1.This Act may be cited as the
Public Lands Service Corps Act of
2010
.
2.Except as otherwise expressly provided,
whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an
amendment to, or a repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall
be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the Public Lands
Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.; title II of
Public Law 91–378).
3.Amendments to the
Public Lands Corps Act of 1993
(a)Name and project
description changesThe Act is amended—
(1)by striking
Public Lands Corps
each place it appears and inserting
Public Lands Service Corps
;
(2)in the title heading, by striking
PUBLIC LANDS
CORPS
and inserting PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS
;
(3)in the section
204—
(A)in the section
heading, by striking public lands
corps
and inserting public lands service corps
; and
(B)in the heading of
subsection (a), by striking Public
Lands Corps
and inserting Public
Lands Service Corps
;
(4)in the heading of
paragraph (2) of section 210(a), by striking Public lands corps
and inserting
Public lands service
corps
;
(5)by striking
conservation center
each place it appears and inserting
residential conservation center
; and
(6)by striking
appropriate conservation projects
each place it appears (except
in paragraph (1) of section 204(e) as so redesignated) and inserting
appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation
projects
.
(b)Section
202(a) of the Act is amended as follows:
(1)In paragraph (1),
by striking the natural and cultural
and inserting
natural and cultural
.
(2)By redesignating
paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively, and by
inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
(2)Participants in conservation corps receive
meaningful training and their experience with such corps provides preparation
for careers in public service.
(3)Young men and
women who participate in the rehabilitation and restoration of our Nation’s
natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic treasures
will gain an increased appreciation and understanding of our public lands and
heritage, and of the value of public service, and are likely to become
life-long advocates for those
values.
.
(3)In paragraph (4)
(as so redesignated), by inserting , cultural, historic, archaeological,
recreational, and scenic
after Many facilities and
natural
.
(4)By adding at the
end the following:
(6)The work of
conservation corps can benefit communities adjacent to public lands and
facilities through renewed civic engagement and participation by corps
participants and those they serve; improved student achievement; and
restoration and rehabilitation of public
assets.
.
(c)Section
202(b) of the Act is amended to read as follows:
(b)The purposes of this Act are to—
(1)introduce young
men and women to public service while furthering their understanding and
appreciation of the Nation’s natural, cultural, historic, archaeological,
recreational, and scenic resources;
(2)facilitate
training and recruitment opportunities in which service is credited as
qualifying experience for careers in public land management;
(3)instill in a new
generation of young men and women from across the Nation, including those from
diverse backgrounds, the desire to seek careers in natural and cultural
resource stewardship and public service by allowing them to work directly with
professionals in agencies responsible for the management of the Nation’s
natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic
resources;
(4)perform, in a
cost-effective manner, appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation
projects where such projects are not being performed by existing
employees;
(5)assist governments
and Indian tribes in performing research and public education tasks associated
with natural and cultural resources;
(6)expand educational
opportunities by rewarding individuals who participate in national service with
an increased ability to pursue higher education or job training; and
(7)promote public
understanding and appreciation of the individual missions and natural and
cultural resources conservation work of the Federal agencies through training
opportunities, community service and outreach, and other appropriate
means.
.
(d)Section
203 of the Act is amended as follows:
(1)By amending
paragraphs (1) and (2) to read as follows:
(1)Appropriate
natural and cultural resources conservation projectThe term
appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation project
means any project for the conservation, restoration, construction, or
rehabilitation of natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, or
scenic resources on public lands.
(2)Corps and Public
Lands Service CorpsThe terms Corps and Public
Lands Service Corps mean the Public Lands Service Corps established
under section 204 of this
title.
.
(2)By striking
paragraphs (3) and (8).
(3)By redesignating
paragraphs (4), (5), (6), (7), (9), (10), (11), (12), and (13) as paragraphs
(3) through (11), respectively.
(4)By amending
paragraph (7) (as so redesignated) to read as follows:
(7)The term public lands means any lands or
waters (or interest therein) owned or administered by the United States,
including those areas of coastal and ocean waters, the Great Lakes and their
connecting waters, and submerged lands over which the United States exercises
jurisdiction, except that such term does not include any Indian
lands.
.
(5)In paragraph (8)
(as so redesignated)—
(A)in subparagraph
(B), by striking and
at the end;
(B)in subparagraph
(C), by striking the period and inserting ; and
; and
(C)by adding at the
end the following:
(D)makes available
for audit for each fiscal year for which the qualified youth or conservation
corps receives Federal funds under this Act, information pertaining to the
expenditure of the funds, any matching funds, and participant
demographics.
.
(6)In paragraph (10)
(as so redesignated)—
(A)in subparagraph
(A), by striking and
at the end;
(B)in subparagraph
(B), by striking the period and inserting ; and
; and
(C)by adding at the
end the following:
(C)with respect to
the National Marine Sanctuary System, coral reefs, and other coastal,
estuarine, and marine habitats, and other lands and facilities administered by
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Secretary of
Commerce.
.
(7)By adding at the
end the following:
(12)Residential
conservation centersThe term residential conservation
centers means the facilities authorized under section 205.
(13)The term consulting intern means a consulting
intern selected under section 206.
(14)Public Lands
Service Corps participantThe term Public Lands Service
Corps participant, Corps participant or participant
of the Corps means an individual who is enrolled in the Public Lands
Service Corps pursuant to section
204(b).
.
(e)Public lands
service corps programSection 204 of the Act is amended as
follows:
(1)In subsection
(a)—
(A)in the heading, by
adding at the end Program
(B)by striking
and the Department of Agriculture a
and inserting , the
Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Commerce a service and
training program titled the
; and
(C)by adding at the
end the following: The Secretary of the Interior shall establish a
department-level office to coordinate Public Lands Service Corps activities
within the Department of the Interior. The Secretary of Agriculture shall
establish within the U.S. Forest Service an office to coordinate Public Lands
Service Corps activities within that agency. The Secretary of Commerce shall
establish within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration an office
to coordinate Public Lands Service Corps activities within that agency. The
Secretary of each department shall designate a Public Lands Service Corps
coordinator for each agency within that department that administers Public
Lands Service Corps activities.
.
(2)By amending
subsection (b) to read as follows:
(b)The Secretary may enroll in the Public
Lands Service Corps individuals between the ages of 16 and 25, inclusive, who
are either hired by an agency under the Secretary’s jurisdiction to perform
work authorized under this Act or who are members of a qualified youth or
conservation corps with which the Secretary has entered into a cooperative
agreement to perform work authorized under this Act. The Secretary may also
enroll resource assistants and consulting interns. All enrollees shall be
considered Public Lands Service Corps participants, and may be enrolled for a
term of up to 24 months of service, which may be served over more than two
calendar years. The individuals may be enrolled without regard to the civil
service and classification laws, rules, or regulations of the United States.
The Secretary may establish a preference for the enrollment in the Corps of
individuals who are economically, physically, or educationally
disadvantaged.
.
(3)In subsection
(c)—
(A)in paragraph (1)—
(i)by striking
contracts and
;
(ii)by inserting
natural and cultural resources
after appropriate
;
and
(iii)by striking
subsection (d)
and inserting subsection
(e)
;
(B)by redesignating
paragraph (2) as paragraph (3);
(C)by inserting after
paragraph (1) the following:
(2)The
Secretary shall undertake, or enter into cooperative agreements to provide, a
program to attract eligible youth to the Corps by publicizing Corps
opportunities through high schools, colleges, employment centers, electronic
media, and other appropriate institutions or
means.
;
and
(D)by amending
paragraph (3) (as so redesignated) to read as follows:
(3)For purposes of entering into cooperative
agreements under paragraph (1), the Secretary may give preference to qualified
youth or conservation corps located in a specific area that have a substantial
portion of members who are economically, physically, or educationally
disadvantaged to carry out projects within the
area.
.
(4)By redesignating
subsections (d) through (f) as subsections (e) through (g),
respectively.
(5)By inserting after
subsection (c) the following:
(d)The
Secretary shall establish a training program based at appropriate residential
conservation centers or at other suitable regional Federal or other appropriate
facilities or sites to provide training for Corps participants. The Secretary
shall—
(1)ensure that the duration and
comprehensiveness of the training program shall be commensurate with the
projects Corps participants are expected to undertake;
(2)develop
department-wide standards for the program that include training in—
(A)resource
stewardship;
(B)ethics for those
in public service;
(C)principles of
national service;
(D)health and
safety;
(E)teamwork and
leadership; and
(F)interpersonal
communications;
(3)direct each participating agency to develop
agency-specific training guidelines to ensure that Corps participants enrolled
to undertake projects for that agency are appropriately informed about matters
specific to that agency, including—
(A)the history and
organization of the agency;
(B)the agency’s core
values; and
(C)any
agency-specific standards for the management of natural, cultural, historic,
archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources; and
(4)take into account training already received
by Corps participants enrolled from qualified youth or conservation corps,
including in the matters outlined in paragraph
(2).
.
(6)In subsection (e)
(as so redesignated)—
(A)in paragraph
(1)—
(i)by striking
The Secretary may utilize the Corps or any qualified youth or
conservation corps to carry out appropriate
and inserting The
Secretary may use Corps participants to carry out, under appropriate
supervision and training, appropriate natural and cultural resource
;
and
(ii)by striking
law on public lands.
and inserting the
following:
law. Such projects may include, but
are not limited to—(A)protection,
restoration, or enhancement of ecosystem components to promote species
recovery, improve biological diversity, enhance productivity and carbon
sequestration, and enhance adaptability and resilience of public lands and
resources in the face of climate change and other natural and human
disturbances;
(B)promoting the
health of forests and public lands, refuges, and coastal and marine areas,
including—
(i)protection and
restoration of watersheds and forest, riparian, estuarine, grassland, coral
reef, intertidal, or other habitat;
(ii)reduction of
wildfire risk and mitigation of damage from insects, disease, and
disasters;
(iii)erosion
control;
(iv)control or
removal of invasive, noxious, or non-native species;
(v)restoration of
native species; and
(vi)projects under
the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law
108–148);
Projects under this subparagraph
shall be considered priority projects;(C)collection of
biological, archaeological, and other scientific data, including monitoring of
climatological information, species populations and movement, habitat status,
and other factors;
(D)assisting in
historical and cultural research, archival and curatorial work, oral history
projects, documentary photography, and activities that support the creation of
public works of art related to public lands; and
(E)construction,
repair, rehabilitation, green building retrofitting, and maintenance of roads,
trails, campgrounds, and other facilities, employee housing, cultural and
historic sites and structures, and facilities that further the purposes of the
Public Lands Service
Corps.
.
(B)By redesignating
paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively.
(C)By inserting after
paragraph (1) the following:
(2)The Secretary may—
(A)enter into or amend an existing cooperative
agreement with a cooperating association, educational institute, friends group,
or similar nonprofit partner organization for the purpose of providing training
and work experience to Corps participants in areas including, but not limited
to, sales, office work, accounting, and management provided that the work
experience directly relates to the protection and management of the public
lands; and
(B)allow Corps participants to help promote
visitor safety and enjoyment of public lands, and assist in the gathering of
visitor use data.
(3)The Secretary may assign Corps participants
to provide interpretation or education services for the public under the
appropriate direction and supervision of agency personnel, including—
(A)providing
orientation and information services to visitors, including services for
non-English speaking visitors and visitors who use American Sign
Language;
(B)assisting agency
personnel in the delivery of interpretive or educational programs, including
outdoor learning and classroom learning;
(C)presenting programs on Federal lands or at
schools, after-school programs, and youth-serving community programs that
relate the personal experience of the Corps participant for the purpose of
promoting public awareness of the Corps, its role in public land management
agencies, and its availability to potential participants; and
(D)creating
nonpersonal interpretive products, such as Web site content, Junior Ranger
program books, printed handouts, and audiovisual
programs.
.
(D)In paragraph (4)
(as so redesignated), by striking Appropriate conservation
projects
and inserting Appropriate natural and cultural
resources conservation projects
.
(7)In subsection (g) (as so redesignated), by
striking appropriate conservation project
inserting
appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation
project
.
(8)By amending the text of subsection (f) (as
so redesignated), by inserting involve improvements to Federal property
and
after preference to those projects which
.
(9)By amending the
text of subsection (f)(2) (as so redesignated) to read as follows: will
instill in Corps participants a work ethic and a sense of public
service;
.
(10)In subsection (g)
(as so redesignated), by striking on eligible service
lands
.
(11)By adding at the
end the following:
(h)The Secretary may allow volunteers from other
programs administered or designated by the Secretary to participate as
volunteers in projects carried out under this section on such terms as the
Secretary considers
appropriate.
.
(f)Residential
conservation centers and program supportSection 205 of the Act
is amended as follows:
(1)In the section
heading, by striking Conservation
and inserting
Residential
conservation
.
(2)In subsection
(a)—
(A)by amending
paragraph (1) to read as follows:
(1)The Secretary may establish residential conservation
centers for—
(A)such housing, food
service, medical care, transportation, and other services as the Secretary
deems necessary for the Public Lands Service Corps; and
(B)the conduct of
appropriate residential conservation projects under this
Act.
;
(B)by striking
paragraph (2) and redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (2) and
(3), respectively;
(C)in paragraph (2)
(as so redesignated)—
(i)in the text, by
inserting residential
before conservation
centers
; and
(ii)in the heading,
by inserting residential
before
conservation
centers
; and
(D)in paragraph (3)
(as so redesignated), by striking with a State or
and inserting
a cooperative agreement with another Federal, State, or
.
(3)In subsection
(b)—
(A)by striking
The Secretary
and inserting the following:
(1)The
Secretary
; and
(B)by adding at the
end the following:
(2)The Secretary may
make arrangements with other Federal agencies, States, local, and tribal
governments, or private organizations to provide temporary housing as needed
and available.
(3)In project areas where Corps participants
can reasonably be expected to reside at their own homes, the Secretary may fund
or provide transportation to and from project
sites.
.
(4)By redesignating
subsection (d) as subsection (g).
(5)By inserting after
subsection (c) the following:
(d)The
Secretary may, as an appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation
project, direct Corps participants to aid in the rehabilitation or construction
of residential conservation center facilities, including housing.
(e)The Secretary may seek the assistance of the Secretary
of Energy in identifying and using solar and other green building technologies
and modular housing designs that may be adapted for residential conservation
center facilities, including—
(1)designs from the
Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon competition; and
(2)logistical
support, assistance, and training from Solar Decathlon participants.
(f)The
Secretary may recruit from programs, such as agency volunteer programs, and
from agency retirees, veterans groups, military retirees, active duty
personnel, and from appropriate youth-serving organizations, such adults as may
be suitable and qualified to provide training, mentoring, and crew-leading
services to Corps
participants.
.
(6)In subsection (g)
(as so redesignated), by striking are appropriate to carry out this
title
and inserting the Secretary determines to be necessary for
the residential conservation center
.
(g)Resource
assistants and consulting internsSection 206 of the Act is
amended as follows:
(1)In the section
heading, by inserting and
consulting interns
before the period.
(2)In subsection (a),
by striking The Secretary is authorized to provide individual placements
of resource
and inserting the
following:
The Secretary is authorized, to
provide individual placements of the following:(1)Resource
.
(3)By inserting after
subsection (a)(1) (as so designated), the following:
(2)Consulting interns
with any Federal land, coastal, or ocean management agency under the
jurisdiction of the Secretary to carry out management analysis activities on
behalf of the agency. To be eligible for selection as a consulting intern, an
individual must be a current enrollee and have completed at least one full year
at a graduate or professional school that has been accredited by an accrediting
body that has been recognized by the Secretary of Education. The Secretary may
select consulting interns without regard to the civil service and
classification laws, rules, or regulations of the United
States.
.
(4)In subsection
(b)—
(A)by inserting or consulting
interns
before through private sources
;
(B)in the second
sentence, before the period, by inserting ; up to 15 percent may be
in-kind
; and
(C)by striking
Resource Assistants
and inserting resource assistants or
consulting interns
.
(5)By adding at the
end the following:
(c)Cost sharing
requirementsAt the
Secretary’s discretion, the requirements for cost sharing applicable to
participating nonprofit organizations for the expenses of resource assistants
and consulting interns under subsection (b) may be reduced to not less than 10
percent.
.
(h)The Act is amended by redesignating sections 207, 208,
209, 210, and 211 as sections 208, 209, 210, 211, and 212, respectively.
(i)The
Act is amended by inserting after section 206 the following:
207.Not later than 18 months after funds are
made available for this purpose, the Secretaries shall issue guidelines for the
management of the Public Lands Service Corps programs for use by regional and
State directors, and the supervisors of individual parks, forests, districts,
sanctuaries, reserves, hatcheries, and
refuges.
.
(j)Living
allowances and terms of serviceSection 208 of the Act (as so
redesignated) is amended—
(1)by amending
subsection (a) to read as follows:
(a)The Secretary
shall provide each Corps participant with a living allowance in an amount
established by the Secretary. The Secretary may—
(1)apply a
cost-of-living differential to such allowances; and
(2)reimburse Corps
participants for travel costs at the beginning and end of their term of service
if the Secretary deems
appropriate.
;
(2)by amending the
text of subsection (b) to read as follows: Each Corp participant shall
agree to participate in the Corps for such term of service as may be
established by the Secretary enrolling or selecting the
individual.
;
(3)in the heading of
subsection (c), by adding at the end Preference and Future Employment
;
and
(4)in subsection
(c)—
(A)by amending
paragraphs (1) and (2) to read as follows:
(1)grant to a
participant of the Public Lands Service Corps credit for service time in the
Corps to be used as qualifying experience toward future Federal hiring;
(2)provide to a
former participant of the Public Lands Service Corps noncompetitive hiring
status for a period of not more than two years after the date on which the
participant’s service with the Public Lands Service Corps is complete (not
counting any time spent enrolled in an academic institution or trade school),
if the candidate—
(A)has served a
minimum of 960 hours on an appropriate natural or cultural resource
conservation project that included at least 120 hours through the Public Lands
Service Corps; and
(B)meets Office of
Personnel Management qualification standards for the position to which the
candidate is applying;
;
and
(B)by adding at the
end the following:
(3)develop a system
to provide consideration for participants who cannot meet the requirements of
paragraph (2);
(4)provide to an
individual who has successfully fulfilled the resource assistant program
noncompetitive hiring status for a period of not more than two years after the
date on which the individual has completed an undergraduate degree from an
accredited institution;
(5)provide to an
individual who has successfully fulfilled the consulting internship program
noncompetitive hiring status for a period of not more than two years after the
date on which the individual has completed a graduate degree from an accredited
institution; and
(6)provide, or enter
into cooperative agreements with qualified employment agencies to provide,
alumni services such as job and education counseling, referrals, verification
of service, communications, and other appropriate services to participants who
have completed their Corps
service.
.
(k)National service
educational awardsSection 209 of the Act (as so redesignated) is
amended—
(1)in subsection (a),
by striking If a
and all that follows through shall be
eligible
and inserting If a Corps participant also serves in an
approved national service position designated under subtitle C of title I of
the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571 et seq.), the
Corps participant shall be eligible
; and
(2)in subsection (b),
by striking—
(A)either
participants in the Corps or resource assistants
and inserting
participants in the Corps
; and
(B)or a
resource assistant
.
(l)Section
210 of the Act (as so redesignated) is amended to read as follows:
210.The nondisplacement requirements of the
National and Community Service Act of 1990 shall be applicable to all
activities carried out by the Public Lands Service Corps
participants.
.
(m)Section
211 of the Act (as so redesignated) is amended—
(1)in subsection
(a)(1)—
(A)by striking
appropriate conservation project
each place it appears and
inserting appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation
project
; and
(B)by adding at the
end the following: The Secretary may reduce to no less than 10 percent
the non-Federal costs of a project when the Secretary determines that it is
necessary to enable participation in the Public Lands Service Corps from a
greater range of organizations.
; and
(2)in subsection
(b)—
(A)by inserting
program
after Corps
; and
(B)by inserting , consulting
interns
before and qualified youth
.
(n)Authorization of
appropriationsSection 212 of the Act (as so redesignated) is
amended—
(1)by amending subsection (a) to read as
follows:
(a)There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this title $12,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, of which no less than ¾ of the sums shall be
made available for healthy forests restoration priority projects under section
204(e)(1)(B)(vi).
;
(2)by striking
subsection (b); and
(3)by redesignating
subsection (c) as subsection (b).
(o)Limitation on
Use of FundsNo person or
entity who is a party to a pending lawsuit against the dispensing Secretary is
eligible to receive funds authorized or made available under this Act or
amendments made by this Act.
(p)Further
Limitation on Use of Funds to Protect ChildrenNo adult shall be
eligible to receive funds or participate in the Public Lands Service Corps
program under this Act or amendments made by this Act, if that person—
(1)refuses to consent
to a criminal history check;
(2)makes a false
statement in connection with such a criminal history check;
(3)is registered, or
is required to be registered, on a State sex offender registry or the National
Sex Offender Registry established under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and
Safety Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 16901 et seq.);
or
(4)has been convicted
of murder, as described in
section
1111 of title 18, United States Code.
1.This Act may be cited as the
Public Lands Service Corps Act of
2010
.
2.Section 201 of the
Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1701 note; 107 Stat. 848) is amended
to read as follows:
201.
(a)This title may be cited
as the Public Lands Service Corps Act
of 1993
.
(b)Any
reference contained in any law, regulation, document, paper, or other record of
the United States to the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993
shall be
considered to be a reference to the Public Lands Service Corps Act of
1993
.
.
3.A reference in this Act to the
Act
is a reference to the Public Lands Service Corps Act of 1993 (16
U.S.C. 1721 et seq.; title II of Public Law 91–378).
4.Amendments to the Public
Lands Service Corps Act of 1993
(a)Name and project
description changesThe Act is amended—
(1)in the title heading, by
striking Public lands
corps
and inserting Public lands service
corps
;
(2)in section 204 (16 U.S.C.
1723), in the heading, by striking Public lands corps
and
inserting public lands
service corps
;
(3)in section 210(a)(2) (16
U.S.C. 1729(a)(2)), in the heading, by striking Public lands
;
(4)by striking Public
Lands Corps
each place it appears and inserting
Corps
;
(5)by striking
conservation center
each place it appears and inserting
residential conservation center
;
(6)by striking
conservation centers
each place it appears and inserting
residential conservation centers
;
(7)by striking
appropriate conservation project
each place it appears and
inserting appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation
project
; and
(8)by striking
appropriate conservation projects
each place it appears and
inserting appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation
projects
.
(b)Section
202(a) (16 U.S.C. 1721(a)) of the Act, as amended by subsection (a), is
amended—
(1)in paragraph (1)—
(A)by striking Corps
can benefit
and inserting conservation corps can
benefit
; and
(B)by striking the
natural and cultural
and inserting natural and
cultural
;
(2)by redesignating
paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively;
(3)by inserting after
paragraph (1) the following:
(2)Participants in
conservation corps receive meaningful education and training, and their
experience with conservation corps provides preparation for careers in public
service.
(3)Young men and women who
participate in the rehabilitation and restoration of the natural, cultural,
historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic treasures of the United
States will gain an increased appreciation and understanding of the public
lands and heritage of the United States, and of the value of public service,
and are likely to become life-long advocates for those
values.
;
(4)in paragraph (4) (as
redesignated by paragraph (2)), by inserting , cultural, historic,
archaeological, recreational, and scenic
after Many facilities
and natural
; and
(5)by adding at the end the
following:
(6)The work of conservation
corps can benefit communities adjacent to public lands and facilities through
renewed civic engagement and participation by corps participants and those they
serve, improved student achievement, and restoration and rehabilitation of
public
assets.
.
(c)Section
202(b) (16 U.S.C. 1721(b)) of the Act is amended to read as follows:
(b)The
purposes of this Act are—
(1)to introduce young men
and women to public service while furthering their understanding and
appreciation of the natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational,
and scenic resources of the United States;
(2)to facilitate training
and recruitment opportunities in which service is credited as qualifying
experience for careers in the management of such resources;
(3)to instill in a new
generation of young men and women from across the United States, including
young men and women from diverse backgrounds, the desire to seek careers in
resource stewardship and public service by allowing them to work directly with
professionals in agencies responsible for the management of the natural,
cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources of the
United States;
(4)to perform, in a
cost-effective manner, appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation
projects where such projects are not being performed by existing
employees;
(5)to assist State and local
governments and Indian tribes in performing research and public education tasks
associated with the conservation of natural, cultural, historic,
archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources;
(6)to expand educational
opportunities on public lands and by rewarding individuals who participate in
conservation corps with an increased ability to pursue higher education and job
training;
(7)to promote public
understanding and appreciation of the missions and the natural and cultural
resources conservation work of the participating Federal agencies through
training opportunities, community service and outreach, and other appropriate
means; and
(8)to create a grant program
for Indian tribes to establish the Indian Youth Service Corps so that Indian
youth can benefit from carrying out projects on Indian lands that the Indian
tribes and communities determine to be
priorities.
.
(d)Section
203 (16 U.S.C. 1722) of the Act is amended—
(1)by redesignating
paragraphs (3) through (7), (8) through (10), and (11) through (13) as
paragraphs (5) through (9), (11) through (13), and (15) through (17),
respectively;
(2)by striking paragraphs
(1) and (2) and inserting the following:
(1)Appropriate natural and
cultural resources conservation projectThe term
appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation project
means any project for the conservation, restoration, construction, or
rehabilitation of natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, or
scenic resources.
(2)The term consulting intern means a consulting
intern selected under section 206(a)(2).
(3)Corps and public lands
service corpsThe terms Corps and Public Lands
Service Corps mean the Public Lands Service Corps established under
section 204(a).
(4)The term Corps participant means an
individual enrolled—
(A)in the Corps or the
Indian Youth Service Corps; or
(B)as a resource assistant
or consulting
intern.
;
(3)by inserting after
paragraph (9) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) the following:
(10)Indian youth service
corpsThe term Indian Youth Service Corps means a
qualified youth or conservation corps established under section 207
that—
(A)enrolls individuals
between the ages of 15 and 25, inclusive, a majority of whom are Indians;
and
(B)is established pursuant
to a tribal resolution that describes the agreement between the Indian tribe
and the qualified youth or conservation corps to operate an Indian Youth
Service Corps program for the benefit of the members of the Indian
tribe.
;
(4)by amending paragraph
(12) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) to read as follows:
(12)The term public lands means any land or water
(or interest therein) owned or administered by the United States, including
those areas of coastal and ocean waters, the Great Lakes and their connecting
waters, and submerged lands over which the United States exercises
jurisdiction, except that such term does not include Indian
lands.
;
(5)by amending paragraph
(13) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) as follows:
(A)in subparagraph
(A)—
(i)by striking
full-time,
;
(ii)by inserting on
eligible service lands
after resource setting
;
and
(iii)by striking
16
and inserting 15
;
(B)in subparagraph (B), by
striking and
at the end;
(C)in subparagraph (C), by
striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
(D)by adding at the end the
following:
(D)makes available for audit
for each fiscal year for which the qualified youth or conservation corps
receives Federal funds under this Act, all information pertaining to the
expenditure of the funds, any matching funds, and participant
demographics.
;
(6)by inserting after
paragraph 13 (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) the following:
(14)Residential
conservation centersThe term residential conservation
centers means the facilities authorized under section
205.
;
(7)in paragraph (15) (as
redesignated by paragraph (1)), by striking “206” and inserting
206(a)(1)
; and
(8)in paragraph (16) (as
redesignated by paragraph (1))—
(A)in subparagraph (A), by
striking and
at the end;
(B)in subparagraph (B), by
striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
(C)by adding at the end the
following:
(C)with respect to the
National Marine Sanctuary System, coral reefs, and other coastal, estuarine,
and marine habitats, and other lands and facilities administered by the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Secretary of
Commerce.
.
(e)Public Lands Service
Corps ProgramSection 204 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1723), as amended
by subsection (a), is amended—
(1)by redesignating
subsections (b) and (c) and subsections (d) through (f) as subsections (c) and
(d) and subsections (f) through (h), respectively;
(2)by striking subsection
(a) and inserting the following:
(a)Establishment of Public
Lands Service CorpsThere is established in the Department of the
Interior, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Commerce a
Public Lands Service Corps.
(b)Establishment of Corps
Office; Coordinators; Liaison
(1)
(A)Department of the
InteriorThe Secretary of the Interior shall establish a
department-level office to coordinate the Corps activities within the
Department of the Interior.
(B)Department of
AgricultureThe Secretary of Agriculture shall establish within
the Forest Service an office to coordinate the Corps activities within that
agency.
(C)The Secretary of Commerce shall establish within the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration an office to coordinate the
Corps activities within that agency.
(2)Establishment of
coordinatorsThe Secretary shall designate a Public Lands Service
Corps coordinator for each agency under the jurisdiction of the Secretary that
administers Corps activities.
(3)The Secretary of the Interior shall establish an Indian
Youth Service Corps liaison that will—
(A)provide outreach to
Indian tribes about opportunities for establishing Corps and Indian Youth
Service Corps programs; and
(B)coordinate with the
Tribal Liaison of the Corporation for National Service to identify and
establish Corps and Indian Youth Service Corps opportunities for Indian
youth.
;
(3)by amending subsection
(c) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) to read as follows:
(c)
(1)The Secretary may enroll in the Corps individuals who
are—
(A)hired by an agency under
the jurisdiction of the Secretary to perform work authorized under this Act;
or
(B)members of a qualified
youth or conservation corps with which the Secretary has entered into a
cooperative agreement to perform work authorized under this Act.
(2)Resource assistants and
consulting internsThe Secretary may also enroll in the Corps
resource assistants and consulting interns in accordance with section
206(a).
(3)To be eligible for enrollment as a Corps
participant, an individual shall—
(A)be between the ages of 15
and 25, inclusive; and
(B)satisfy the requirements
of section 137(a)(5) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42
U.S.C. 12591(a)(5)).
(4)Each
Corps participant may be enrolled in the Corps for a term of up to 2 years of
service, which may be served over a period that exceeds 2 calendar
years.
(5)An individual may be enrolled as a Corps participant
without regard to the civil service and classification laws, rules, or
regulations of the United States.
(6)The
Secretary may establish a preference for the enrollment as Corps participants
individuals who are economically, physically, or educationally
disadvantaged.
;
(4)in subsection (d) (as
redesignated by paragraph (1))—
(A)in paragraph (1)—
(i)by striking
contracts and
; and
(ii)by striking
subsection (d)
and inserting subsection
(f)
;
(B)by striking paragraph
(2); and
(C)by inserting after
paragraph (1) the following:
(2)The
Secretary shall carry out, or enter into cooperative agreements to provide, a
program to attract eligible youth to the Corps by publicizing Corps
opportunities through high schools, colleges, employment centers, electronic
media, and other appropriate institutions and means.
(3)In
entering into cooperative agreements under paragraph (1) or awarding
competitive grants to Indian tribes or tribally authorized organizations under
section 207, the Secretary may give preference to qualified youth or
conservation corps that are located in specific areas where a substantial
portion of members are economically, physically, or educationally
disadvantaged.
;
(5)by inserting after
subsection (d) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) the following:
(e)
(1)The Secretary shall establish a training program based at
appropriate residential conservation centers or at other suitable regional
Federal or other appropriate facilities or sites to provide training for Corps
participants.
(2)In
establishing a training program under paragraph (1), the Secretary
shall—
(A)ensure that the duration
and comprehensiveness of the training program shall be commensurate with the
projects Corps participants are expected to undertake;
(B)develop department-wide
standards for the program that include training in—
(i)resource
stewardship;
(ii)health and
safety;
(iii)ethics for individuals
in public service;
(iv)teamwork and leadership;
and
(v)interpersonal
communications;
(C)direct the participating
agencies within the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service in the case
of the Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration in the case of the Department of Commerce, to develop
agency-specific training guidelines to ensure that Corps participants are
appropriately informed about matters specific to that agency, including—
(i)the history and
organization of the agency;
(ii)the mission of the
agency; and
(iii)any agency-specific
standards for the management of natural, cultural, historic, archaeological,
recreational, and scenic resources; and
(D)take into account
training already received by Corps participants enrolled from qualified youth
or conservation
corps.
;
(6)in subsection (f) (as
redesignated by paragraph (1))—
(A)in paragraph (1)—
(i)in the heading, by
striking In
general.—
and inserting Use of Corps;
projects.—
;
(ii)by striking The
Secretary may utilize the Corps or any qualified youth or conservation corps to
carry out
and inserting the following:
(A)The Secretary may use the Corps to carry out, with
appropriate supervision and
training,
;
(iii)by striking on
public lands
and inserting on on eligible service lands
;
and
(iv)by adding at the end the
following:
(B)Appropriate
natural and cultural resources conservation projects carried out under this
section may include—
(i)protecting, restoring, or
enhancing ecosystem components to promote species recovery, improve biological
diversity, enhance productivity and carbon sequestration, and enhance
adaptability and resilience of eligible service lands and resources to climate
change and other natural and human disturbances;
(ii)promoting the health of
eligible service lands, including—
(I)protecting and restoring
watersheds and forest, grassland, riparian, estuarine, marine, or other
habitat;
(II)reducing the risk of
uncharacteristically severe wildfire and mitigating damage from insects,
disease, and disasters;
(III)controlling
erosion;
(IV)controlling and removing
invasive, noxious, or nonnative species; and
(V)restoring native
species;
(iii)collecting biological,
archaeological, and other scientific data, including climatological
information, species populations and movement, habitat status, and other
information;
(iv)assisting in historical
and cultural research, museum curatorial work, oral history projects,
documentary photography, and activities that support the creation of public
works of art related to eligible service lands; and
(v)constructing, repairing,
rehabilitating, and maintaining roads, trails, campgrounds and other visitor
facilities, employee housing, cultural and historic sites and structures, and
other facilities that further the purposes of this
Act.
;
(B)by redesignating
paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and
(C)by inserting after
paragraph (1) the following:
(2)The Secretary may—
(A)enter into or amend an
existing cooperative agreement with a cooperating association, educational
institution, friends group, or similar nonprofit partner organization for the
purpose of providing training and work experience to Corps participants in
areas such as sales, office work, accounting, and management, provided that the
work experience directly relates to the conservation and management of eligible
service lands; and
(B)allow Corps participants
to help promote visitor safety and enjoyment of eligible service lands, and
assist in the gathering of visitor use data.
(3)The
Secretary may permit Corps participants to provide interpretation or education
services for the public under the direct and immediate supervision of an agency
employee—
(A)to provide orientation
and information services to visitors;
(B)to assist agency
employees in the delivery of interpretive or educational programs where
audience size, environmental conditions, safety, or other factors make such
assistance desirable;
(C)to present programs that
relate the personal experience of the Corps participants for the purpose of
promoting public awareness of the Corps, the role of the Corps in public land
management agencies, and the availability of the Corps to potential
participants; and
(D)to create nonpersonal
interpretive products, such as website content, Junior Ranger program books,
printed handouts, and audiovisual
programs.
;
(7)in subsection (g) (as
redesignated by paragraph (1))—
(A)in the matter preceding
the first paragraph, by striking those projects which
and
inserting priority projects and other projects that
; and
(B)by striking paragraph (2)
and inserting the following:
(2)will instill in Corps
participants a work ethic and a sense of public
service;
;
and
(8)by adding at the end the
following:
(i)The Secretary may allow volunteers from other
programs administered or designated by the Secretary to participate as
volunteers in projects carried out under this section.
(j)
(1)The requirements of section 189D(b) of the National and
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12645g(b)) shall apply to each
individual age 18 or older seeking—
(A)to become a Corps
participant;
(B)to receive funds
authorized under this Act; or
(C)to supervise or otherwise
have regular contact with Corps participants in activities authorized under
this Act.
(2)If any of paragraphs (1) through (4) of section
189D(c) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
12645g(c)(1)–(4)) apply to an individual described in paragraph (1), that
individual shall not be eligible for the position or activity described in
paragraph (1), unless the Secretary provides an exemption for good
cause.
.
(f)Residential
Conservation Centers and Program SupportSection 205 (16 U.S.C. 1724) of the Act is
amended—
(1)in the section heading,
by striking Conservation
and inserting
Residential
conservation
;
(2)in subsection (a)—
(A)by amending paragraph (1)
to read as follows:
(1)The Secretary may establish residential conservation
centers for—
(A)such housing, food
service, medical care, transportation, and other services as the Secretary
deems necessary for Corps participants; and
(B)the conduct of
appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation projects under this
Act.
;
(B)by striking paragraph
(2);
(C)by redesignating
paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively;
(D)in paragraph (2) (as
redesignated by subparagraph (C)), in the heading, by striking
for conservation
centers
; and
(E)in paragraph (3) (as
redesignated by subparagraph (C)), by striking a State or local
government agency
and inserting another Federal agency, State,
local government,
;
(3)in subsection (b)—
(A)by striking The
Secretary
and inserting the following:
(1)The Secretary
;
and
(B)by adding at the end the
following:
(2)The Secretary may make arrangements with another Federal
agency, State, local government, or private organization to provide temporary
housing for Corps participants as needed and available.
(3)In
project areas where Corps participants can reasonably be expected to reside at
their own homes, the Secretary may fund or provide transportation to and from
project
sites.
;
(4)by redesignating
subsection (d) as subsection (f);
(5)by inserting after
subsection (c) the following:
(d)The
Secretary may, as an appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation
project, direct Corps participants to aid in the construction or rehabilitation
of residential conservation center facilities, including housing.
(e)The
Secretary may recruit from programs, such as Federal volunteer and encore
service programs, and from veterans groups, military retirees, and active duty
personnel, such adults as may be suitable and qualified to provide training,
mentoring, and crew-leading services to Corps
participants.
;
and
(6)in subsection (f) (as
redesignated by paragraph (4)), by striking that are appropriate
and all that follows through the period and inserting that the Secretary
determines to be necessary for a residential conservation
center.
.
(g)Resource Assistants and
Consulting InternsSection 206 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1725) is
amended—
(1)in the section heading,
by inserting and consulting
interns
before the period;
(2)by striking subsections
(a) and (b) and inserting the following:
(a)
(1)
(A)The Secretary may provide individual placements of
resource assistants with any agency under the jurisdiction of the Secretary
that carries out appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation
projects to carry out research or resource protection activities on behalf of
the agency.
(B)To
be eligible for selection as a resource assistant, an individual shall be at
least 17 years of age.
(C)In
selecting resource assistants for placement under this paragraph, the Secretary
shall give a preference to individuals who are enrolled in an institution of
higher education or are recent graduates from an institution of higher
education, with particular attention given to ensuring full representation of
women and participants from Historically Black Colleges and Universities,
Hispanic-serving institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities.
(2)
(A)The Secretary may provide individual placements of
consulting interns with any agency under the jurisdiction of the Secretary that
carries out appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation projects to
carry out management analysis activities on behalf of the agency.
(B)To
be eligible for selection as a consulting intern, an individual shall be
enrolled in, and have completed at least 1 full year at, a graduate or
professional school that has been accredited by an accrediting body recognized
by the Secretary of Education.
(b)Use of Existing
Nonprofit Organizations
(1)Whenever 1 or more nonprofit organizations can provide
appropriate recruitment and placement services to fulfill the requirements of
this section, the Secretary may implement this section through such
organizations.
(2)Participating
organizations shall contribute to the expenses of providing and supporting the
resource assistants or consulting interns from sources of funding other than
the Secretary, at a level of not less than 25 percent of the total costs (15
percent of which may be from in-kind sources) of each participant in the
resource assistant or consulting intern program who has been recruited and
placed through that organization.
(3)Each
participating organization shall be required to submit an annual report
evaluating the scope, size, and quality of the program, including the value of
work contributed by the resource assistants and consulting interns, to the
mission of the
agency.
.
(h)The Act is amended by redesignating sections 207
through 211 (16 U.S.C. 1726 through 1730) as sections 209 through 213,
respectively.
(i)Indian Youth Service
CorpsThe Act is amended by inserting after section 206 (16
U.S.C. 1725) the following:
207.Indian youth service
corps
(a)Authorization of
Cooperative Agreements and Competitive GrantsThe Secretary is
authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with, or make competitive
grants to, Indian tribes and qualified youth or conservation corps for the
establishment and administration of Indian Youth Service Corps programs to
carry out appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation projects on
Indian lands.
(b)To
be eligible to receive assistance under this section, an Indian tribe or a
qualified youth or conservation corps shall submit to the Secretary an
application in such manner and containing such information as the Secretary may
require, including—
(1)a description of the
methods by which Indian youth will be recruited for and retained in the Indian
Youth Service Corps;
(2)a description of the
projects to be carried out by the Indian Youth Service Corps;
(3)a description of how the
projects were identified; and
(4)an explanation of the
impact of, and the direct community benefits provided by, the proposed
projects.
.
(j)The
Act is amended by inserting after section 207 (as amended by subsection (i))
the following:
208.Not later than 18 months after funds are
made available to the Secretary to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall
issue guidelines for the management of programs under the jurisdiction of the
Secretary that are authorized under this
Act.
.
(k)Living Allowances and
Terms of ServiceSection 209 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1726) (as
redesignated by subsection (h)) is amended by striking subsections (a), (b),
and (c) and inserting the following:
(a)
(1)The Secretary shall provide each Corps participant with a
living allowance in an amount established by the Secretary.
(2)Cost-of-living
differential; travel costsThe Secretary may—
(A)apply a cost-of-living
differential to the living allowances established under paragraph (1);
and
(B)if the Secretary
determines reimbursement to be appropriate, reimburse Corps participants for
travel costs at the beginning and end of the term of service of the Corps
participants.
(b)
(1)Each Corps participant shall agree to participate for
such term of service as may be established by the Secretary.
(2)With
respect to the Indian Youth Service Corps, the term of service shall be
established in consultation with the affected Indian tribe or tribally
authorized organization.
(c)Hiring Preference and
Future EmploymentThe Secretary may—
(1)grant to a Corps
participant credit for time served as a Corps participant, which may be used
toward future Federal hiring;
(2)provide to a former
participant of the Corps or the Indian Youth Service Corps noncompetitive
hiring status for a period of not more than 2 years after the date on which the
service of the candidate in the Corps or the Indian Youth Service Corps was
complete, if the candidate—
(A)has served a minimum of
960 hours on an appropriate natural or cultural resources conservation project
that included at least 120 hours through the Corps or the Indian Youth Service
Corps; and
(B)meets Office of Personnel
Management qualification standards for the position for which the candidate is
applying;
(3)provide to a former
resource assistant or consulting intern noncompetitive hiring status for a
period of not more than 2 years after the date on which the individual has
completed an undergraduate or graduate degree, respectively, from an accredited
institution, if the candidate—
(A)successfully fulfilled
the resource assistant or consulting intern program requirements; and
(B)meets Office of Personnel
Management qualification standards for the position for which the candidate is
applying; and
(4)provide, or enter into
contracts or cooperative agreements with qualified employment agencies to
provide, alumni services such as job and education counseling, referrals,
verification of service, communications, and other appropriate services to
Corps participants who have completed the term of
service.
.
(l)National Service
Educational AwardsSection 210 (16 U.S.C. 1727) of the Act (as
redesignated by subsection (h)) is amended—
(1)in subsection (a) (as
amended by subsection (a)(4)), in the first sentence—
(A)by striking
participant in the Corps or a resource assistant
and inserting
Corps participant
; and
(B)by striking
participant or resource assistant
and inserting Corps
participant
; and
(2)in subsection (b)—
(A)by striking either
participants in the Corps or resource assistants
and inserting
Corps participants
; and
(B)by striking or a
resource assistant
.
(m)Section
211 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1728) (as redesignated by subsection (h)) is amended
by striking activities carried out
and all that follows through
the period and inserting Corps participants.
.
(n)Section
212 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1729) (as redesignated by subsection (h)) is
amended—
(1)in subsection (a)—
(A)in paragraph (1)—
(i)in the second sentence,
by striking “non-federal sources” and inserting “sources other than the
Secretary”; and
(ii)by inserting after the
second sentence the following: The Secretary may pay up to 90 percent of
the costs of a project if the Secretary determines that the reduction is
necessary to enable participation from a greater range of organizations or
individuals.
; and
(B)in paragraph (2), by
inserting or Indian Youth Service Corps
after
Corps
each place it appears;
(2)by amending subsection
(b) to read as follows:
(b)Funds Available Under
National and Community Service ActTo carry out this Act, the
Secretary shall be eligible to apply for and receive assistance under section
121(b) of the National and Community Service Act (42 U.S.C.
12571(b)).
;
and
(3)in subsection (c)—
(A)by striking
section 211
and inserting section 213
; and
(B)by inserting “or Indian
Youth Service Corps” after “Corps”.
(o)Authorization of
AppropriationsSection 213 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1730) (as
redesignated by subsection (h)) is amended—
(1)by amending subsection
(a) to read as follows:
(a)There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may
be necessary to carry out this
Act.
;
(2)by striking subsection
(b); and
(3)by redesignating
subsection (c) as subsection (b).
September 27, 2010
Reported with an amendment