Amendments to the Public Lands Service Corps Act of 1993

(a)

Name and project description changes

The Act is amended— (1)by striking Public Lands Corps each place it appears and inserting Public Lands Service Corps; (2)by striking conservation center each place it appears and inserting residential conservation center; and (3)by striking appropriate conservation projects each place it appears and inserting appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation projects. (b)

Purpose

Section 202(b) of the Act is amended as follows: (1)In paragraph (3), by striking natural and cultural resources and inserting natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources. (2)In paragraph (4), by striking and at the end. (3)By amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:

(5)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 conservation professionals in land management agencies;

(4)By adding after paragraph (5) the following:

(6)promote public understanding and appreciation of the mission and work of the Federal land, coastal, and ocean management agencies; and (7)create a grant program for Indian tribes to establish Indian Youth Corps so that Indian youth can benefit from Corps programs based on Indian lands, carrying out projects that their tribes and communities determine to be priorities.

(c)

Definitions

Section 203 of the Act is amended as follows: (1)By amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:

(1)

Appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation project

The term appropriate natural and cultural conservation project means any project for the conservation, restoration, construction, or rehabilitation of natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, or scenic resources.

(2)By amending paragraph (9) to read as follows:

(9)

Public lands

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.

(3)In paragraph (10)— (A)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting by a tribally authorized organization, before or by a nonprofit organization; (B)in subparagraph (A)— (i)by striking full-time,; and (ii)by inserting on Indian lands after resource setting; (C)in subparagraph (B), by striking and at the end; (D)in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and (E)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.

(4)In paragraph (12)— (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.

(5)By adding at the end the following:

(14)

Residential conservation centers

The term residential conservation centers means the facilities authorized under section 205. (15)

Consulting intern

The term consulting intern means a consulting intern selected under section 205. (16)

Indian youth

The term Indian youth means an Indian between the ages of 16 and 25. (17)

Indian Youth Corps

The term Indian Youth Corps means a Corps established under section 207 that— (A)enrolls a majority of Indian youth; (B)engages in service projects based on Indian lands; and (C)is administered by— (i)an Indian tribe; (ii)a coalition or consortium of Indian tribes; or (iii)a tribally authorized organization. (18)

Tribally authorized organization

The term tribally authorized organization means a qualified youth or conservation corps eligible for grants under section 207 that— (A)is acting on behalf of an Indian tribe pursuant to a tribal resolution that— (i)describes the agreement between the Indian tribe and the organization under which the organization provides a service or operates a program for the benefit of the members of the Indian tribe; (ii)is designed to ensure that the Indian tribe— (I)retains the authority to approve the actions of the organization on behalf of the Indian tribe; and (II)is the sole beneficiary of the service or program carried out by the organization for the Indian tribe; and (iii)carries out Indian Youth Corps activities described in section 207(b) based on Indian lands, as determined by the Indian tribe, to serve the purposes of the Indian Youth Corps.

(d)

Public Lands Service Corps program

Section 204 of the Act is amended as follows: (1)By striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:

(a)

Establishment of Public Lands Service Corps

(1)

In general

There is established in the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Commerce a Public Lands Service Corps. 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 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 land service corps activities. (2)

Establishment of Indian Youth Service Corps liaison

The Secretary of the Interior shall establish an Indian Youth Service Corps liaison that will— (A)provide outreach to Indian tribes about contracting and grant opportunities for establishing Corps programs on Indian lands; and (B)coordinate with the Corporation for National Service’s Tribal Liaison to identify and establish Corps opportunities on Indian lands.

(2)In subsection (b), by inserting for a period of not more than 2 years after who are enrolled. (3)In subsection (c)— (A)by striking priority each place it appears; (B)by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); (C)in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated), by inserting or awarding competitive grants to Indian tribes or tribally authorized organizations under section 207 after paragraph (1); and (D)by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:

(2)

Recruitment

The Secretary shall undertake, or contract for, a program to attract eligible youth to the Corps by publicizing Corps opportunities through high schools, colleges, employment centers, and other appropriate institutions.

(4)By redesignating subsections (d), (e), and (f) as subsections (e), (f), and (g), respectively. (5)By inserting after subsection (c) the following:

(d)

Training

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 members. The Secretary shall— (1)ensure that the duration and comprehensiveness of the training program shall be commensurate with the projects Corps members are expected to undertake; (2)develop department-wide standards for the program that include training in— (A)resource stewardship; (B)health and safety; (C)ethics for those in public service; (D)teamwork and leadership; and (E)interpersonal communications; (3)direct the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in the case of 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 members enrolled to undertake projects for a specific 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 members enrolled from qualified youth or conservation corps.

(6)In subsection (e) (as so redesignated)— (A)in paragraph (1), 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 the Corps or any qualified youth or conservation corps to carry out, under appropriate supervision and training, appropriate natural and cultural resource; and (B)by striking on public lands. inserting the following:

on eligible service lands. Such projects may include, but are not limited to, the following:(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 forest and public lands 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 nonnative species; and (v)restoration of native species. (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, museum curatorial work, oral history projects, documentary photography, and activities that support the creation of public works of art related to public lands. (E)Construction, repair, rehabilitation, and maintenance of roads, trails, campgrounds, and other visitor facilities, and employee housing, historic sites and structures, and facilities that further the purposes of the Public Lands Service Corps.

(C)By redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraph (4) and (5), respectively. (D)By inserting after paragraph (1) the following:

(2)

Visitor services

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 members 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 members to help provide information and orientation services that promote visitor safety and enjoyment of public lands, and assist in the gathering of visitor use data. (3)

Interpretation

The Secretary may not assign Corps members to provide interpretation or education services for the public. However, under the direct and immediate supervision of an agency employee, Corps members may— (A)provide orientation and information services to visitors; (B)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)present programs that relate the personal experience of the Corps member 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)create nonpersonal interpretive products, such as website content, Junior Ranger program books, printed handouts, and audiovisual programs.

(E)In paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), by striking Appropriate conservation projects and inserting Appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation projects. (7)In subsection (f) (as redesignated by paragraph (4)), by striking those projects which and inserting priority projects and other projects that. (8)By adding at the end the following:

(h)

Other participants

The Secretary may allow volunteers from other programs administered by the Secretary to participate as volunteers in projects carried out under this section on such terms as the Secretary considers appropriate.

(e)

Residential conservation centers and program support

Section 205 of the Act is amended as follows: (1)In subsection (a)— (A)by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:

(1)

In general

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)in paragraph (4), by striking with a State and inserting with another Federal (C)by striking paragraph (2); and (D)by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively. (2)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 governments, or private organizations to provide temporary housing as needed and available. (3)In project areas where Corps members can reasonably be expected to reside at their own homes, the Secretary may fund or provide transportation to and from project sites.

(3)By redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (g). (4)By inserting after subsection (c) the following:

(d)

Facilities

The Secretary may, as an appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation project, direct Corps participants to aid in the construction of residential conservation center facilities, including housing. (e)

Green buildings

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)

Mentors

The Secretary may recruit from programs, such as agency volunteer 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.

(5)In subsection (g) (as so redesignated), by striking that are appropriate and all that follows through the period and inserting that the Secretary determines to be necessary for the residential conservation center.. (f)

Resource assistants and consulting interns

Section 206 of the Act is amended as follows: (1)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

(2)In subsection (a)(1) (as so designated), by striking law, rule regulations and inserting laws, rules, or regulations. (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 striking Whenever and inserting (1) Whenever; and (B)by adding at the end the following:

(2)Whenever one or more nonprofit organizations can provide, in the judgment of the Secretary, appropriate recruitment and placement services to fulfill the requirements of this section, the Secretary may implement this section through such nonprofit organizations. Participating nonprofit organizations shall contribute to the expenses of providing and supporting the consulting interns through private sources of funding, at a level equal to 10 percent of the total costs of each participant in the consulting internship program who has been recruited and placed through that nonprofit organization. Any such participating nonprofit organization shall be required, by the respective land, coastal, or ocean management agency, to submit an annual report evaluating the scope, size, and quality of the program, including the value of work contributed by the consulting interns, to the mission of the agency.

(g)

Technical amendment

The Act is amended by redesignating sections 207, 208, 209, 210, and 211 as sections 209, 210, 211, 212, and 213, respectively. (h)

Indian Youth Service Corps

The Act is amended by inserting after section 206 the following:

207.

Indian Youth Service Corps

(a)

Authorization of competitive grants

The Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with, or make competitive grants to, Indian tribes and tribally authorized organizations for the establishment and administration of Indian Youth Corps. (b)

Application

To be eligible to receive assistance under this section, an Indian tribe or tribally authorized organization shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, 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 Corps; (2)a description of the projects to be carried out by the Indian Youth Corps; (3)a description of how the projects were identified by the Indian tribe or community to be served; and (4)an explanation of the impact of, and the direct community benefits provided by the proposed projects.

(i)

Guidance

The Act is amended by inserting after section 207 the following:

208.

Guidance

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, and refuges.

(j)

Living allowances and terms of service

Section 209 of the Act (as redesignated by subsection (g)) is amended— (1)in subsection (a)— (A)by inserting or the Indian Youth Corps before and each resource assistant; and (B)by adding at the end the following:

The Secretary may—(1)apply a cost-of-living differential to such allowances; and (2)reimburse Corps members for travel costs at the beginning and end of their term of service if the Secretary deems appropriate.

;

(2)by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:

(b)

Each participant in the Public Lands Service Corps or the Indian Youth Service Corps and each resource assistant shall agree to participate in the respective Corps or serve as a resource assistant, as applicable, for such term of service as may be established by the Secretary enrolling or selecting the individual. 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.

; and

(3)in subsection (c)— (A)in the subsection heading, by inserting

preference and future employment

after

Hiring

; (B)in paragraph (1), by striking and at the end; (C)by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:

(2)provide to a former member of the Public Lands Service 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 member's service with the respective Corps is complete, 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 or the Indian Youth Service Corps; and (B)meets Office of Personnel Management qualification standards for the position to which the candidate is applying;

; and

(D)by adding at the end the following:

(3)provide to an individual who has successfully fulfilled the consulting internship program noncompetitive hiring status for a period of not more than 2 years after the date on which the individual has completed a graduate degree from an accredited institution; 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 members who have completed their Public Lands Service Corps or Indian Youth Service Corps term of service.

(k)

National service educational awards

Section 210 of the Act (as redesignated by subsection (g)) is amended— (1)in subsection (a), by inserting or the Indian Youth Service Corps before or a resource assistant; and (2)in subsection (b), by inserting respective before Corps. (l)

Nondisplacement

Section 211 of the Act (as redesignated by subsection (g)) is amended by inserting or the Indian Youth Service Corps before , to all activities. (m)

Funding

Section 212 of the Act (as redesignated by subsection (g)) is amended— (1)in subsection (a)— (A)in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following: The Secretary may reduce the non-Federal costs of a project to not less than 10 percent if the Secretary determines that the reduction is necessary to enable participation from a greater range of organizations.; and (B)in paragraph (2)— (i)by striking the paragraph designation and heading and inserting the following:

(2)

Corps projects

; and

(ii)in the first sentence, by inserting or Indian Youth Corps before and carrying out; and (2)by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:

(b)

Funds available under National and Community Service Act

In order to 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)).

(n)

Authorization of appropriations

Section 213 of the Act (as redesignated by subsection (g)) is amended— (1)by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:

(a)

In general

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).