[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 896 Reported in Senate (RS)]

                                                       Calendar No. 282
112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                 S. 896

                          [Report No. 112-120]

To amend the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to expand the authorization 
   of the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, and the Interior to 
  provide service opportunities for young Americans; help restore the 
nation's natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational and 
 scenic resources; train a new generation of public land managers and 
         enthusiasts; and promote the value of public service.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 5, 2011

 Mr. Bingaman (for himself, Mr. Udall of New Mexico, Mr. Begich, Mrs. 
 Boxer, Ms. Snowe, and Mr. Coons) introduced the following bill; which 
  was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
                               Resources

                            January 13, 2012

  Reported under authority of the order of the Senate of December 17, 
                 2011, by Mr. Bingaman, with amendments
  [Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to expand the authorization 
   of the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, and the Interior to 
  provide service opportunities for young Americans; help restore the 
nation's natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational and 
 scenic resources; train a new generation of public land managers and 
         enthusiasts; and promote the value of public service.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Public Lands Service Corps Act of 
2011''.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO SHORT TITLE.

    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:

``SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES.

    ``(a) Short Title.--This title may be cited as the `Public Lands 
Service Corps Act of 1993'.
    ``(b) References.--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'.''.

SEC. 3. REFERENCE.

    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).

SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO THE PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS ACT OF 1993.

    (a) Name and Project Description Changes.--The 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) Findings.--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) Purpose.--Section 202(b) (16 U.S.C. 1721(b)) of the Act is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Purposes.--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) Definitions.--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 project.--The 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) Consulting intern.--The term `consulting intern' 
        means a consulting intern selected under section 206(a)(2).
            ``(3) Corps and public lands service corps.--The terms 
        `Corps' and `Public Lands Service Corps' mean the Public Lands 
        Service Corps established under section 204(a).
            ``(4) Corps participant.--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 corps.--The 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) Public lands.--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 centers.--The 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 Program.--Section 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 Corps.--There 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) Establishment of offices.--
                    ``(A) Department of the interior.--The Secretary of 
                the Interior shall establish a department-level office 
                to coordinate the Corps activities within the 
                Department of the Interior.
                    ``(B) Department of agriculture.--The Secretary of 
                Agriculture shall establish within the Forest Service 
                an office to coordinate the Corps activities within 
                that agency.
                    ``(C) Department of commerce.--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 coordinators.--The Secretary shall 
        designate a Public Lands Service Corps coordinator for each 
        agency under the jurisdiction of the Secretary that administers 
        Corps activities.
            ``(3) Establishment of liaison.--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) Participants.--
            ``(1) In general.--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 interns.--The 
        Secretary may also enroll in the Corps resource assistants and 
        consulting interns in accordance with section 206(a).
            ``(3) Eligibility requirements.--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) Terms.--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) Civil service.--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) Preference.--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) Recruitment.--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) Preference.--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) Training.--
            ``(1) In general.--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) Requirements.--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) In general.--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) Projects.--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) Visitor services.--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) Interpretation.--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) Other Participants.--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) Criminal History Checks.--
            ``(1) In general.--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) Eligibility prohibition.--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 Support.--Section 
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) In general.--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) In general.--The Secretary''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Temporary housing.--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) Transportation.--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) Facilities.--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) Mentors.--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 Interns.--Section 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) Authorization.--
            ``(1) Resource assistants.--
                    ``(A) In general.--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) Eligibility.--To be eligible for selection as 
                a resource assistant, an individual shall be at least 
                17 years of age.
                    ``(C) Preference.--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) Consulting interns.--
                    ``(A) In general.--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) Eligibility.--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) In general.--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) Expenses.--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) Reporting.--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) Technical Amendment.--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 Corps.--The Act is amended by inserting 
after section 206 (16 U.S.C. 1725) the following:

``SEC. 207. INDIAN YOUTH SERVICE CORPS.

    ``(a) Authorization of Cooperative Agreements and Competitive 
Grants.--The 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) Application.--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) Guidance.--The Act is amended by inserting after section 207 
(as amended by subsection (i)) the following:

``SEC. 208. GUIDANCE.

    ``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 Service.--Section 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) Living Allowances.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide each Corps 
        participant with a living allowance in an amount established by 
        the Secretary.
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Cost-of-living differential; travel costs.--
        The Secretary may--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) apply a cost-of-living differential 
                to the living allowances established under paragraph 
                (1); and</DELETED>
                    ``<DELETED>(B)</DELETED> if the Secretary 
                determines reimbursement to be appropriate, reimburse 
                Corps
        </DELETED>    ``(2) Travel costs.--The Secretary may reimburse 
        Corps participants for travel costs at the beginning and end of 
        the term of service of the Corps participants.
    ``(b) Terms of Service.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each Corps participant shall agree to 
        participate for such term of service as may be established by 
        the Secretary.
            ``(2) Consultations.--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 Employment.--The 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 Awards.--Section 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) Nondisplacement.--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) Funding.--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 Act.--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)).''; 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 Appropriations.--Section 213 of the Act (16 
U.S.C. 1730) (as redesignated by subsection (h)) is amended--
        <DELETED>    (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as 
        follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.'';</DELETED>
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``year'' and all that 
        follows through the period and inserting ``year.'';
            (2) by striking subsection (b); and
            (3) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b).
                                                       Calendar No. 282

112th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                 S. 896

                          [Report No. 112-120]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

To amend the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to expand the authorization 
   of the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, and the Interior to 
  provide service opportunities for young Americans; help restore the 
nation's natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational and 
 scenic resources; train a new generation of public land managers and 
         enthusiasts; and promote the value of public service.

_______________________________________________________________________

                            January 13, 2012

                        Reported with amendments