[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 45, Volume 2] [Revised as of October 1, 2004] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 45CFR310.135] [Page 331-332] TITLE 45--PUBLIC WELFARE CHAPTER III--OFFICE OF CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT (CHILD SUPPORT PART 310_COMPREHENSIVE TRIBAL CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT (CSE) PROGRAMS --Table of Contents Subpart D_Tribal CSE Program Funding Sec. 310.135 How long do Tribes and Tribal organizations have to obligate and spend CSE grant funds? (a) A Tribe or Tribal organization must obligate its CSE grant funds by the end of the budget period for which they were awarded. Any funds that remain unobligated at the end of the budget period for which they were [[Page 332]] awarded must be returned to the Department. A Tribe or Tribal organization must estimate in its refunding application any amounts that may be unobligated at the end of the current budget period. In its fourth quarter financial report for a budget period, a Tribe or Tribal organization must indicate the exact amount of any funds that remained unobligated at the end of that budget period. The Department will reduce the amount of the Tribe or Tribal organization's grant award for the budget period for which any unobligated funds were awarded by the amount that remained unobligated at the end of this budget period. (b) A Tribe or Tribal organization must liquidate obligations by the last day of the 12-month period following the budget period for which the funds were awarded and the Tribe or Tribal organization obligated the funds, unless the Department grants an exemption and extends the time period for liquidation. Funds that remain unliquidated after the time period for liquidation has expired must be returned to the Department. Tribes and Tribal organizations may request an exemption to this rule based on extenuating circumstances. A request for an exemption must be sent to the OCSE grants officer listed on the most recent grant award and must be made before the end of the time period for liquidation; such requests are subject to approval by the Department. If any funds remain unliquidated at the end of the maximum time period for liquidation, the Department will reduce the amount of the Tribe or Tribal organization's grant award for the budget period for which any unliquidated funds were awarded, by the amount that remains unliquidated at the end of the liquidation period. Repeated failure by a Tribe or Tribal organization to liquidate obligations in a timely way would result in the Department's reexamination of the program budget development process and could result in action to address financial systems deficiencies.