Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 1.djvu/542

 114 STAT. 506 PUBLIC LAW 106-245—JULY 10, 2000 Deadline. account and make allowances for the law, tradition, and customs of Indian tribes (as that term is defined in section 5(b)) and members of Indian tribes, to the maximum extent practicable.". (2) DETERMINATION AND PAYMENT OF CLAIMS, GENERALLY. — Section 6(b)(1) of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (42 U.S.C. 2210 note) is amended by adding at the end the following: "All reasonable doubt with regard to whether a claim meets the requirements of this Act shall be resolved in favor of the claimant.". (3) OFFSET FOR CERTAIN PAYMENTS.—Section 6(c)(2)(B) of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (42 U.S.C. 2210 note) is amended— (A) in clause (i), by inserting "(other than a claim for workers' compensation)" after "claim"; and (B) in clause (ii), by striking "Federal Government" and inserting "Department of Veterans Affairs". (4) APPLICATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN LAW TO CLAIMS. — Section 6(c)(4) of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (42 U.S.C. 2210 note) is amended by adding at the end the following: "(D) APPLICATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN LAW.—In determining those individuals eligible to receive compensation by virtue of marriage, relationship, or survivorship, such determination shall take into consideration and give effect to established law, tradition, and custom of the particular affected Indian tribe.". (5) ACTION ON CLAIMS.—Section 6(d) of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (42 U.S.C. 2210 note) is amended— (A) by inserting "(1) IN GENERAL.— " before "The Attorney General"; (B) by inserting at the end the following: "For purposes of determining when the 12-month period ends, a claim under this Act shall be deemed filed as of the date of its receipt by the Attorney General. In the event of the denial of a claim, the claimant shall be permitted a reasonable period in which to seek administrative review of the denial by the Attorney General. The Attorney General shall make a final determination with respect to any administrative review within 90 days after the receipt of the claimant's request for such review. In the event the Attorney General fails to render a determination within 12 months after the date of the receipt of such request, the claim shall be deemed awarded as a matter of law and paid."; and (C) by adding at the end the following: "(2) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. —The Attorney General may request from any claimant under this Act, or from any individual or entity on behalf of any such claimant, any reasonable additional information or documentation necessary to complete the determination on the claim in accordance with the procedures established under subsection (a). "(3) TREATMENT OF PERIOD ASSOCIATED WITH REQUEST.— "(A) IN GENERAL. — The period described in subparagraph (B) shall not apply to the 12-month limitation under paragraph (1). "(B) PERIOD. —The period described in this subparagraph is the period—

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