[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4232 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4232
To reauthorize the national service laws, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 26, 2026
Mr. Cassidy (for himself and Mr. Tuberville) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize the national service laws, and for other purposes.
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 ``AmeriCorps Service Modernization and
Accountability Reform for Trust Act'' or the ``A SMART Act''.
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
TITLE I--PROGRAM MODERNIZATION
Subtitle A--Program Flexibilities
Sec. 101. Expansion of national service positions with shorter periods
of service.
Sec. 102. National Civilian Community Corps term extension authority.
Sec. 103. Increased age eligibility range for the National Civilian
Community Corps.
Sec. 104. Timekeeping.
Sec. 105. Spending flexibility.
Sec. 106. Volunteer generation fund.
Sec. 107. State Commissions.
Subtitle B--Organizational Modernization
Sec. 111. Requirements for Board of Directors appointees.
Sec. 112. Comprehensive service site resource.
Sec. 113. Evaluation transparency.
TITLE II--MEMBER EXPERIENCE
Sec. 201. Educational awards.
Sec. 202. Workforce development.
Sec. 203. Increasing educational award limit.
Sec. 204. Alignment of benefits.
Sec. 205. Non-competitive hiring eligibility.
TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Sec. 301. Clerical amendments.
Sec. 302. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 303. Effective date.
TITLE I--PROGRAM MODERNIZATION
Subtitle A--Program Flexibilities
SEC. 101. EXPANSION OF NATIONAL SERVICE POSITIONS WITH SHORTER PERIODS
OF SERVICE.
(a) Reduction in Hours of Full-Time Service.--Section 139(b) of the
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12593(b)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``An individual'' and
inserting ``Except as provided in paragraph (3), an
individual''; and
(2) in paragraph (3)--
(A) in the heading, by inserting ``full- or'' after
``hours of'';
(B) by inserting ``full- or'' after ``complete'';
and
(C) by inserting ``or stipend'' after ``award''.
(b) Season of Service.--The National and Community Service Act of
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 153(d) (42 U.S.C. 12613(d))--
(A) by striking ``nine months'' and inserting
``eight weeks''; and
(B) by striking ``such period'' and inserting
``year. A period of service performed by an individual
in an originally-agreed to term of service and service
performed in the term of any renewed agreement shall
constitute a single term of service for purposes of
section 146(b)(1), and the individual shall not be
considered to have received more than the value of 1
national service educational award for service during
those 2 terms for purposes of section 146(c).''; and
(2) in section 156(a) (42 U.S.C. 12616(a)), by striking
``with between three and six weeks of''.
SEC. 102. NATIONAL CIVILIAN COMMUNITY CORPS TERM EXTENSION AUTHORITY.
Section 139(b)(4)(A) of the National and Community Service Act of
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12593(b)(4)(A)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``An individual'' and inserting the
following:
``(i) Disaster relief.--An individual'';
(2) by striking ``or section 153(d)''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) Other programs.--An individual in an
approved national service position in a program
under section 152(a) may, upon the approval of
the Director of the National Civilian Community
Corps, continue in a term of service for up to
180 days beyond the period otherwise specified
in section 153(d) or 90 days beyond the period
otherwise specified in section 154(c).''.
SEC. 103. INCREASED AGE ELIGIBILITY RANGE FOR THE NATIONAL CIVILIAN
COMMUNITY CORPS.
Section 153(b)(1) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990
(42 U.S.C. 12613(b)(1)) is amended by striking ``24'' and inserting
``26''.
SEC. 104. TIMEKEEPING.
(a) Application.--Section 131(e) of the National and Community
Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12583(e)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and aligning the
margins of those subparagraphs with the margins of
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 131(d)(1) of that Act;
(2) by striking ``Except as'' and inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--Except as'';
(3) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (1), as so designated--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the
period and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) ensure that records supporting the provision
of any living allowance or other benefit provided to
any participant in a national service program described
in subparagraph (A) or (B) accurately reflect the
national service performed and meet the requirements of
paragraph (2).''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Records.--Such an applicant that receives assistance
under section 121 shall, in maintaining the records described
in paragraph (1)(C) with respect to a participant described in
that paragraph--
``(A) ensure that each charge for such an allowance
or benefit is accurate, allowable, properly allocated,
and incorporated into the official records of the
applicant;
``(B) reflect the total, actual national service
program service activity by the participant and account
separately for service activity under the grant for the
recipient and other work activity for the recipient
that is not for a national service program, in such a
manner as to ensure that the participant is credited
for national service time under the grant, only for
service activity under the grant;
``(C) accurately support the distribution of such
an allowance or benefit of the participant among
specific activities or cost objectives if the
participant provides service activity under the grant
for the recipient and other work activity for the
recipient that is not for a national service program;
and
``(D) include the same information, according to
the same standards, for--
``(i) funds provided through cost-sharing
requirements and used to provide the allowance
or benefit; and
``(ii) funds provided through a Federal
award and so used.''.
(b) Certification.--Section 146A of the National and Community
Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12602a) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b) Timekeeping.--The entity shall submit records to the
Corporation, upon the individual's completion of the requirements for a
term of service, that support such completion, that accurately reflect
the national service performed, and that meet the requirements of
section 131(e)(2). Such records shall be held by the Corporation to
facilitate administration of the National Service Trust for a period of
not less than 5 years beginning on the date of that submission.''.
SEC. 105. SPENDING FLEXIBILITY.
(a) Reinvestment of Unobligated and Expiring Funds.--Section 196 of
the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12651g) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Reinvestment of Unobligated and Expiring Funds.--
``(1) Establishment of fund.--There is established in the
Treasury of the United States a fund to be known as the
`Unobligated and Expiring Amounts Fund', referred to in this
subsection as the `Fund'.
``(2) Amounts in fund.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), any
amounts appropriated for expenses of the Corporation to
carry out the national service laws that are
unobligated and would otherwise expire on September 30
of a fiscal year shall, on such September 30 of that
fiscal year, be transferred to the Fund and remain
available until expended.
``(B) Inspector general opinion.--The Corporation
may only make a transfer under subparagraph (A) of
amounts described in such subparagraph that are
unobligated and would otherwise expire on--
``(i) September 30 of the first fiscal year
in which the Inspector General of the
Corporation has issued an opinion, without
qualification, certifying the accuracy of the
Corporation's financial statements issued
through the integrated accounting and financial
management system maintained under section
194(c)(2) with respect to the fiscal year
preceding such fiscal year; or
``(ii) September 30 of each fiscal year
thereafter.
``(3) Use of fund.--The Corporation may use amounts
available in the Fund to--
``(A) provide for additional awards and deposits of
funds for positions under section 121 of this Act and
sections 102, 201, 211, and 213 of the Domestic
Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4952, 5001,
5011, 5013); or
``(B) modernize technology used in the
administration of the national service laws.''.
(b) Expenditure of Investment Income in the National Service
Trust.--
(1) In general.--Section 145(c) of the National and
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12601(c)) is amended--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and indenting
appropriately;
(B) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so
redesignated)--
(i) by striking ``to the extent provided
for in advance by appropriation'' and inserting
``as described in paragraph (2)''; and
(ii) by striking ``Amounts'' and inserting
the following:
``(1) Use of amounts in trust.--Amounts''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Availability of amounts in trust.--
``(A) Appropriations.--Amounts in the National
Service Trust that are described in paragraph (1) of
subsection (a) shall be available under paragraph (1)
of this subsection to the extent provided for in
advance by appropriation.
``(B) Other amounts.--Amounts in the National
Service Trust that are described in paragraph (2), (3),
(4), or (5) of subsection (a) shall be available under
paragraph (1) of this subsection without further
appropriation and without fiscal year limitation.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 149 of the National and
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12606) is amended by
striking subsection (d).
SEC. 106. VOLUNTEER GENERATION FUND.
Section 198P(f) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990
(42 U.S.C. 12653p(f)) is amended by striking ``exceed--'' and all that
follows through the period at the end and inserting ``exceed 75 percent
of such cost.''.
SEC. 107. STATE COMMISSIONS.
(a) Exception for Seniors Programs.--Section 178(h) of the National
and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12638(h)) is amended by
striking the period and inserting the following: ``, unless--
``(1) such State Commission applies to be a sponsor for a
project authorized under title II of the Domestic Volunteer
Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 5000 et seq.); or''.
(b) Natural Disaster Placement Flexibility.--That section 178(h) is
further amended by adding at the end the following:
``(2) a natural disaster has been declared in such State,
as determined by the Governor, in which case such State
Commission may direct up to 25 percent of its allotted funds
under section 129(e) that remain unobligated on the date of the
declaration, for recruitment of participants for disaster
response from the period beginning on the date of the
declaration and ending on the last day of the full fiscal year
following the date of that declaration.''.
(c) Prevention of Duplicative Subgrant Recipient Review.--Section
185 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
12644b) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in subsection (a), including
the authority to make a modification under subsection (a), shall be
construed to enable the Corporation to duplicate due diligence
processes already applied by primary grant recipients to their subgrant
recipients, to enable the Corporation to apply those processes to the
subgrant recipients. Primary grant recipients shall maintain sole
responsibility over compliance of subgrant recipients with Federal
regulations under this Act relating to due diligence processes.''.
Subtitle B--Organizational Modernization
SEC. 111. REQUIREMENTS FOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPOINTEES.
(a) In General.--Section 192 of the National and Community Service
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12651a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(A), by inserting ``a financial
expert with a background relating to financial controls,
auditing, or private or public accounting, and including''
after ``including'';
(2) in subsection (c), by inserting ``from the date on
which the member takes office'' before the period; and
(3) in subsection (d)--
(A) by striking ``Board, a'' and inserting ``Board
(whether due to the expiration of the term of a member
of the Board or prior to such expiration), a''; and
(B) by striking ``serve for'' and all that follows
through the period at the end of the first sentence and
inserting ``serve for a 5-year term described in
subsection (c).''.
(b) Effective Date.--
(1) In general.--The amendments made by paragraphs (2) and
(3) of subsection (a) shall apply to members of the Board of
Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service
appointed under section 192 of the National and Community
Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12651a) on or after the date of
enactment of this Act.
(2) Financial expert.--The amendment made by subsection
(a)(1) shall apply on the earlier of--
(A) the first day, after the date of enactment of
this Act, on which there is a vacancy in the Board of
Directors of the Corporation for National and Community
Service; and
(B) the day that is 5 years after the date of
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 112. COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE SITE RESOURCE.
(a) In General.--The Corporation shall require that a recipient of
an award of financial assistance under the national service laws, that
enters into an agreement (which may include making a subaward) with an
organization to host participants under the national service laws,
submit the information described in subsection (b) not later than 60
days after the award recipient enters into the agreement.
(b) Information.--The information described in this subsection is--
(1) the name of the organization with which the recipient
enters into the agreement;
(2) all physical addresses for any site at which the
recipient or the organization has agreed to host participants
under the national service laws; and
(3) the location of a website for the recipient and, if
applicable, the organization.
(c) Resource.--The Corporation shall use the information for the
creation of a comprehensive virtually accessible service site resource,
to be updated on an annual basis.
(d) Definition.--In this section, the terms ``Corporation'' and
``national service laws'' have the meanings given the terms in section
101 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
12511).
SEC. 113. EVALUATION TRANSPARENCY.
Section 179 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42
U.S.C. 12639) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (n) as subsection (o); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (m) the following:
``(n) Evaluation Transparency.--On the issuance of any Notice of
Funding Opportunity for financial assistance under the national service
laws, the Corporation shall make available to the public a rubric
generalizing the criteria used for evaluation of the recipients.''.
TITLE II--MEMBER EXPERIENCE
SEC. 201. EDUCATIONAL AWARDS.
(a) Removal of Certain Transfer Restrictions.--Section 148(f) of
the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12604(f)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)(A)--
(A) by striking ``(A)(i) the'' and inserting ``(A)
the'';
(B) by striking ``and'' and inserting ``or''; and
(C) by striking clause (ii); and
(2) in paragraph (8)(B)--
(A) by striking ``paragraphs'' and inserting
``paragraph''; and
(B) by striking ``and (4)''.
(b) Uniform Segal AmeriCorps Educational Award Transferability.--
Section 148(f)(2)(A) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990
(42 U.S.C. 12604(f)(2)(A)), as amended by subsection (a), is further
amended by striking ``a national service program that receives a grant
under subtitle C'' and inserting ``an approved national service
position''.
(c) Designations for Limitation on Receipt of National Service
Educational Awards.--Section 146(c) of the National and Community
Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12602(c)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(c) Limitation on Receipt of National
Service Educational Awards.--An individual'' and inserting the
following:
``(c) Limitation on Receipt of National Service Educational
Awards.--
``(1) In general.--An individual'';
(2) by striking ``service. The value'' and inserting the
following: ``service.
``(2) Summer of service awards.--The value''.
(d) Holder Verification of Award Eligibility for Student Loan
Repayment.--Section 148(b) of the National and Community Service Act of
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12604(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as
subparagraph (E); and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the
following:
``(D) includes the most recent date that the
eligible individual involved became eligible for an
award described in this paragraph; and'';
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (7) and (8) as paragraphs
(8) and (9); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
``(7) Recordkeeping by loan holder.--On receipt of the
application described in paragraph (1), the Corporation shall
provide a record of such application to the holder. The holder
shall maintain such record for a period of not less than 5
years, beginning on the date identified under paragraph
(1)(D).''.
(e) Institutional Certification of Course Completion.--Section
148(c) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
12406(c)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by inserting after ``contains'' the following:
``the most recent date that the eligible individual
became eligible for an award described in this
paragraph and'';
(B) by striking ``may'' after ``as the
Corporation'' and inserting ``shall''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following: ``The
Corporation, and the institution of higher education,
shall each maintain a record of the application
described in this paragraph for not less than 5 years,
beginning on the most recent date described in this
paragraph.''; and
(2) in paragraph (5), in the first sentence--
(A) by inserting ``from'' after ``withdraw''; and
(B) by inserting ``any course during'' after
``complete''.
(f) Requirement for Corporation Verification of Documentation.--
Section 148 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42
U.S.C. 12604) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following:
``(h) Verification.--Amounts in the Trust shall be available for
uses described in this section (including uses described in paragraphs
(1) through (6) of subsection (a)) only after the Corporation has
reviewed and certified all required documentation described in this
section for--
``(1) the eligibility of the eligible individual (including
the recipient of an award transferred in accordance with
subsection (g)), the holder (for use under subsection (b)), and
the institution of higher education (for use under subsection
(c)); and
``(2) any expenses incurred for purposes of carrying out
the activities described paragraphs (1) through (6) of
subsection (a).''.
SEC. 202. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
(a) Time Period for Use of Award.--Section 146(d) of the National
and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12602(d)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking ``7-year period'' and inserting
``5-year period''; and
(B) by striking ``10-year period'' and inserting
``5-year period'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``7-year period, or 10-
year period, as appropriate'' and inserting ``5-year period'';
and
(3) in paragraph (3), by striking ``seven-year period'' and
inserting ``5-year period''.
(b) Use of Educational Award for Nontraditional Educational
Opportunities.--
(1) In general.--Section 148 of the National and Community
Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12604) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'';
(ii) in paragraph (5), by striking the
period at the end and inserting a semicolon;
and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) to pay expenses related to enrolling in an eligible
career pathway program in accordance with subsection (f);
and'';
(B) by redesignating subsections (f) (as amended by
section 201), (g), (h), and (i) as subsections (g),
(h), (i), and (j) respectively; and
(C) by inserting after subsection (e) the
following:
``(f) Use of Educational Award for Expenses Related to a
Nontraditional Educational Opportunity.--
``(1) In general.--The Corporation shall by regulation
provide for the payment of national service educational awards,
summer of service educational awards, and silver scholar
educational awards to permit eligible individuals (including
recipients of awards transferred in accordance with section
148(g)) to participate in an eligible career pathway program.
``(2) Eligible career pathway program.--The term `eligible
career pathway program' means a program that--
``(A) meets the requirements of section 484(d)(2)
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1091(d)(2));
``(B) is listed, with the provider of the program,
on the list under section 122(d) of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3152(d));
``(C) is part of a career pathway, as defined in
section 3 of that Act (29 U.S.C. 3102); and
``(D) is aligned with a program of study as defined
in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).''.
(2) Conforming amendments.--The National and Community
Service Act of 1990 is amended--
(A) in section 146(d)(3) (42 U.S.C. 12602(d)(3)),
as amended by subsection (a)(3), by striking
``148(f)(8)'' and inserting ``148(g)(8)'';
(B) in section 146A(a) (42 U.S.C. 12602a), by
striking ``148(f)(8)'' and inserting ``148(g)(8)''; and
(C) in section 148(e) (42 U.S.C. 12604(e)), by
striking ``subsection (b)(7)'' and inserting
``subsection (b)(8)''.
SEC. 203. INCREASING EDUCATIONAL AWARD LIMIT.
(a) In General.--Section 138 of the National and Community Service
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12592) is amended by striking subsection (c) and
inserting the following:
``(c) Additional Terms.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), acceptance
into a national service program to serve another term of
service under section 139 shall only be available to
individuals who perform satisfactorily in each prior term of
such service.
``(2) Maximum terms.--Subject to paragraph (3), an
individual may not be selected to serve more than 4 terms of
full-time service described under section 139(b)(1).
``(3) Waiver.--The Corporation may waive the limit under
paragraph (2) at the request of a State Commission.''.
(b) Educational Award.--Section 146(c)(1) of the National and
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12602(c)(1)), as designated by
section 201(c), is further amended by striking ``2 such awards'' and
inserting ``4 national service educational awards''.
SEC. 204. ALIGNMENT OF BENEFITS.
(a) In General.--Title I of the National and Community Service Act
of 1990 is amended--
(1) in section 141 (42 U.S.C. 12595)--
(A) in the heading, by inserting ``and stipends''
after ``awards'';
(B) in subsection (a), by striking ``A
participant'' and inserting ``Except as provided in
subsection (c), a participant''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Payment Option.--A participant in a national service program
carried out using assistance provided to an applicant under section 121
may elect to receive a stipend described in section 149A in lieu of the
national service educational award.''; and
(2) in subtitle D (42 U.S.C. 12601 et seq.)--
(A) in the subtitle heading, by inserting ``or
Stipends'' after ``Awards'';
(B) in section 145 (42 U.S.C. 12601)--
(i) in subsection (a)(1)(A), by striking
``and silver scholar educational awards'' and
inserting ``silver scholar educational awards,
and stipends under section 149A'';
(ii) in subsection (c)(1), as amended by
section 105(b)--
(I) in subparagraph (A), by
striking ``; and'' and inserting a
semicolon;
(II) by redesignating subparagraph
(B) as subparagraph (C); and
(III) by inserting after
subparagraph (A) the following:
``(B) stipends under section 149A; and''; and
(iii) in subsection (d), by striking ``or
silver scholar awards'' each place it appears
and inserting ``silver scholar educational
awards, or stipends under section 149A'';
(C) in section 146 (42 U.S.C. 12602)--
(i) in the heading, by inserting ``or
stipend'' after ``award'';
(ii) in subsection (a)--
(I) in the matter preceding
paragraph (1) by striking ``or silver
scholar educational award'' and
inserting ``silver scholar educational
award, or stipend under section 149A'';
and
(II) in paragraph (2)--
(aa) in subparagraph (A),
by striking ``award,'' and
inserting ``award or a stipend
under section 149A(a)(1),'';
and
(bb) in subparagraph (B),
in the matter preceding clause
(i), by striking ``award'' and
inserting ``award or stipend
under section 149A(a)(1) as
described in section
149A(a)(2)''; and
(iii) in subsection (c)(1), as designated
by section 201(c), by striking ``and silver
scholar educational awards'' and inserting ``,
silver scholar educational awards, and stipends
under section 149A'';
(D) in section 147 (42 U.S.C. 12603)--
(i) in subsection (a), by striking
``subsection (c),'' and inserting ``subsection
(c) or section 149A(a)(1),''; and
(ii) in subsection (c), by striking ``If''
and inserting ``Except as provided in section
149A(a)(2) if'';
(E) in section 148 (42 U.S.C. 12604)--
(i) in subsection (a), as amended by
section 202(b), by adding at the end the
following:
``(7) to provide stipends under section 149A in lieu of a
national service educational award.''; and
(ii) in subsection (h), as redesignated by
section 202(b), by striking ``or silver scholar
educational award'' and inserting ``silver
scholar educational award, or stipend under
section 149A'';
(F) in section 149(b)(2) (42 U.S.C. 12606(b)(2))--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``(or
stipends under section 149A)'' after ``national
service educational awards''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting
``(or stipends under section 149A)'' after
``national service educational awards''; and
(G) by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 149A. STIPEND.
``(a) In General.--
``(1) Full-time.--An individual described in section 146(a)
who, except as provided in paragraph (2), successfully
completes a required full-time term of national service under
section 139(b)(1) may elect to receive a stipend of an amount
described in subsection (b) in lieu of a national service
educational award. The Corporation may not provide a stipend
under this subsection to an individual who receives a national
service educational award under this subtitle for the
completion of such term of national service.
``(2) Partial completion of service.--If an individual
serving in an approved national service position is released in
accordance with section 139(c)(1)(A) from completing the full-
time term of service agreed to by the individual, the
Corporation may provide the individual with a stipend under
paragraph (1) in the amount described under subsection (b) that
is applicable for the individual and that corresponds to the
quantity of the term of service actually completed by the
individual.
``(b) Amount.--A stipend under subsection (a)(1) shall be set at a
rate that is equivalent to the rate set for stipends provided to
volunteers under section 105(a)(1)(B) of the Domestic Volunteer Service
Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4955(a)(1)(B)).
``(c) Terms.--A stipend under subsection (a)(1) shall be provided
in the same manner and in accordance with any regulations prescribed
with respect to stipends provided to volunteers under section 105(a) of
the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4955(a)).''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--The National and Community Service Act
of 1990 is amended--
(1) in section 112(a)(3)(B) (42 U.S.C. 12523(a)(3)(B)), by
inserting ``or stipend'' after ``educational award'';
(2) in section 118(i) (42 U.S.C. 12561(i))--
(A) in the heading, by inserting ``or Stipend''
after ``Award''; and
(B) by inserting ``or stipend'' after ``educational
award'';
(3) in section 121(c)(1) (42 U.S.C. 12571(c)(1)), by
inserting ``or stipends'' after ``educational awards'';
(4) in section 122(c)(1)(D)(iii) (42 U.S.C.
12572(c)(1)(D)(iii)), by inserting ``or stipend'' after
``educational award'';
(5) in section 123 (42 U.S.C. 12573)--
(A) in the heading, by inserting ``or stipends''
after ``awards''; and
(B) by inserting ``or stipend'' after ``educational
award'';
(6) in section 129 (42 U.S.C. 12572)--
(A) in subsection (c), by inserting ``or stipend''
after ``educational award'';
(B) in subsection (h), by inserting ``or stipends''
after ``educational awards'' each place it appears; and
(C) in subsection (i)(1), by inserting ``or
stipend'' after ``educational award'';
(7) in section 130 (42 U.S.C. 12582)--
(A) in subsection (b)(11), by inserting ``or
stipend'' after ``educational award''; and
(B) in subsection (e)(1), by inserting ``or
stipends'' after ``educational awards'' each place it
appears;
(8) in section 133 (42 U.S.C. 12585)--
(A) in subsection(a)(2), by inserting ``or
stipend'' after ``educational award''; and
(B) in subsection (d)(4)(A), by inserting ``or
stipends'' after ``educational awards'';
(9) in section 138(f) (42 U.S.C. 12592(f)), by inserting
``or stipend'' after ``educational award'';
(10) in section 139 (42 U.S.C. 12593)--
(A) in subsection (b)(4)(C), by inserting ``or
stipend under section 149A'' before the period; and
(B) in subsection (c)--
(i) in paragraph (2)--
(I) in subparagraph (A), by
striking ``award'' and all that follows
through ``or'' and inserting ``award,
as provided in section 147(c), or
stipend, as provided in section
149A(a)(2), corresponding to the
portion of the term of service actually
completed; or''; and
(II) in subparagraph (B), by
inserting ``or stipend'' after
``educational award''; and
(ii) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``or
stipend'' after ``educational award'';
(11) in section 158 (42 U.S.C. 12618)--
(A) in subsection (f), by inserting ``or stipend''
after ``educational award''; and
(B) in subsection (g), by inserting ``or stipend''
after ``educational award'';
(12) in section 180 (42 U.S.C. 12640), by inserting ``and
stipends'' after ``educational awards'';
(13) in section 198B(h) (42 U.S.C. 12653b(h))--
(A) in the heading, by inserting ``or Stipends''
after ``Awards'';
(B) by inserting ``or a stipend under section
149A'' after ``such section''; and
(C) in the second sentence, by inserting ``or
stipend'' after ``educational award''; and
(14) in section 501(a) (42 U.S.C. 12681(a))--
(A) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by inserting ``or stipends'' after
``educational awards''; and
(ii) by striking ``number of participants
described in section 121(f)(1)'' and inserting
``relevant number of participants''; and
(B) in paragraph (4)(B)--
(i) by inserting ``or stipends'' after
``educational awards''; and
(ii) by striking ``198B(b)(3)'' and
inserting ``198B''.
SEC. 205. NON-COMPETITIVE HIRING ELIGIBILITY.
(a) National and Community Service Act of 1990.--Title I of the
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511 et seq.) is
amended by inserting after section 189D (42 U.S.C. 12645g) the
following:
``SEC. 189E. NON-COMPETITIVE HIRING ELIGIBILITY.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Agency.--The term `agency' means an agency, office,
or other establishment in the executive branch of the Federal
Government.
``(2) Competitive service.--The term `competitive service'
has the meaning given the term in section 2102 of title 5,
United States Code.
``(b) In General.--Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 33 of
title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive
service, and under such regulations as the Director of the Office of
Personnel Management shall prescribe, the head of any agency may, in
accordance with subsections (c) and (e), noncompetitively appoint any
individual who is certified under subsection (d) to a position in the
competitive service for which the individual is otherwise qualified.
``(c) Appointment in Permanent Position.--Any person appointed to a
permanent position under subsection (b) shall--
``(1) become a career-conditional employee, unless the
employee has otherwise completed the service requirements for
career tenure; and
``(2) acquire competitive status upon completion of any
prescribed probationary period.
``(d) Certification of Individual.--
``(1) In general.--The Chief Executive Officer may certify
an individual under this subsection if the individual
successfully completed--
``(A) a term of national service as a member or
team leader, as described in paragraph (1) or (4) of
section 155(b), in the AmeriCorps National Civilian
Community Corps program component described in section
153;
``(B) a period of service of not less than one year
as a volunteer or designated volunteer leader under
part A of title I of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act
of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4951 et seq.); or
``(C) not less than 1,700 hours of service as
described in section 139(b)(1) as a participant under
section 137.
``(2) Reliance on other certifications.--In making any
certification under paragraph (1), the Chief Executive Officer
may rely on a certification made by the entity that selected
the individual for, and supervised the individual in, the
service described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of such
paragraph.
``(3) Erroneous or incorrect certification.--If the Chief
Executive Officer determines that a certification under
paragraph (1) is erroneous or incorrect, the Corporation shall,
after considering the full facts and circumstances surrounding
the erroneous or incorrect certification, take action as
permitted under law.
``(e) Period of Appointment.--The head of any agency may make an
appointment of an individual under subsection (b)--
``(1) not later than 1 year after the date of completion by
the individual of the service described in subparagraph (A),
(B), or (C) of subsection (d)(1); or
``(2) not later than 3 years after such date in the case of
an individual who, following such service, was engaged--
``(A) in military service;
``(B) in the pursuit of studies at a recognized
institution of higher education, as defined in section
102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1002); or
``(C) in other activities that, as determined by
the head of such agency, warrant an extended time
period before the appointment.''.
(b) Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973.--Section 415 of the
Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 5055) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``(d),''; and
(2) by striking subsection (d).
TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SEC. 301. CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.
The table of contents in section 1(b) of the National and Community
Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501 note) is amended--
(1) by striking the item relating to section 141 and
inserting the following:
``Sec. 141. National service educational awards and stipends.'';
(2) by striking the item relating to subtitle D of title I
and inserting the following:
``Subtitle D--National Service Trust and Provision of Educational
Awards or Stipends'';
(3) by striking the item relating to section 141 and
inserting the following:
``Sec. 145. Individuals eligible to receive an educational award or
stipend from the trust.'';
(4) by inserting after the item relating to section 149 the
following:
``Sec. 149A. Stipend.''; and
(5) by inserting after the item relating to section 189D
the following:
``Sec. 189E. Non-competitive hiring eligibility.''.
SEC. 302. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) National and Community Service Act of 1990.--Section 501 of the
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12681) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``title I--''
and all that follows through the period at the end and
inserting ``title I such sums as may be necessary for
each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.''; and
(B) in paragraph (4)--
(i) in subparagraph (E), by striking
``section 198K'' and all that follows and
inserting ``section 198K such sums as may be
necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through
3031.''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (F), by striking
``section 198P'' and all that follows and
inserting ``section 198P such sums as may be
necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through
3031.''; and
(2) by striking ``2010 through 2014'' each place it appears
and inserting ``2027 through 2031''.
(b) Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973.--Title V of the
Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 5081 et seq.) is
amended--
(1) in section 501(a) (42 U.S.C. 5081(a))--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``title I'' and
all that follows through the period at the end and
inserting ``title I such sums as may be necessary for
each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2010 through
2014'' and inserting ``2027 through 2031'';
(2) in section 502 (42 U.S.C. 5082)--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ``title II'' and
all that follows through the period at the end and
inserting ``title II such sums as may be necessary for
each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.'';
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ``title II'' and
all that follows through the period at the end and
inserting ``title II such sums as may be necessary for
each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.'';
(C) in subsection (c), by striking ``title II'' and
all that follows through the period at the end and
inserting ``title II such sums as may be necessary for
each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.''; and
(D) in subsection (d), by striking ``2010 through
2014'' and inserting ``2027 through 2031''; and
(3) in section 504 (42 U.S.C. 5084), by striking ``2010
through 2014'' each place it appears and inserting ``2027
through 2031''.
SEC. 303. EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) In General.--This Act, and the amendments made by this Act,
shall--
(1) take effect on the day that is 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act; and
(2) apply with respect to individuals who enroll on or
after such day in a program under the national service laws and
with respect to grants awarded under the national service laws
on or after such day.
(b) Definition of National Service Laws.--For purposes of this
section, the term ``national service laws'' has the meaning given such
term in section 101 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990
(42 U.S.C. 12511).
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