(a) For purposes of the construction of a dwelling house or other improvements for a farm or home or the acquisition of a farm or home for an Indian veteran pursuant to this article, references to property or real property include the Indian veteran’s beneficial interest in trust land held by the United States for that veteran and a leasehold interest acquired by the Indian veteran from an Indian beneficiary when the Indian veteran is not a beneficiary of trust land; references to the purchase or acquisition of property or real property include the assignment of an Indian veteran’s beneficial interest in trust land held by the United States for that veteran and a leasehold interest in trust land acquired by an Indian veteran from an Indian beneficiary; references to the sale of property or real property include the assignment of an Indian veteran’s beneficial interest in trust land held by the United States for that veteran and a leasehold interest in trust land acquired by the Indian member from an Indian beneficiary; and references to purchaser, seller, purchase price, and selling price refer to the acquisition or sale of a home situated or constructed upon or a farm comprising an assignment of an Indian veteran’s beneficial interest in trust land held by the United States for that veteran or a leasehold interest in trust land acquired by the Indian veteran from an Indian beneficiary.

(b) Subject to the conditions and limitations specified in Section 987.603, the department may acquire an Indian veteran’s leasehold interest in allotment trust land, or a sufficient portion of the leasehold interest necessary to secure the loan, as determined by the department and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, for the purpose of entering into a contract with the Indian veteran for the acquisition of a farm or home or for the construction of a dwelling house or other improvements for a farm or home or for the purchase and installation of a mobilehome on the leasehold land.

(c) Subject to the conditions and limitations specified in Section 987.603, the department may acquire an assignment of an Indian veteran’s beneficial interest in trust land held by the United States for that veteran, or a sufficient portion of the beneficial interest necessary to secure the loan, as determined by the department and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, for the purpose of entering into a contract for the acquisition of a farm or home or for the construction of a dwelling house or other improvements for a farm or home or for the purchase of a mobilehome on trust land assigned to the department by the Indian veteran beneficiary.

(d) For purposes of this section, the leasehold interest to be acquired by the department shall have been granted by the person or persons for whom the land is held in trust for a term of at least 25 years renewable without notice on the same terms and conditions for an additional period of at least 25 years. The lease shall be in a form acceptable to the department and to the United States Secretary of the Interior. The Indian veteran shall satisfy the department that it and its assignees will have access to the property for the term of the lease. The Indian veteran shall assign the lease to the department without cost and shall obtain the consent of the United States Secretary of the Interior to that assignment.

(e) For purposes of this section, the beneficial interest to be assigned by the Indian veteran shall be assigned as security for a contract entered into pursuant to this article. The assignment shall be in a form acceptable to the department and to the United States Secretary of the Interior. The Indian beneficiary veteran shall satisfy the department that the department and its assignees will have access to the property for the term of the assignment. The beneficial interest of the Indian beneficiary veteran shall be assigned at no cost to the department and with the consent of the United States Secretary of the Interior.

(Amended by Stats. 1988, Ch. 454, Sec. 8.)