upon proper approval and execution in accordance with the requirements of the

Muscogee (Creek) Nation Constitution.

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NCA 24-023

ENACTED by the Muscogee (Creek) National Council on this 30 day of March, 2024.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Speaker of the Muscogee (Creek) National Council has

hereto attached his signature.

Kemaljen hh

Randall Hicks, Speaker

National Council

Muscogee (Creek) Nation

ERTIFICATION

|, the undersigned, certify that the foregoing is a true extract from the minutes of the

Muscogee (Creek) National Council comprised of Sixteen members with Fifteen

members attending this meeting on the 30 day of March, 2024 and that the above is in

conformity with the provisions therein adopted by a vote of 11 in favor, 3 against and that

said Law has not been rescinded or amended in any way and the above is the signature

of the Speaker of the National Council.

(

Ricia SHoble

Alicia Stroble, Recording Secretary

Muscogee (Creek) National Council

APPROVAL

I, the Pyincipal Chief of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, hereby affix my signature on this

aA day of Mon cl , 2024 to the above Law, NCA 24-023 authorizing it to

become a Law undeér Article VI., Section VI., of the Constitution of the Muscogee (Creek)

Nation.

David W. Hill, Principal Chief

Muscogee (Creek) Nation