Amendment to the National and Community Service Act of 1990

Title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

Clean Energy Corps

199P.

General authority

The Corporation for National and Community Service (in this title referred to as the Corporation) shall make grants to States and eligible entities for the creation or expansion of full-time or part-time Clean Energy Corps programs.

199Q.

Application

(a)

In general

To be eligible to receive a grant under this subtitle, a State or eligible entity shall submit an application to the Corporation at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Corporation may reasonably require. (b)

Process

The Corporation shall consult with state and local Conservation Corps in the development of the application guidelines. (c)

Disadvantaged youth

To acknowledge the focused enrollment of disadvantaged youth and young adults in the Clean Energy Corps, the Corporation shall— (1)allow a higher cost-per-member to enable Clean Energy Corps programs to provide the necessary supportive services to ensure the success of the participants; and (2)allow for greater flexibility in retention rates. (d)

Consideration of residential Corps

The Corporation shall allow for equal consideration of residential Corps program opportunities since residential Corps thrive in rural areas that commonly lack opportunities for young adults, enable the participation for emancipated foster youth, gang involved youth, and others lacking a safe and stable home environment, allow for more structured time for work, training, education and counseling, and provide disaster response-ready crews immediately upon request. (e)

Equitable treatment

In the consideration of applications, the Corporation shall ensure the equitable treatment of both urban and rural areas.

199R.

Focus of programs

(a)

In general

Programs that receive assistance under this subtitle may carry out activities that— (1)meet an identifiable public need with specific emphasis on projects in support of energy conservation, infrastructure and transportation improvement, and emergency operations, including— (A)improving the energy efficiency of housing for elderly and low-income people; (B)building energy-efficient “green” housing for elderly and low-income people; (C)environmental education and energy conservation education for elementary and secondary school students and the public; (D)reusing and recycling including deconstruction; (E)the repair, renovation, or rehabilitation of an existing infrastructure facility including, but not limited to, rail, mass transportation, ports, inland navigation, schools and hospitals; (F)transportation enhancements; (G)recreational trails improvements, including those that enable alternative means of transportation and ensure safe use; (H)transformation of military bases affected by the Base Realignment and Closing process (BRAC) to green the space; (I)tree planting and reforestation; (J)renewable resource enhancement; and (K)assisting in emergency operations, such as disaster prevention and relief; and (2)provide opportunities for youth and young adults, especially disadvantaged youth, to be trained for careers related to the activities listed in paragraph (1), including those that will be part of the emerging field of “green collar” jobs. (b)

Goals of the Clean Energy Corps

The goals of the Clean Energy Corps are to— (1)promote clean energy use and preserve, protect, and sustain the environment; (2)provide young adults with opportunities to become better citizens, students and workers through meaningful service to their communities and the Nation; (3)mobilize youth and young adults, especially disadvantaged youth, to promote energy conservation and mitigate threats to the environment; and (4)provide a pathway to responsible adulthood and productive, unsubsidized employment in the private sector.

199S.

Training and education services

All applicants must describe how they intend to— (1)assess the skills of Corpsmembers; (2)provide life skills and work skills training; (3)provide training and education; (4)develop agreements for academic study with— (A)local education agencies; (B)community colleges; (C)4-year colleges; (D)area charter high schools and vocational-technical schools; and (E)community-based organizations; (5)provide career and educational guidance; and (6)Recruit participants without high school diplomas.

199T.

Preference for certain projects

In the consideration of applications the Corporation shall give preference to programs that are discrete and— (1)meet an identifiable public need; (2)instill a work ethic and a sense of public service in the participants; (3)involve youth operating in crews or a team-based structure; and (4)enhance skills development and educational level and opportunities for the participants.

199U.

Participants

(a)

In general

Age enrollment in programs that receive assistance under this subtitle shall be limited to individuals who, at the time of enrollment, are not less than 18 years nor more than 25 years of age, except that summer programs may include individuals not less than 14 years or more than 21 years of age at the time of the enrollment of such individuals. (b)

Participation of disadvantaged youth

Programs that receive assistance under this subtitle shall ensure that at least 50 percent of the participants are economically disadvantaged youth. (c)

Special Corpsmembers

Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, program agencies may enroll a limited number of special Corpsmembers over age 25 so that the Clean Energy Corps may draw on their special skills to fulfill the purposes of this subtitle.

199V.

Use of volunteers

The use of volunteer services under this section shall be subject to the condition that such use does not result in the displacement of any participant.

199W.

Cooperation among States for emergency response

(a)

Agreements between States

States operating a Clean Energy Corps may enter into a compact with participating States to provide for mutual cooperation to manage any emergency or disaster that is duly declared by the affected State. (b)

Participating State responsibilities

(1)The authorized representative of a participating State may request assistance of another party by contracting the authorized representative of that State. The provisions of this agreement shall only apply to requests for assistance made by and to authorized representatives. (2)There shall be frequent consultation between State officials who have assigned emergency management responsibilities and other appropriate representatives of the party States with affected jurisdictions and the United States Government, with free exchange of information, plans, and resource records relating to emergency capabilities.

199X.

Federal share

The Federal share of the cost of carrying out an Clean Energy Corps program for which a grant is made under this subtitle is 76 percent of the total cost of the program.

199Y.

Best practices

(a)

Training and technical assistance

The Corporation shall provide technical assistance to grantees that request assistance and shall disseminate best practices that emerge from the Clean Energy Corps. (b)

Contract

In providing training and technical assistance, the Corporation shall contract with a national organization with a proven track record of developing and sustaining Corps, working with the Conservation Corps model, and engaging young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

199Z.

Authorization of appropriations

(a)

In general

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2010 through 2014 to achieve the purposes of this subtitle. (b)

Allocation

Of the amounts appropriated to carry out this subtitle for each fiscal year— (1)90 percent shall be for grants to eligible entities; (2)5 percent shall be technical assistance, and dissemination of best practices; and (3)5 percent shall be for evaluation.