§ 2304. Identification of right to payment and expedited claim payment

(a) Search of records

The Secretary shall conduct a search of the records of the Department of the Interior to identify individuals who are entitled to any portion of the unauthorized disbursements which were made and to ascertain the amount of such unauthorized disbursements to which each of such individuals is entitled.

(b) Payment without filing of claim

In any case in which the Secretary ascertains the name and location of any individual who is entitled to any portion of an unauthorized disbursement and determines the amount of such unauthorized disbursement to which such individual is entitled, the Secretary shall pay such amount, including interest thereon as provided in section 2302 of this title, to such individual immediately without requiring such individual to file a formal claim for payment.

(c) Notification The Secretary shall use the best available means of notifying each individual who is identified in the search conducted under subsection (a) of this section of the right of such individual to receive payment under this chapter. The means of notification available to the Secretary shall include—

(1) notice provided directly to such individual;

(2) notification of the next of kin of such individual;

(3) notification of the chairman or chief executive officer of the tribe of which such individual is a member or of which the deceased Indian was a member; and

(4) publication of notice in newspapers of general circulation in the appropriate area.

(Pub. L. 98–500, § 5, Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2318.)