DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973
Public Law 93–113, as amended
DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973
113
113–128
Statute Compilation
United States House of Representatives
Office of the Legislative Counsel
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EN
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Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973
712
93
1973-10-01
DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973
[(Public Law 93–113, Oct. 1, 1973; 42 U.S.C. 4950 et seq.)]
[As Amended Through P.L. 113–128, Enacted July 22, 2014]
[Currency: This publication is a compilation of the text of Public Law 93-113. It was last amended by the public law listed in the As Amended Through note above and below at the bottom of each page of the pdf version and reflects current law through the date of the enactment of the public law listed at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/comps/]
[Note: While this publication does not represent an official version of any Federal statute, substantial efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of its contents. The official version of Federal law is found in the United States Statutes at Large and in the United States Code. The legal effect to be given to the Statutes at Large and the United States Code is established by statute (1 U.S.C. 112, 204).]

AN ACT
To provide for the operation of programs by the ACTION Agency, to establish certain new such programs, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a)

Short Title.—
This Act may be cited as the “Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973”.
(b)

Table of Contents.—
The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1.
Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2.
Volunteerism policy.
TITLE I—
NATIONAL VOLUNTEER ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAMS
Part A—
Volunteers in Service to America
Sec. 101.
Statement of purpose.
Sec. 102.
Authority to operate VISTA program.
Sec. 103.
Selection and assignment of volunteers.
Sec. 104.
Terms and periods of service.
Sec. 105.
Support service.
Sec. 106.
Participation of beneficiaries.
Sec. 107.
Participation of younger and older persons.
Sec. 108.
Limitation.
Sec. 109.
Applications for assistance.
Part C—
Special Volunteer Programs
Sec. 121.
Statement of purpose.
Sec. 122.
Authority to establish and operate special volunteer and demonstration programs.
Sec. 123.
Technical and financial assistance.
TITLE II—
NATIONAL SENIOR SERVICE CORPS
Sec. 200.
Statement of purpose.
Part A—
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
Sec. 201.
Grants and contracts for volunteer service projects.
Part B—
Foster Grandparent Program
Sec. 211.
Grants and contracts for volunteer service projects.
Part C—
Senior Companion Program
Sec. 213.
Grants and contracts for volunteer service projects.
Part D—
General Provisions
Sec. 221.
Promotion of National Senior Service Corps.
Sec. 222.
Payments.
Sec. 223.
Minority population participation.
Sec. 224.
Use of locally generated contributions in National Senior Service Corps.
Sec. 225.
Programs of national significance.
Sec. 226.
Adjustments to Federal financial assistance.
Sec. 227.
Multiyear grants or contracts.
Sec. 228.
Acceptance of donations.
Part E—
Demonstration Programs
Sec. 231.
Authority of Director.
TITLE IV—
ADMINISTRATION AND COORDINATION
Sec. 403.
Political activities.
Sec. 404.
Special limitations.
Sec. 406.
Labor standards.
Sec. 408.
Joint funding.
Sec. 409.
Prohibition of Federal control.
Sec. 410.
Coordination with other programs.
Sec. 411.
Prohibition.
Sec. 412.
Notice and hearing procedures for suspension and termination of financial assistance.
Sec. 414.
Distribution of benefits between rural and urban areas.
Sec. 415.
Application of Federal law.
Sec. 416.
Evaluation.
Sec. 417.
Nondiscrimination provisions.
Sec. 418.
Eligibility for other benefits.
Sec. 419.
Legal expenses.
Sec. 421.
Definitions.
Sec. 422.
Audit.
Sec. 423.
Reduction of paperwork.
Sec. 424.
Review of project renewals.
Sec. 425.
Protection against improper use.
Sec. 426.
Provisions under the National and Community Service Act of 1990.
TITLE V—
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS
Sec. 501.
National volunteer antipoverty programs.
Sec. 502.
National Senior Service Corps.
Sec. 504.
Administration and coordination.
Sec. 505.
Availability of appropriations.
TITLE VI—
AMENDMENTS TO OTHER LAWS AND REPEALERS
Sec. 601.
Supersedence of Reorganization Plan No. 1 of July 1, 1971.
Sec. 602.
Creditable service for civil service retirement.
Sec. 603.
Repeal of title VIII of the Economic Opportunity Act.
Sec. 604.
Repeal of title VI of the Older Americans Act.

volunteerism policy
Sec. 2.
(a)
Because of the long-standing importance of volunteerism throughout American history, it is the policy of the Congress to foster the tradition of volunteerism through greater involvement on the part of individuals of all ages and backgrounds.
(b)
The purpose of this Act is to foster and expand voluntary citizen service in communities throughout the Nation in activities designed to help the poor, the disadvantaged, the vulnerable, and the elderly. In carrying out this purpose, the Corporation for National and Community Service shall utilize to the fullest extent the programs authorized under this Act, coordinate with other Federal, State, and local agencies, expand relationships with, and support for, the efforts of civic, community, and educational organizations, and utilize the energy, innovative spirit, experience, and skills of all Americans.
[42 U.S.C. 4950]
TITLE I—

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAMS
Part A—

Volunteers in Service to America

statement of purpose
Sec. 101.
This part provides for the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program of full-time volunteer service, together with appropriate powers and responsibilities designed to assist in the development and coordination of such program. The purpose of this part is to strengthen and supplement efforts to eliminate and alleviate poverty and poverty-related problems in the United States by encouraging and enabling persons from all walks of life, all geographical areas, and all age groups, including low-income individuals, elderly and retired Americans, to perform meaningful and constructive volunteer service in agencies, institutions, and situations where the application of human talent and dedication may assist in the solution of poverty and poverty-related problems and secure and increase opportunities for self-advancement by persons affected by such problems. In addition, the objectives of this part are to generate the commitment of private sector resources, to encourage volunteer service at the local level, to support efforts by local agencies and community organizations to achieve long-term sustainability of projects, and to strengthen local agencies and community organizations to carry out the objectives of this part.
[42 U.S.C. 4951]

authority to operate vista program
Sec. 102.
This part shall be administered by one of the Assistant Directors appointed pursuant to section 194(d)(1)(A) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990. Such Director may recruit, select, and train persons to serve in full-time volunteer programs consistent with the provisions and to carry out the purpose of this part.
[42 U.S.C. 4952]

selection and assignment of volunteers
Sec. 103.
(a)
The Director, on the receipt of applications by public or nonprofit private organizations to receive volunteers under this part, may assign volunteers selected under subsection (b) to work in appropriate projects and programs sponsored by such organizations, including work—
(1)
in meeting the health, education, welfare, or related needs of Indians living on reservations or Federal trust lands, of migratory and seasonal farmworkers and their families, and of residents of the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands;
(2)
in the care and rehabilitation of mentally ill, developmentally disabled, and other individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with severe disabilities;
(3)
in addressing the problems of the homeless, unemployed individuals, and low-income youths;
(4)
in addressing the special needs connected with alcohol and drug abuse through prevention, education, rehabilitation, treatment, and related activities, consistent with the purpose of this part;
(5)
in addressing significant health care problems, including mental illness, chronic and life-threatening illnesses, and health care for homeless individuals (especially homeless children) through prevention, treatment, and community-based care activities;
(6)
in connection with programs or activities authorized, supported, or of a character eligible for assistance under this Act or the Community Service Block Grant Act, titles VIII and X of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, the Head Start Act, the Community Economic Development Act of 1981, or other similar Acts, in furtherance of the purpose of this title;
(7)
in strengthening, supplementing, and expanding efforts to address the problem of illiteracy throughout the United States;
(8)
in assisting with the reentry and reintegration of formerly incarcerated youth and adults into society, including providing training and counseling in education, employment, and life skills;
(9)
in developing and carrying out financial literacy, financial planning, budgeting, saving, and reputable credit accessibility programs in low-income communities, including those programs that educate individuals about financing home ownership and higher education;
(10)
in initiating and supporting before-school and after-school programs, serving children in low-income communities, that may engage participants in mentoring, tutoring, life skills and study skills programs, service-learning, physical, nutrition, and health education programs, and other activities addressing the needs of the children;
(11)
in establishing and supporting community economic development initiatives, with a priority on work on such initiatives in rural areas and the other areas where such initiatives are needed most;
(12)
in assisting veterans and their family members through establishing or augmenting programs that assist such persons with access to legal assistance, health care (including mental health care), employment counseling or training, education counseling or training, affordable housing, and other support services; and
(13)
in addressing the health and wellness of individuals in low-income communities and individuals in underserved communities, including programs to increase access to preventive services, insurance, and health services.
(b)
(1)
The Director shall establish placement procedures that involve sponsoring organizations and that offer opportunities for both local and national placement of volunteers for service under this part.
(2)
(A)
The Director shall establish and maintain within the national headquarters of the Corporation (or any successor entity of such agency) a volunteer placement office which shall be responsible for all functions related to the recruitment and placement of volunteers under this part. Such functions and activities shall be carried out in coordination or in conjunction with recruitment and placement activities carried out under the National and Community Service Act of 1990.
(B)
Such volunteer placement office shall develop, operate, and maintain a current and comprehensive database that provides information—
(i)
to individuals, with respect to specific opportunities for service as a volunteer with approved projects or programs to which no volunteer has been assigned; and
(ii)
to approved projects or programs, with respect to the availability of individuals whose applications for service as a volunteer have been approved and who are awaiting an assignment with a specific project or program.
(C)
The Director shall assign or hire as necessary, such additional national, regional, and State personnel to carry out the functions described in this subsection and subsection (c) as may be necessary to ensure that such functions are carried out in a timely and effective manner. The Director shall give priority in the hiring of such additional personnel to individuals who have formerly served as volunteers under this part and to individuals who have specialized experience in the recruitment and management of volunteers.
(3)
Volunteers shall be selected from among qualified individuals submitting an application for such service at such time, in such form, and containing such information as may be necessary to evaluate the suitability of each individual for such service and to determine, in accordance with paragraph (7), the most appropriate assignment for each such volunteer. The Director shall approve the application of each individual who applies in conformance with this subsection and who, on the basis of the information provided in the application, is determined by the Director to be qualified to serve as a volunteer under this part.
(4)
The Director shall ensure that applications for service as a volunteer under this part are available to the public on request to the Corporation (including any State or regional offices of the Agency) and that an individual making such request is informed of the manner in which such application is required to be submitted. A completed application may be submitted by any interested individual to, and shall be accepted by, any office of the Corporation.
(5)
(A)
The Director shall provide for the assignment of each applicant approved as a volunteer under this part to a project or program that is, to the maximum extent practicable, consistent with the abilities, experiences, and preferences of such applicant that are set forth in the application described in paragraph (4) and the needs and preferences of projects or programs approved for the assignment of such volunteers.
(B)
In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Director shall utilize the database established under paragraph (2)(B).
(C)
A sponsoring organization of VISTA may recruit volunteers for service under this part. The Director shall give a locally recruited volunteer priority for placement in the sponsoring organization of VISTA that recruited such volunteer.
(D)
A volunteer under this part shall not be assigned to any project or program without the express approval and consent of such project or program.
(E)
If an applicant under this part who is recruited locally becomes unavailable for service prior to the commencement of service, the recipient of the project grant or contract that was designated to receive the services of such applicant may replace such applicant with another qualified applicant approved by the Director.
(F)
If feasible and appropriate, low-income community volunteers shall be given the option of serving in the home communities of such volunteers in teams with nationally recruited specialist volunteers. The Director shall attempt to assign such volunteers to serve in the home or nearby communities of such volunteers and shall make national efforts to attract other individuals to serve in the VISTA program. The Director shall also, in the assignment of volunteers under this subparagraph, recognize that community-identified needs that cannot be met in the local area and the individual desires of VISTA volunteers in regard to the service in various geographical areas of the United States should be taken into consideration.
(c)
(1)
The Director, in conjunction with the personnel described in subsection (b)(2)(C), shall engage in public awareness and recruitment activities. Such activities may include—
(A)
public service announcements through the Internet and related technologies, radio, television, and the print media;
(B)
advertising through the Internet and related technologies, print media, direct mail, and other means;
(C)
disseminating information about opportunities for service as a volunteer under this part to relevant entities including institutions of higher education and other educational institutions (including libraries), professional associations, community-based agencies, youth service and volunteer organizations, business organizations, labor unions, senior citizens organizations, State or local offices of economic development, State employment security agencies, employment offices, and other institutions and organizations from or through which potential volunteers may be recruited;
(D)
disseminating such information through presentations made personally by employees of the Corporation or other designees of the Director, to students and faculty at institutions of higher education and to other entities described in subparagraph (C), including presentations made at the facilities, conventions, or other meetings of such entities;
(E)
publicizing the student loan deferment and forgiveness opportunities available to VISTA volunteers under parts B and E of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq.) and including such information in all applications and recruitment materials;
(F)
publicizing national service educational awards available under the National and Community Service Act of 1990;
(G)
providing, on request, technical assistance with the recruitment of volunteers under this part to programs and projects receiving assistance under this part; and
(H)
maintaining and publicizing a national toll-free telephone number through which individuals may obtain information about opportunities for service as a volunteer under this part and request and receive an application for such service.
(2)
In designing and implementing the activities authorized under this section, the Director shall seek to involve individuals who have formerly served as volunteers under this part to assist in the dissemination of information concerning the program established under this part. The Director may reimburse the costs incurred by such former volunteers for such participation, including expenses incurred for travel.
(3)
The Director shall consult with the Director of the Peace Corps to coordinate the recruitment and public awareness activities carried out under this subsection with those of the Peace Corps and to develop joint procedures and activities for the recruitment of volunteers to serve under this part.
(d)1
The Director shall provide each low-income community volunteer with an individual plan for job advancement or for transition to a situation leading to gainful employment. Whenever feasible, such efforts shall be coordinated with an appropriate local workforce investment board established under section 117 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.2
^1
For version of law for section 103(d) as amended by section 512(h) of Public Law 113–128, see note below.
^2
Effective July 1, 2000, Public Law 105–277 attempts to amend the second sentence of subsection (d) to read as follows: “private industry council established under the Job Training Partnership Act or”. The amendment probably should just strike the quoted matter.
[Note: Section 512(h) of Public Law 113–128 provides for an amendment to strike and insert text in section 103(d). Section 506(a) of such Public Law provides as follows: “[e]xcept as otherwise provided in this Act, this Act, including the amendments made by this Act, shall take effect on the first day of the first full program year after the date of enactment of this Act [enactment date is July 22, 2014]”. The effective date for the execution of such amendment is July 1, 2015. Upon such date, section 103(d) (as amended) reads as follows:</]
(d)
The Director shall provide each low-income community volunteer with an individual plan for job advancement or for transition to a situation leading to gainful employment. Whenever feasible, such efforts shall be coordinated with an appropriate local workforce development board established under section 107 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
(e)
The Director may provide or arrange for educational and vocational counseling of volunteers and recent former volunteers under this part to (1) encourage them to use, in the national interest, the skills and experience which they have derived from their training and service, particularly working in combating poverty as members of the helping professions, and (2) promote the development of appropriate opportunities for the use of such skills and experience, and the placement therein of such volunteers.
(f)
Except as provided in subsection (e), the assignment of volunteers under this section shall be on such terms and conditions (including restrictions on political activities that appropriately recognize the special status of volunteers living among the persons or groups served by programs to which they have been assigned) as the Director may determine, including work assignments in their own or nearby communities.
(g)
Volunteers under this part shall not be assigned to work in a program or project in any community unless the application for such program or project contains evidence of local support and has been submitted to the Governor or other chief executive officer of the State concerned. In the event of a timely request in writing, supported by a statement of reasons, by the Governor or other chief executive officer of the State concerned, the Director shall terminate a program or project or the assignment of a volunteer to a program or project not later than 30 days after the date such request is received by the Director, or at such later date as is agreed upon by the Director and such Governor or other chief executive officer.
(h)
The Director is encouraged to enter into agreements with other Federal agencies to use VISTA volunteers in furtherance of program objectives that are consistent with the purposes described in section 101.
(i)
The Director may enter into agreements under which public and private nonprofit organizations, with sufficient financial capacity and size, pay for all or a portion of the costs of supporting the service of volunteers under this part.
[42 U.S.C. 4953]

terms and periods of service
Sec. 104.
(a)
Volunteers serving under this part shall be required to make a full-time personal commitment to combating poverty and poverty-related problems. To the maximum extent practicable, the requirement for full-time commitment shall include a commitment to live among and at the economic level of the people served, and to remain available for service without regard to regular working hours, at all times during their periods of service, except for authorized periods of leave.
(b)
(1)
Volunteers serving under this part may be enrolled initially for periods of service of not less than 1 year, nor more than 2 years, except as provided in paragraph (2) or subsection (e).
(2)
Volunteers serving under this part may be enrolled for periods of service of less than 1 year if the Director determines, on an individual basis, that a period of service of less than 1 year is necessary to meet a critical scarce skill need.
(3)
Volunteers serving under this part may be reenrolled for periods of service in a manner to be determined by the Director. No volunteer shall serve for more than a total of 5 years under this part.
(c)
Volunteers under this part shall, upon enrollment, take the oath of office as prescribed for persons appointed to any office of honor or profit by section 3331 of title 5, United States Code, and shall swear (or affirm) that the volunteer does not advocate the overthrow of the constitutional form of government of the United States and that the volunteer is not a member of an organization that advocates the overthrow of the constitutional form of government of the United States, knowing that such organization so advocates, except that persons legally residing within a State but who are not citizens or nationals of the United States, may serve under this part without taking or subscribing to such oath, if the Director determines that the service of such persons will further the interests of the United States. Such persons shall take such alternative oath or affirmation as the Director shall deem appropriate.
(d)
The Director shall establish a procedure, including notice and opportunity to be heard, for volunteers under this part to present and obtain resolution of grievances and to present their views in connection with the terms and conditions of their service. The Director shall promptly provide to each volunteer in service on the date of enactment of this Act, and to each such volunteer beginning service thereafter, information regarding such procedure and the terms and conditions of their service.
(e)
(1)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the Director may enroll full-time VISTA summer associates in a program for the summer months only, under such terms and conditions as the Director shall determine to be appropriate. Such individuals shall be assigned to projects that meet the criteria set forth in section 103(a).
(2)
In preparing reports relating to programs under this Act, the Director shall report on participants, costs, and accomplishments under the summer program separately.
(3)
The limitation on funds appropriated for grants and contracts, as contained in section 108, shall not apply to the summer program.
[42 U.S.C. 4954]

support service
Sec. 105.
(a)
(1)
(A)
The Director may provide a stipend to volunteers, while they are in training and during their assignments, enrolled for periods of service of not less than one year under this part, except that the Director may, on an individual basis, make an exception to provide a stipend to a volunteer enrolled under this part for an extended period of service not totaling one year.
(B)
Such stipend shall be set at a rate that is not less than a minimum of $125 per month and not more than a maximum of $150 per month, subject to the availability of funds to provide such a maximum rate. The Director may provide a stipend set at a rate that is not more than a maximum of $250 per month in the case of persons who have served as volunteers under this part for at least 1 year and who, in accordance with standards established in such regulations as the Director shall prescribe, have been designated volunteer leaders on the basis of experience and special skills and a demonstrated leadership among volunteers.
(C)
The Director shall not provide a stipend under this subsection to an individual who elects to receive a national service educational award under subtitle D of title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990.
(2)
Stipends shall be payable only upon completion of a period of service, except that under such circumstances as the Director shall determine, in accordance with regulations which the Director shall prescribe, the accrued stipend, or any part of the accrued stipend, may be paid to the volunteer, or, on behalf of the volunteer, to members of the volunteer's family or others during the period of the volunteer's service. In the event of the death of a volunteer during service, the amount of any unpaid stipend shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of section 5582 of title 5, United States Code.
(b)
(1)
The Director shall also provide volunteers such living, travel (including travel to and from places of training and to and from locations to which volunteers are assigned during periods of service) and leave allowances, and such housing, supplies, equipment, subsistence, clothing, health and dental care, transportation, supervision, preservice training and where appropriate in-service training, technical assistance and such other support as the Director deems necessary and appropriate to carry out the purpose and provisions of this part, and shall insure that each such volunteer has available such allowances and support as will enable the volunteer to carry out the purpose and provisions of this part and to effectively perform the work to which such volunteer is assigned.
(2)
The Director shall set the subsistence allowance for volunteers under paragraph (1) for each fiscal year so that—
(A)
the minimum allowance is not less than an amount equal to 95 percent of such poverty line (as defined in section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2))) for a single individual as expected for each fiscal year; and
(B)
the average subsistence allowance, excluding allowances for Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and Alaska, is no less than 105 percent of such poverty line.
(3)
The Director shall adjust the subsistence allowances for volunteers serving in areas that have a higher cost of living than the national average to reflect such higher cost. The Director shall review such adjustments on an annual basis to ensure that the adjustments are current.
(c)
(1)
The Director shall—
(A)
make child care available for children of each volunteer enrolled under this part who need such child care in order to participate as volunteers; or
(B)
provide a child care allowance to each such volunteer who needs such assistance in order to participate as volunteers.
(2)
The Corporation shall establish guidelines regarding the circumstances under which child care shall be made available under this subsection and the value of any child care allowance to be provided.
[42 U.S.C. 4955]

participation of beneficiaries
Sec. 106.
To the maximum extent practicable, the people of the communities to be served by volunteers under this title shall participate in planning, developing, and implementing programs thereunder, and the Director, after consultation with sponsoring agencies (including volunteers assigned to them) and the people served by such agencies, shall establish in regulations a continuing mechanism for the meaningful participation of such program beneficiaries.
[42 U.S.C. 4956]
SEC. 107.

PARTICIPATION OF YOUNGER AND OLDER PERSONS.
In carrying out this part and part C, the Director shall take necessary steps, including the development of special projects, where appropriate, to encourage the fullest participation of individuals 18 through 27 years of age, and individuals 55 years of age and older, in the various programs and activities authorized under such parts.
[42 U.S.C. 4957]

limitation
Sec. 108.
(a)
Of funds appropriated for the purpose of this part under section 501, not more than 30 percent for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1984, and for each fiscal year thereafter, may be obligated for the direct cost of supporting volunteers in programs or projects carried out pursuant to grants and contracts made under section 402(12).
(b)
No funds shall be obligated under this part pursuant to grants or contracts made after the date of the enactment of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act Amendments of 1979 for new projects for the direct cost of supporting volunteers unless the recipient of each such grant or contract has been selected through a competitive process which includes—
(1)
public announcements of the availability of funds for such grants or contracts, general criteria for the selection of new recipients, and a description of the application process and the application review process; and
(2)
a requirement that each applicant for any such grant or contract identify, with sufficient particularity to assure that the assignments of volunteers under such grants and contracts will carry out the purpose of this part, the particular poverty or poverty-related problems on which the grant or contract will focus, and any such grant or contract shall specifically so identify such problems.
[42 U.S.C. 4958]
SEC. 109.

APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE.
In reviewing an application for assistance under this part, the Director shall not deny such assistance to any project or program, or any public or private nonprofit organization, solely on the basis of the duration of the assistance such project, program, or organization has received under this part prior to the date of submission of the application. The Director shall grant assistance under this part on the basis of merit and to accomplish the goals of the VISTA program, and shall consider the needs and requirements of projects in existence on such date as well as potential new projects.
[42 U.S.C. 4960]
Part C—

Special Volunteer Programs3
^3
So in law. There is no part B. See amendment made by section 2121 of Public Law 111–13.

statement of purpose
Sec. 121.
This part provides for special emphasis and demonstration volunteer programs, together with appropriate powers and responsibilities designed to assist in the development and coordination of such programs. The purpose of this part is to strengthen and supplement efforts to meet a broad range of needs, particularly those related to poverty, by encouraging and enabling persons from all walks of life and from all age groups to perform meaningful and constructive volunteer service in agencies, institutions, and organizations where the application of human talent and dedication may help to meet such needs. It is the further purpose of this part to provide technical and financial assistance to encourage voluntary organizations and volunteer efforts at the national, State, and local level.
[42 U.S.C. 4991]
SEC. 122.

AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE SPECIAL VOLUNTEER AND DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS.
(a)

In General.—
The Director is authorized to conduct special volunteer programs for demonstration programs, or award grants to or enter into contracts with public or nonprofit organizations to carry out such programs. Such programs shall encourage wider volunteer participation on a full-time, part-time, or short-term basis to further the purpose of this part, and identify particular segments of the poverty community that could benefit from volunteer and other antipoverty efforts.
(b)

Assignment and Support of Volunteers.—
The assignment of volunteers under this section, and the provision of support for such volunteers, including any subsistence allowances and stipends, shall be on such terms and conditions as the Director shall determine to be appropriate, but shall not exceed the level of support provided under section 105. Projects using volunteers who do not receive stipends may also be supported under this section.
(c)

Criteria and Priorities.—
In carrying out this section and section 123, the Director shall establish criteria and priorities for awarding grants and entering into contracts under this part in each fiscal year. No grant or contract exceeding $100,000 shall be made under this part unless the recipient of the grant or contractor has been selected by a competitive process that includes public announcement of the availability of funds for such grant or contract, general criteria for the selection of recipients or contractors, and a description of the application process and application review process.
[42 U.S.C. 4992]
SEC. 123.

TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
The Director may provide technical and financial assistance to Federal agencies, State and local governments and agencies, private nonprofit organizations, employers, and other private organizations that utilize or desire to utilize volunteers in carrying out the purpose of this part.
[42 U.S.C. 4993]
TITLE II—

NATIONAL SENIOR SERVICE CORPS
SEC. 200.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.
It is the purpose of this title to provide—
(1)
opportunities for senior service to meet unmet local, State, and national needs in the areas of education, public safety, emergency and disaster preparedness, relief, and recovery, health and human needs, and the environment;
(2)
for the National Senior Service Corps, comprised of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, the Foster Grandparent Program, and the Senior Companion Program, and demonstration and other programs, to empower people 55 years of age or older to contribute to their communities through service, enhance the lives of those who serve and those whom they serve, and provide communities with valuable services;
(3)
opportunities for people 55 years of age or older, through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, to share their knowledge, experiences, abilities, and skills for the betterment of their communities and themselves;
(4)
opportunities for low-income people 55 years of age or older, through the Foster Grandparents Program, to have a positive impact on the lives of children in need; and
(5)
opportunities for low-income people 55 years of age or older, through the Senior Companion Program, to provide support services and companionship to other older individuals through volunteer service.
[42 U.S.C. 5000]
Part A—

Retired and Senior Volunteer Program

grants and contracts for volunteer service projects
Sec. 201.
(a)
In order to help retired individuals and working older individuals to share their experiences, abilities, and skills to improve their communities and themselves through service in their communities, the Director is authorized to make grants to State agencies (established or designated pursuant to section 305(a)(1) of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3025(a)(1))) or grants to or contracts with other public and nonprofit private agencies and organizations to pay part or all of the costs for the development or operation, or both, of volunteer service projects under this section, if the Director determines, in accordance with regulations the Director shall prescribe, that—
(1)
volunteers will not be reimbursed for other than transportation, meals, and other out-of-pocket expenses incident to the provision of services under this part;
(2)
only individuals 55 years of age or older will be enrolled as volunteers to provide services under this part (except for administrative purposes), and such services will be performed in the community where such individuals reside or in nearby communities either (A) on publicly owned and operated facilities or projects, or (B) on local projects sponsored by private nonprofit organizations (other than political parties), other than projects involving the construction, operation, or maintenance of so much of any facility used or to be used for sectarian instruction or as a place for religious worship;
(3)
the project includes such short-term training as may be necessary to make the most effective use of the skills and talents of participating volunteers and individuals, and provide for the payment of the reasonable expenses of such volunteers while undergoing such training; and
(4)
the project is being designed and implemented with the advice of persons competent in the field of service to be provided, as well as persons who have expertise in the management of volunteers and the needs of older individuals.
(b)
In no event shall the required proportion of the local contribution (including in-kind contributions) for a grant or contract made under this section be more than 10 per centum in the first year of assistance under this section, 20 per centum in the second such year, 30 per centum in any subsequent such years: Provided, however, That the Director may make exceptions in cases of demonstrated need, determined (in accordance with regulations which the Director shall prescribe) on the basis of the financial capability of a particular recipient of assistance under this section, to permit a lesser local contribution proportion than any required contribution proportion established by the Director in generally applicable regulations.
(c)
The Director shall not award any grant or contract under this part for a project in any State to any agency or organization unless, if such State has a State agency established or designated pursuant to section 305(a)(1) of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3025(a)(1)), such agency itself is the recipient of the award or such agency has been afforded at least forty-five days in which to review the project application and make recommendations thereon.
(d)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, volunteer service under this part shall not be deemed employment for any purpose which the Director finds is not fully consistent with the provisions and in furtherance of the purpose of this part.
(e)
(1)
Beginning with fiscal year 2013 and for each fiscal year thereafter, each grant or contract awarded under this section, for such a year, shall be—
(A)
awarded for a period of 3 years, with an option for a grant renewal of 3 years if the grantee meets the performances measures established under subsection (g); and
(B)
awarded through a competitive process described in paragraph (2).
(2)
(A)
The Corporation shall promulgate regulations establishing the competitive process required under paragraph (1)(B), and make such regulations available to the public, not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of the Serve America Act. The Corporation shall consult with the directors of programs receiving grants under this section during the development and implementation of the competitive process.
(B)
The competitive process required by subparagraph (A) shall—
(i)
include the use of a peer review panel, including members with expertise in senior service and aging, to review applications;
(ii)
include site inspections of programs assisted under this section, as appropriate;
(iii)
in the case of an applicant who has previously received a grant or contract for a program under this section, include an evaluation of the program conducted by a review team, as described in subsection (f);
(iv)
ensure that—
(I)
the grants or contracts awarded under this section through the competitive process for a grant or contract cycle support an aggregate number of volunteer service years for a given geographic service area that is not less than the aggregate number of volunteer service years supported under this section for such service area for the previous grant or contract cycle;
(II)
the grants or contracts awarded under this section through the competitive process for a grant or contract cycle maintain a similar program distribution, as compared to the program distribution for the previous grant or contract cycle; and
(III)
every effort is made to minimize the disruption to volunteers; and
(v)
include the use of performance measures, outcomes, and other criteria established under subsection (g).
(f)
(1)
Notwithstanding section 412, and effective beginning 180 days after the date of enactment of the Serve America Act, each grant or contract under this section that expires in fiscal year 2011, 2012, or 2013 shall be subject to an evaluation process conducted by a review team described in paragraph (4). The evaluation process shall be carried out, to the maximum extent practicable, in fiscal year 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively.
(2)
The Corporation shall promulgate regulations establishing the evaluation process required under paragraph (1), and make such regulations available to the public, not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Serve America Act. The Corporation shall consult with the directors of programs receiving grants under this section during the development and implementation of the evaluation process.
(3)
The evaluation process required under paragraph (1) shall—
(A)
include performance measures, outcomes, and other criteria established under subsection (g); and
(B)
evaluate the extent to which the recipient of the grant or contract meets or exceeds such performance measures, outcomes, and other criteria through a review of the recipient.
(4)
To the maximum extent practicable, the Corporation shall provide that each evaluation required by this subsection is conducted by a review team that—
(A)
includes individuals who are knowledgeable about programs assisted under this section;
(B)
includes current or former employees of the Corporation who are knowledgeable about programs assisted under this section;
(C)
includes representatives of communities served by volunteers of programs assisted under this section; and
(D)
shall receive periodic training to ensure quality and consistency across evaluations.
(5)
The findings of an evaluation described in this subsection of a program described in paragraph (1) shall—
(A)
be presented to the recipient of the grant or contract for such program in a timely, transparent, and uniform manner that conveys information of program strengths and weaknesses and assists with program improvement; and
(B)
be used as the basis for program improvement, and for the provision of training and technical assistance.
(g)
(1)
The Corporation shall, with particular attention to the different needs of rural and urban programs assisted under this section, develop performance measures, outcomes, and other criteria for programs assisted under this section that—
(A)
include an assessment of the strengths and areas in need of improvement of a program assisted under this section;
(B)
include an assessment of whether such program has adequately addressed population and community-wide needs;
(C)
include an assessment of the efforts of such program to collaborate with other community-based organizations, units of government, and entities providing services to seniors, taking into account barriers to such collaboration that such program may encounter;
(D)
include a protocol for fiscal management that shall be used to assess such program's compliance with the program requirements for the appropriate use of Federal funds;
(E)
include an assessment of whether the program is in conformity with the eligibility, outreach, enrollment, and other requirements for programs assisted under this section; and
(F)
contain other measures of performance developed by the Corporation, in consultation with the review teams described in subsection (f)(4).
(2)
(A)
The performance measures, outcomes, and other criteria established under this subsection may be updated or modified as necessary, in consultation with directors of programs under this section, but not earlier than fiscal year 2014.
(B)
For each fiscal year preceding fiscal year 2014, the Corporation may, after consulting with directors of the programs under this section, determine that a performance measure, outcome, or criterion established under this subsection is operationally problematic, and may, in consultation with such directors and after notifying the authorizing committees—
(i)
eliminate the use of that performance measure, outcome or criterion; or
(ii)
modify that performance measure, outcome, or criterion as necessary to render it no longer operationally problematic.
(3)
In the event that a program does not meet one or more of the performance measures, outcome, or criteria established under this subsection, the Corporation shall initiate procedures to terminate the program in accordance with section 412.
(h)
The Chief Executive Officer shall develop procedures by which programs assisted under this section may receive training and technical assistance, which may include regular monitoring visits to assist programs in meeting the performance measures, outcomes, and criteria.
(i)
(1)
Notwithstanding subsection (g)(3) or section 412, the Corporation shall continue to fund a program assisted under this section that has failed to meet or exceed the performance measures, outcomes, and other criteria established under this subsection for not more than 12 months if the competitive process established under subsection (e) does not result in a successor grant or contract for such program, in order to minimize the disruption to volunteers and the disruption of services.
(2)
In the case where a program is continued under paragraph (1), the Corporation shall conduct outreach regarding the availability of a grant under this section for the area served by such program and establish a new competition for awarding the successor program to the continued program. The recipient operating the continued program shall remain eligible for the new competition.
(3)
The Corporation may monitor the recipient of a grant or contract supporting a program continued under paragraph (1) during this period and may provide training and technical assistance to assist such recipient in meeting the performance measures for such program.
(j)
The Corporation shall develop and disseminate an online resource guide for programs under this section not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Serve America Act, which shall include—
(1)
examples of high-performing programs assisted under this section;
(2)
corrective actions for underperforming programs; and
(3)
examples of meaningful outcome-based performance measures, outcomes, and criteria that capture a program's mission and priorities.
[42 U.S.C. 5001]
Part B—

Foster Grandparent Program

grants and contracts for volunteer service projects
Sec. 211.
(a)
The Director is authorized to make grants to or contracts with public and nonprofit private agencies and organizations to pay part or all of the cost of development and operation of projects (including direct payments to individuals serving under this part) designed for the purpose of providing opportunities for low-income persons age 55 or over to provide supportive person-to-person services in health, education, welfare, and related settings to children having special or exceptional needs or circumstances identified as limiting their academic, social, or emotional development. Such services may include services by individuals serving as foster grandparents to children who are individuals with disabilities, who have chronic health conditions, who are receiving care in hospitals, who are residing in homes for dependent and neglected children, or who are receiving services provided by day care centers, schools, early intervention programs under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.), Head Start agencies under the Head Start Act, or other programs, establishments, and institutions providing services for children having special or exceptional needs or circumstances identified as limiting their academic, social, or emotional development. Individual foster grandparents may provide person-to-person services to one or more children, depending on the needs of the project and local site. The Director may approve assistance in excess of 90 per centum of the costs of the development and operation of such projects only if the Director determines, in accordance with regulations the Director shall prescribe establishing objective criteria, that such action is required in furtherance of the purpose of this section. Provision for such assistance shall be effective as of September 19, 1972. In the case of any project with respect to which, prior to such date, a grant or contract has been made under section 611(a) of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3044b) or with respect to any project under the Foster Grandparent program in effect prior to September 17, 1969, contributions in cash or in kind from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior, toward the cost of the project may be counted as part of the cost thereof which is met from non-Federal sources.
(b)
(1)
Any public or private nonprofit agency or organization responsible for providing person-to-person services to a child in a project carried out under subsection (a) of this section shall have the exclusive authority to determine, pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection4—
^4
Section 2144(2)(A)(i) of Public Law 111–13 provides as follows:
(2) in subsection (b)—
(A) in paragraph (1)—
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “shall have” and all that follows through “(2) of the subsection” and inserting “may determine”;
The amendment was not executed because the amendment probably should have been to strike “shall have” and all that follows through “(2) of [this] subsection” and inserting “may determine”.
(A)
which children may receive supportive person-to-person services under such project;
(B)
the period of time during which such services shall be continued in the case of each individual child; and
(C)
whether it is in the best interest of the child receiving, and the particular foster grandparent providing, services in such a project, to continue the relationship between the child and the grandparent under this part after the child reaches the age of 21, if such child is an individual with a disability who was receiving such services prior to attaining the age of 21.
(2)
If an assignment of a foster grandparent under this part is suspended or discontinued, the replacement of that foster grandparent shall be determined in a manner consistent with paragraph (3).
(3)
Any determination made by a public or nonprofit private agency or organization under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection shall be made through mutual agreement by all parties involved with respect to the provision of services to the child involved.
(c)
For the purposes of this section, the terms “child” and “children” mean any individual or individuals who are less than 21 years of age.
(d)
The Director, in accordance with regulations the Director shall prescribe, may provide to low-income persons serving as volunteers under this part, such allowances, stipends, and other support as the Director determines are necessary to carry out the purpose of this part. Any stipend or allowance provided under this section shall not be less than $3.00 per hour, except that (1) such stipend or allowance shall not be increased as a result of an amendment made to this sentence unless the funds appropriated for carrying out this part are sufficient to maintain for the fiscal year in question a number of participants to serve under this part at least equal to the number of such participants serving during the preceding fiscal year, and (2) in the event that sufficient appropriations for any fiscal year are not available to increase any such stipend or allowance provided to the minimum hourly rate specified in this sentence, the Director shall increase the stipend or allowance to such amount as appropriations for such year permit consistent with clause (1) of this exception. In establishing the amount of, and the effective date for, such adjustment, the Director, in consultation with the State Commissions on National and Community Service (as established under section 178 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990) and the heads of the State offices established under section 195 of such Act, shall consider the effect such adjustment will have on the ability of non-federally funded volunteer programs similar to the programs under this title to maintain their current level of volunteer hours.
(e)
For purposes of this part, the terms “low-income person” and “person of low income” mean—
(1)
any person whose income is not more than 200 percent of the poverty line defined in section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)) and adjusted by the Director in the manner described in such section; and
(2)
any person whose income is not more that 100 percent of such poverty line, as so adjusted and determined by the Director after taking into consideration existing poverty guidelines as appropriate to local situations.
Persons described in paragraph (2) shall be given special consideration for participation in projects under this part.
(f)
(1)
(A)
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), individuals who are not low-income persons may serve as volunteers under this part, in accordance with such regulations as the Director shall issue, if such individuals serve without receiving any allowance, stipend, or other financial support under this part except reimbursement for transportation, meals, and out-of-pocket expenses incident to serving under this part.
(B)
The regulations issued by the Director to carry out this part (other than any regulations relating to allowances, stipends, and other financial support authorized by subsection (d) to be paid under this part to low-income persons) shall apply to all volunteers under this part, without regard to whether such volunteers are eligible to receive a stipend under subsection (d).
(2)
(A)
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), each recipient of a grant or contract to carry out a project under this part shall give equal treatment to all volunteers who participate in such project, without regard to whether such volunteers are eligible to receive a stipend under subsection (d).
(B)
An individual who is not a low-income person may not become a volunteer under this part if allowing such individual to become a volunteer under this part would prevent a low-income individual from becoming a volunteer under this part or would displace a low-income person from being such a volunteer.
(3)5
The Director may not take into consideration or require as a condition of receiving a grant or contract to carry out a project under this part, any applicant for such grant or contract—
^5
Section 7(a) of Public Law 99–551, approved October 27, 1987, provides as follows:
``(2) Section 211(f)(3) of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as added by paragraph (1), shall apply with respect to grants and contracts made under section 211(a) of such Act before the date of the enactment of this Act.''.
(A)
to accept or recruit individuals who are not low-income persons to serve as volunteers under this part; or
(B)
to solicit locally generated contributions, in cash or in kind, to support such individuals.
The Director may not coerce any applicant for, or recipient of, such grant or contract to engage in conduct described in subparagraph (A) or (B).
(4)
Funds appropriated to carry out this part may not be used to pay any cost, including any administrative cost, incurred in connection with volunteers under this part who do not receive a stipend under subsection (d). Such cost incurred with respect to a volunteer may be paid with—
(A)
funds received by the Director as unrestricted gifts;
(B)
funds received by the Director as gifts to pay such cost;
(C)
funds contributed by such volunteer; or
(D)
locally generated contributions in excess of the amount required to be contributed under subsection (a), in the discretion of the recipient of a grant or contract under such subsection.
[42 U.S.C. 5011]
Part C—

Senior Companion Program

grants and contracts for volunteer service projects
Sec. 213.
(a)
The Director is authorized to make grants to or contracts with public and nonprofit private agencies and organizations to pay part or all of the cost of development and operation of projects (including direct payments to individuals serving under this part in the same manner as provided in section 211(a)) designed for the purpose of providing opportunities for low-income persons age 55 or older to serve as “senior companions” to persons with exceptional needs. Senior companions may provide services designed to help older persons requiring long-term care, including services to persons receiving home health care, nursing care, home-delivered meals or other nutritional services; services designed to help persons deinstitutionalized from mental hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutions; and services designed to assist persons having developmental disabilities and other special needs for companionship.
(b)
Subsections (d), (e), and (f) of section 211, and such other provisions of part B as the Director determines to be necessary, shall apply to this part, except that for purposes of this part any reference in such subsections and such provisions to part B shall be deemed to be a reference to this part.
(c)
(1)
The Director is authorized to make grants or contracts after subsection (a) for senior companion projects to assist homebound elderly individuals to remain in their own homes and to enable institutionalized elderly individuals to return to home care settings.
(2)
(A)
The Director is authorized to recruit, subject to subparagraph (B), senior companion volunteer trainers who on the basis of experience (such as, doctors, nurses, home economists, social workers) will be used to train senior companion volunteers to participate in and monitor initial and continuing needs assessments and appropriate in-home services for senior companion volunteer recipients. The needs assessments and in-home services shall be coordinated with and supplement existing community based home health and long-term care systems. The Director may also use senior companion volunteer leaders, who on the basis of experience as volunteers, special skills, and demonstrated leadership abilities may spend time in the program (in addition to their regular assignment) to assist newer senior companion volunteers in performing their assignments and in coordinating activities of such volunteers.
(B)
Senior companion volunteer trainers recruited under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall not be paid stipends.
[42 U.S.C. 5013]
Part D—

General Provisions

promotion of national senior service corps
Sec. 221.
(a)
(1)
In carrying out this title, the Director shall consult with the Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services, and any other Federal agencies administering relevant programs with a view to achieving optimal coordination with such other programs, and shall promote the coordination of projects under this title with other public or private programs or projects carried out at State and local levels. Such Federal agencies shall cooperate with the Director in disseminating information about the availability of assistance under this title and in promoting the identification and interest of low-income and other older persons whose services may be utilized in projects under this title.6
^6
Section 205(c) of Public Law 94–135, supra, provides that:
``(c)(1) In order to provide maximum coordination between programs carried out under title III and title VII of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3021 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 3045 et seq.) and national older American volunteer programs carried out under title II of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 5001 et seq.), and in order to enhance the effectiveness of the support provided to such national older American volunteer programs by the ACTION Agency, the Director of the ACTION Agency shall designate an aging resource specialist with respect to programs carried out in each State under title II of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973.
``(2)(A) Each aging resource specialist designated under paragraph (1) shall be qualified to serve in such capacity by appropriate experience and training, and shall be stationed in a State office of the ACTION Agency.
``(B) The primary responsibility of each aging resource specialist shall be—
``(i) to support programs carried out under title II of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 in any State or other jurisdiction served by the State office involved; and
``(ii) to seek to coordinate such programs with programs carried out under title III and title VII of the Older Americans Act of 1965 in any such State or other jurisdiction.
``(3) For purposes of this subsection—
``(A) the term `ACTION Agency' means the ACTION Agency established by section 401 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 5041);
``(B) the term `primary responsibility' means the devotion of more than one-half of regular working hours to the performance of duties described in paragraph (2)(B); and
``(C) the term `State' means the several States, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.''
(2)
To the maximum extent practicable, the Director shall enter into agreements with—
(A)
the Department of Health and Human Services to—
(i)
involve retired and senior volunteers, and foster grandparents, in Head Start programs;
(ii)
involve retired and senior volunteers, and senior companions, in providing services authorized by title III of the Older Americans Act of 1965; and
(iii)
promote the recognition of such volunteers who are qualified to provide in-home services for reimbursement under title XVIII of the Social Security Act for providing such services;
(B)
the Department of Education to promote intergenerational tutoring and mentoring for at-risk children; and
(C)
the Environmental Protection Agency to support conservation efforts.
(b)
(1)
In carrying out this title, the Director shall encourage and facilitate the efforts of private organizations to promote the programs established in parts A, B, and C and the involvement of older individuals as volunteers in such programs.
(2)
The Director shall take appropriate actions to ensure that special efforts are made to publicize the programs established in parts A, B, and C, in order to facilitate recruitment efforts, to encourage greater participation of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds, living in urban or rural communities, and to emphasize the value of volunteering to the health and well-being of volunteers and the communities of such volunteers. Such actions shall include informing recipients of grants and contracts under this title of all informational materials available from the Director.
(3)
From funds appropriated under section 502, the Director shall expend not less than $375,000 in each fiscal year to carry out paragraph (2).
[42 U.S.C. 5021]

payments
Sec. 222.
Payments under this title pursuant to a grant or contract may be made (after necessary adjustment, in the case of grants, on account of previoulsy made overpayments or underpayments) in advance or by way of reimbursement, in such installments and on such conditions, as the Director may determine.
[42 U.S.C. 5022]

minority population participation
Sec. 223.
The Director shall take appropriate steps to insure that special efforts are made to recruit, select, and assign qualified individuals age 55 years or older from minority populations to serve as volunteers under this title.
[42 U.S.C. 5023]

use of locally generated contributions in national senior service corps
Sec. 224.
Whenever locally generated contributions made to National Senior Service Corps projects under this title are in excess of the amount required by the Director, the Director may not restrict the manner in which contributions are expended if expenditures from locally generated contributions are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act.
[42 U.S.C. 5024]

programs of national significance
Sec. 225.
(a)
(1)
With not less than one-third of the funds made available under subsection (d) in each fiscal year, the Director shall make grants under the programs authorized in parts A, B, and C to support programs that address national problems of local concern.
(2)
An applicant for a grant under paragraph (1) shall determine whether the program to be supported by the grant is a program under part A, B, or C, and shall submit an application as required for such program.
(3)
Each program for which a grant is received under this subsection shall be carried out in accordance with the requirements applicable to the program under part A, B, or C under which the program supported by such grant is to be carried out.
(4)
To the maximum extent practicable, the Director shall ensure that not less than 25 percent of the funds appropriated under this section are used to award grants—
(A)
to applicants for grants under this section that are not receiving assistance from the Corporation at the time of such grant award; or
(B)
to applicants from locations where no programs supported under part A, B, or C are in effect at the time of such grant award.
(5)
Notwithstanding paragraph (4), if, for a fiscal year, less than 25 percent of the applicants for grants under this section are applicants described in paragraph (4), the Director may use an amount that is greater than 75 percent of the funds appropriated under this subsection to award grants to applicants that are already receiving assistance from the Corporation at the time of such grant award.
(b)
The Director shall make grants under subsection (a) to support one or more of the following programs to address problems that concern the Nation:
(1)
Programs that assist individuals with chronic and debilitating illnesses, such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
(2)
Programs designed to decrease drug and alcohol abuse through education, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.
(3)
Programs that work with teenage parents.
(4)
Programs that establish and support mentoring programs for low-income youth, including mentoring programs that match such youth with mentors and match such youth with employment and training programs, including apprenticeship programs.
(5)
Programs that provide adult and school-based literacy assistance, including literacy programs that serve youth, and adults, with limited English proficiency.
(6)
Programs that provide respite care, including care for elderly individuals and for children and individuals with disabilities or chronic illnesses who are living at home.
(7)
Programs that provide before-school and after-school activities, serving children in low-income communities, that may engage participants in mentoring relationships, tutoring, life skills, and study skills programs, service-learning, physical, nutrition, and health education programs, and other activities addressing the needs of the children in the communities, including children of working parents.
(8)
Programs that serve children who are enrolled in child care programs, giving priority to such programs that serve children with special needs.
(9)
Programs that provide care to developmentally disabled adults who reside at home and in community-based settings, including programs that, when appropriate, involve older developmentally disabled individuals as volunteers under this title.
(10)
Programs that provide volunteer tutors to assist students, on a one-to-one basis, to improve the academic achievement of such students.
(11)
Programs that engage older individuals with children and youth to complete service in energy conservation, environmental stewardship, or other environmental needs of a community, including service relating to conducting energy audits, insulating homes, or conducting other activities to promote energy efficiency.
(12)
Programs that reach out to organizations (such as labor unions and profitmaking organizations) not previously involved in addressing national problems of local concern.
(13)
Programs that provide for outreach to increase participation of members of ethnic groups who have limited English proficiency.
(14)
Programs in which the grant recipients involved collaborate with criminal justice professionals and organizations in order to provide prevention programs that serve low-income youth or youth reentering society after incarceration and their families, which prevention programs may include mentoring, counseling, or employment counseling.
(15)
Programs that support the community integration of individuals with disabilities.
(16)
Programs that provide health, education, and welfare services that augment the activities of State and local agencies, to be carried out in a fiscal year for which the aggregate amount of funds available to such agencies is not less than the annual average aggregate amount of funds available to such agencies for the period of 3 fiscal years preceding such fiscal year.
(c)
(1)
In order for an applicant to be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), such applicant shall demonstrate to the Director that such grant will be used to increase the total number of volunteers supported by such applicant and that such applicant has expertise applicable to implementing the proposed program for which the applicant is requesting the grant.
(2)
Funds made available under subsection (d) shall be used to supplement and not supplant the number of volunteers engaged in activities under parts A, B, and C (without regard to this section) addressing the problem for which such funds are awarded unless such sums are an extension of funds previously provided under this section.
(d)
(1)
Except as provided in paragraph (2), from the amounts appropriated under subsection (a), (b), (c), or (d) of section 502, for each fiscal year there shall be available to the Director such sums as may be necessary to make grants under subsection (a).
(2)
No funds shall be available to the Director to make grants under subsection (a) for a fiscal year unless the amounts appropriated under subsections (a), (b), and (c) of section 502 and available for such fiscal year to carry out parts A, B, and C (without regard to this section) are sufficient to maintain the number of projects and volunteers funded under parts A, B, and C, respectively, in the preceding fiscal year.
(e)
The Director shall widely disseminate information on grants that may be made under subsection (a) to field personnel of the Corporation and to community volunteer organizations that request such information.
[42 U.S.C. 5025]

adjustments to federal financial assistance
Sec. 226.
(a)
(1)
In determining the amount of Federal financial assistance to be provided under this title to applicants, the Director shall consider the impact of changes in the Consumer Price Index For All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor on the administrative costs of operating the projects for which such assistance will be provided.
(2)
The Director shall, to the fullest extent practicable, make appropriate adjustments in the amount referred to in paragraph (1) to ensure the effective administration of such projects.
(b)
The Director shall take reasonable actions to inform applicants for such assistance that such adjustments may be available.
[42 U.S.C. 5026]

multiyear grants or contracts
Sec. 227.
(a)
(1)
Subject to paragraph (2) and the availability of funds, the Director may make a grant or enter into a contract under part A, B, or C for a period not to exceed 3 years. Each applicant who receives a grant, or enters into a contract, under such part for a period exceeding 1 year shall comply with such regulations as the Director may issue to require such applicant—
(A)
to demonstrate that such applicant is in compliance with such part and with the terms and conditions of such grant or contract; and
(B)
to provide information to update the application submitted to obtain such grant or contract.
(2)
If the amount appropriated for any fiscal year to carry out part A, B, or C in a period during which multiyear grants or contracts are in effect under such part is less than the amount appropriated to carry out such part in the first fiscal year in such period, then the amounts payable under all such grants and contracts in effect in such period under such part shall be reduced pro rata.
(b)
The Director shall require each applicant for a multiyear grant or contract under this section, to document or describe in the application any meaningful administrative savings that will result from such multiyear grant or contract.
(c)
If an applicant does not receive a multiyear grant or contract under this section, the Director shall consider such applicant for a single-year grant or contract.
(d)
If the Director approves an application for a contract or grant to carry out a project for a multiyear period as referred to in subsection (a), the Director shall ensure that such project shall be treated in the same manner as a single-year contract or grant with respect to—
(1)
the overall level of funding for such project;
(2)
any adjustments to Federal financial assistance that may be available under section 226; and
(3)
the renewal of funding on the expiration of the term of such contract or grant.
[42 U.S.C. 5027]
SEC. 228.

ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS.
(a)

In General.—
Except as provided in subsection (b), an entity receiving assistance under this title may accept donations, including donations in cash or in kind fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, or services.
(b)

Exception.—
An entity receiving assistance under this title to carry out an activity shall not accept donations from the beneficiaries of the activity.
[42 U.S.C. 5027a]
Part E—

Demonstration Programs
SEC. 231.

AUTHORITY OF DIRECTOR.
(a)

In General.—
The Director is authorized to make grants to or enter into contracts with public or nonprofit organizations, including organizations funded under part A, B, or C, for the purposes of demonstrating innovative activities involving older Americans as volunteers. The Director may support under this part both volunteers receiving stipends and volunteers not receiving stipends.
(b)

Activities.—
An organization that receives a grant or enters into a contract under subsection (a) may use funds made available through the grant or contract for activities such as—
(1)
linking youth groups and older American organizations in volunteer activities;
(2)
involving older volunteers in programs and activities different from programs and activities supported in the community; and
(3)
testing whether older American volunteer programs may contribute to new objectives or certain national priorities.
[42 U.S.C. 5028]
SEC. 232.

PROHIBITION.
The Director may not reduce the activities, projects, or volunteers funded under the other parts of this title in order to support projects under this part.
[42 U.S.C. 5028a]

[title III—

Repealed]
TITLE IV—

ADMINISTRATION AND COORDINATION
[Sec. 401 Repealed7]
[Sec. 402 Repealed8]
^7
Section 401 was repealed by section 203(b) of Public Law 103–82.
^8
Section 402 was repealed by section 203(b) of Public Law 103–82.

political activities
Sec. 403.
(a)
No part of any funds appropriated to carry out this Act, or any program administered by the Corporation under this Act, shall be used to finance, directly or indirectly, and activity designed to influence the outcome of any election to Federal office, or the outcome of any election to any State or local public office, or any voter registration activity, or to pay the salary of any officer or employee of the Corporation, who, in an official capacity as such an officer or employee, engages in any such activity. As used in this section, the term “election” has the same meaning (when referring to an election for Federal office) given such term by section 301(1) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (Public Law 92–225), and the term “Federal office” has the same meaning given such term by section 301(3) of such Act.
(b)
(1)
Programs assisted under this Act shall not be carried on in a manner involving the use of funds, the provision of services, or the employment or assignment of personnel in a manner supporting or resulting in the identification of such programs with—
(A)
any partisan or nonpartisan political activity associated with a candidate, or a contending faction or group, in an election for public or party office;
(B)
any activity to provide voters or prospective voters with transportation to the polls or similar assistance in connection with any such election; or
(C)
any voter registration activity;
except that programs assisted under this Act may make voter registration applications and nonpartisan voter registration information available to the public on the premises of such programs.
(2)
In carrying out any voter registration activity permitted under paragraph (1), an individual who is affiliated with, or employed to carry out, a program assisted under this Act shall not—
(A)
indicate a preference with respect to any candidate, political party, or election issue; or
(B)
seek to influence the political or party affiliation, or voting decision, of any individual.
(c)
No funds appropriated to carry out this Act shall be used by any program assisted under this Act in any activity for the purpose of influencing the passage of defeat of legislation or proposals by initiative petition, except—
(1)
in any case in which a legislative body, a committee of a legislative body, or a member of a legislative body requests any volunteer in, or employee of, such a program to draft, review, or testify regarding measures or to make representations to such legislative body, committee, or member; or
(2)
in connection with an authorization or appropriations measure directly affecting the operation of the program.
(d)
The Director, after consultation with the Office of Personnel Management, shall issue rules and regulations to provide for the enforcement of this section, which shall include provisions for summary suspension of assistance for no more than thirty days until notice and an opportunity to be heard can be provided or other action necessary to permit enforcement on an emergency basis.
[42 U.S.C. 5043]

special limitations
Sec. 404.
(a)
The Director shall prescribe regulations and shall carry out the provisions of this Act so as to assure that the service of volunteers assigned, referred, or serving pursuant to grants, contracts, or agreements made under this Act is limited to activities which would not otherwise be performed by employed workers or other volunteers (not including participants under this Act and the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq.)), and which will not supplant the hiring of or result in the displacement of employed workers or other volunteers (not including participants under this Act and the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq.)),,9 or impair existing contracts for service.
^9
Two commas in section 404(a) so in law. See amendment made by section 2151 of Public Law 111–13.
(b)
All support, including transportation provided to volunteers under this Act, shall be furnished at the lowest possible costs consistent with the effective operation of volunteer programs.
(c)
No agency or organization to which volunteers are assigned hereunder, or which operates or supervises any voluntary program hereunder, shall request or receive any compensation from such volunteers or from beneficiaries for services of volunteers supervised by such agency or organization.
(d)
No funds authorized to be appropriated herein shall be directly or indirectly utilized to finance labor or anti-labor organization or related activity.
(e)
Persons serving as volunteers under this Act shall provide such information concerning their qualifications, including their ability to perform their assigned tasks, and their integrity, as the Director shall prescribe and shall be subject to such procedures for selection and approval as the Director determines are necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. The Director may establish such special procedures for the recruitment, selection, training, and assignment of low-income residents of the area to be served by a program under this Act who wish to become volunteers as the Director determines will further the purposes of this Act.
(f)
(1)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law except as may be provided expressly in limitation of this subsection, payments to volunteers under this Act shall not in any way reduce or eliminate the level of or eligibility for assistance or services any such volunteers may be receiving under any governmental program, except that this paragraph shall not apply in the case of such payments when the Director determines that the value of all such payments, adjusted to reflect the number of hours such volunteers are serving, is equivalent to or greater than the minimum wage then in effect under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) or the minimum wage, under the laws of the State where such volunteers are serving, whichever is the greater.
(2)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person enrolled for full-time service as a volunteer under title I of this Act who was otherwise entitled to receive assistance or services under any governmental program prior to such volunteer's enrollment shall not be denied such assistance or services because of such volunteer's failure or refusal to register for, seek, or accept employment or training during the period of such service.
[42 U.S.C. 5044]
[Sec. 405 Repealed 10]
^{10}
Section 405 was repealed by section 20 of Public Law 98–288, effective January 1, 1986.

labor standards
Sec. 406.
All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors in the construction, alteration or repair, including painting and decorating of projects, buildings and works which are federally assisted under this Act shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on similar construction in the locality as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with the Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 276a—276a–5). The Secretary of Labor shall have, with respect to such labor standards, the authority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan Number 14 of 1950 (15 F.R. 3176; 64 Stat. 1267) and in section 2 of the Act of June 1, 1934, as amended (48 Stat. 948, ch. 492, as amended; 40 U.S.C. 276c).
[42 U.S.C. 5046]
[Sec. 407 Repealed 11]
^{11}
Section 407 was repealed by section 367 of Public Law 103–82.

joint funding
Sec. 408.
Pursuant to regulations prescribed by the President, and to the extent consistent with the other provisions of this Act, where funds are provided for a single project by more than one Federal agency to an agency or organization assisted under this Act, the Federal agency principally involved may be designated to act for all in administering the funds provided, and, notwithstanding any other provision of law, in such cases, a single non-Federal share requirement may be established according to the proportion of funds advanced by each agency. When the principal agency involved is the Corporation, it may waive any grant or contract requirement (as defined by such regulations) under or pursuant to any law other than this Act, which requirement is inconsistent with the similar requirements under or pursuant to this Act.
[42 U.S.C. 5048]

prohibition of federal control
Sec. 409.
Nothing contained in this Act shall be construed to authorize any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any education institution or school system.
[42 U.S.C. 5049]

coordination with other programs
Sec. 410.
The Director shall take necessary steps to coordinate volunteer programs authorized under this Act with one another, with community action programs, and with other related Federal, State, and local programs. The Director shall also consult with the heads of other Federal, State, and local agencies responsible for programs related to the purposes of this Act with a view to encouraging greater use of volunteer services in those programs and establishing in connection with them systematic procedures for the recruitment, referral, or necessary preservice orientation or training of volunteers serving pursuant to this Act. The Director, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management and the Secretaries of Labor, Commerce, and the Treasury and officials of other appropriate departments and agencies, shall take all appropriate steps to encourage State and local governments, charitable and service organizations, and private employers (1) to take into account experience in volunteer work in the consideration of applicants for employment; and (2) to make provisions for the listing and description of volunteer work on all employment application forms.
[42 U.S.C. 5050]

prohibition
Sec. 411.
In order to assure that existing Federal agencies are used to the fullest extent possible in carrying out the purposes of this Act, no funds appropriated to carry out this Act shall be used to establish any new department or office when the intended function is being performed by an existing department or office.
[42 U.S.C. 5051]

notice and hearing procedures for suspension and termination of financial assistance
Sec. 412.
(a)
The Director is authorized, in accordance with the provisions of this section, to suspend further payments or to terminate payments under any contract or grant providing assistance under this Act, whenever the Director determines there is a material failure to comply with the applicable terms and conditions of any such grant or contract. The Director shall prescribe procedures to insure that—
(1)
assistance under this Act shall not be suspended for failure to comply with applicable terms and conditions, except in emergency situations for thirty days;
(2)
an application for refunding under this Act may not be denied unless the recipient has been given (A) notice at least 75 days before the denial of such application of the possibility of such denial and the grounds for any such denial, and (B) opportunity to show cause why such action should not be taken;
(3)
in any case where an application for refunding is denied for failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the grant or contract award, the recipient shall be afforded an opportunity for an informal hearing before an impartial hearing officer, who has been agreed to by the recipient and the Agency; and
(4)
assistance under this Act shall not be terminated for failure to comply with applicable terms and conditions unless the recipient has been afforded reasonable notice and opportunity for a full and fair hearing.
(b)
In order to assure equal access to all recipients, such hearings or other meetings as may be necessary to fulfill the requirements of this section shall be held at locations convenient to the recipient agency.
[42 U.S.C. 5052]
[Sec. 413 Repealed.12]
^{12}
Section 413 was repealed by section 5(a) of P.L. 94–293.

distribution of benefits between rural and urban areas
Sec. 414.
The Director shall adopt appropriate administrative measures to assure that the benefits of and services under this Act will be distributed equitably between residents of rural and urban areas.
[42 U.S.C. 5054]

application of federal law
Sec. 415.
(a)
Except as provided in subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e) of this section, volunteers under this Act shall not be deemed Federal employees and shall not be subject to the provisions of laws relating to Federal officers and employees and Federal employment.
(b)
Individuals enrolled as volunteers for periods of full-time service, or, as the Director deems appropriate in accordance with regulations, for periods of part-time service of not less than 20 hours per week for not less than 26 consecutive weeks, under title I of this Act: shall, with respect to such service or training, (1) for the purposes of subchapter III of chapter 73 of title 5, United States Code, be deemed persons employed in the executive branch of the Federal Government, (2) for the purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (26 U.S.C. 1 et seq.) and title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.), be deemed employees of the United States, and any service performed by an individual as a volunteer (including training) shall be deemed to be performed in the employ of the United States, (3) for the purposes of the Federal Tort Claims provisions of title 28, United States Code, be deemed employees of the United States, (4) for the purposes of subchapter 1 of chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code (relative to compensation to Federal employees for work injuries), shall be deemed civil employees of the United States within the meaning of the term “employee” as defined in section 8101 of title 5, United States Code, and the provisions of that subchapter shall apply except as follows: (A) in computing compensation benefits for disability or death, the annual rate of pay of a volunteer enrolled for a period of full-time service under such title I shall be deemed to be that received under the entrance salary for an employee at grade GS–5 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, and the annual rate of pay of a volunteer enrolled for a period or part-time service under such title I shall be deemed to be such entry salary or an appropriate portion thereof as determined by the Director, and subsections (a) and (b) of section 8113 of title 5, United States Code, shall apply, and (B) compensation for disability shall not begin to accrue until the day following the date on which the injured volunteer is terminated, and (5) be deemed employees of the United States for the purposes of section 5584 of title 5, United States Code (and stipends and allowances paid under this Act shall be considered as pay for such purposes).
(c)
Any period of service of a volunteer enrolled in a program for a period of service of at least one year under part A of title I of this Act, and any period of full-time service of a volunteer enrolled in a program for a period of service of at least one year under part B (as such part was in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Serve America Act) or C of title I of this Act, shall be credited in connection with subsequent employment in the same manner as a like period of civilian employment by the United States Government—
(1)
for the purposes of any Act establishing a retirement system for civilian employees of any United States Government agency; and
(2)
except as otherwise determined by the President, for the purposes of determining seniority, reduction in force, and layoff rights, leave entitlement, and other rights and privileges based upon length of service under the laws administered by the Office of Personnel Management, the Foreign Service Act of 1980, and every other Act establishing or governing terms and conditions of service of civilian employees of the United States Government: Provided, That service of a volunteer shall not be credited toward completion of any probationary or trial period or completion of any service requirement for career appointment.
(d)
Volunteers serving in programs for periods of service of at least one year under part A of title I of this Act, and volunteers serving for such periods under title VIII of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2991–2994d), including those whose service was completed under such Act, who the Director determines, in accordance with regulations the Director shall prescribe, have successfully completed their periods of service, shall be eligible for appointment in the competitive service in the same manner as Peace Corps volunteers as prescribed in Executive Order Number 11103 (April 10, 1963).
(e)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all references in any other law to persons serving as volunteers under title VIII of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as amended, shall be deemed to be references to persons serving as full-time volunteers in a program of at least one year's duration under part A, B (as such part was in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Serve America Act), or C of title I of this Act.
(f)
(1)
The remedy—
(A)
against the United States provided by sections 1346(b) and 2672 of title 28, United States Code, or
(B)
through proceedings for compensation or other benefits from the United States as provided by any other law, where the availability of such benefits precludes a remedy under section 1346(b) or 2672 of such title 28,
for damages for personal injury, including death, allegedly arising from malpractice or negligence of a physician, dentist, podiatrist, optometrist, nurse, physician assistant, expanded-function dental auxiliary, pharmacist, or paramedical (for example, medical and dental technicians, nursing assistants, and therapists) or other supporting personnel in furnishing medical care or treatment while in the exercise of such person's duties as a volunteer enrolled under title I of this Act shall be exclusive of any other civil action or proceeding by reason of the same subject matter against such person (or such person's estate) whose action or omission gave rise to such claim.
(2)
The Attorney General of the United States shall defend any civil action or proceeding brought in any court against any person referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection (or such person's estate) for any such damage or injury. Any such person against whom such civil action or proceeding is brought shall deliver, within such time after date of service or knowledge of service as determined by the Attorney General, all process served upon such person or an attested true copy thereof to such person's immediate supervisor or to whomever is designated by the Director to receive such papers, and such person shall promptly furnish copies of the pleading and process therein to the United States attorney for the district embracing the place wherein the proceeding is brought and to the Attorney General.
(3)
Upon a certification by the Attorney General that the defendant was acting in the scope of such person's volunteer assignment at the time of the incident out of which the suit arose, any such civil action or proceeding commenced in a State court shall be removed without bond at any time before trial by the Attorney General to the district court of the United States of the district and division embracing the place wherein it is pending and the proceeding deemed a tort action brought against the United States under the provisions of title 28, United States Code, and all references thereto. After removal the United States shall have available all defenses to which it would have been entitled if the action had originally been commenced against the United States. Should a district court of the United States determine on a hearing on a motion to remand held before a trial on the merits that the volunteer whose act or omission gave rise to the suit was not acting within the scope of such person's volunteer assignment, the case shall be remanded to the State court.
(4)
The Attorney General may compromise or settle any claim asserted in such civil action or proceeding in the manner provided in section 2677 of title 28, United States Code, and with the same effect.
[42 U.S.C. 5055]

evaluation
Sec. 416.
(a)
The Director shall measure and evaluate the impact of all programs authorized by this Act, their effectiveness in achieving stated goals in general, and in relation to their cost, their impact on related programs, and their structure and mechanisms for delivery of services. Each program shall be evaluated at least once every three years. Evaluations shall be conducted by persons not immediately involved in the administration of the program or project evaluated. Such evaluation shall also measure and evaluate compliance with the equitable distribution requirement of section 414 of this Act.
(b)
The Director shall develop and publish general standards for evaluation of program and project effectiveness in achieving the objectives of this Act. Reports submitted pursuant to section 407 shall describe the actions taken as a result of evaluations carried out under this section.
(c)
In carrying out evaluations under this title, the Director shall whenever possible, arrange to obtain the opinions of program and project participants about the strengths and weaknesses of such programs and projects.
(d)
The Director shall publish summaries of the results of evaluations of program and project impact and effectiveness no later than sixty days after the completion thereof.
(e)
The Director shall take the necessary action to assure that all studies, evaluations, proposals, and data produced or developed with Federal funds shall become the property of the United States.
(f)
Not later than December 31, 1988, the Director shall—
(1)
evaluate the impact of Corporation programs carried out under title II that relate to services that assist families caring for frail and disabled adult family members and shall include in such evaluation information on—
(A)
the range and extent of service needs of, and the services provided to, family caregivers assisted by volunteers;
(B)
the characteristics of volunteers and the skills, training, and supervision necessary to provide various types of volunteer assistance to family caregivers;
(C)
administrative costs, including recruitment, training, and supervision costs, associated with volunteer assistance to family caregivers; and
(D)
such other issues as may be relevant to provide services to assist family caregivers;
(2)
evaluate the impact that volunteers who participate in programs under parts B and C of title II without receiving a stipend have on such programs and shall include in such evaluation—
(A)
information on administrative costs associated with such volunteers;
(B)
a comparison of the quality of services provided by such volunteers and the quality of services provided by volunteers who receive a stipend under such parts, including the rate of absenteeism and turnover; and
(C)
a review of the effect that participation by volunteers who do not receive such stipend have on the administration of such programs; and
(3)
submit to the authorizing committees a report summarizing in detail the results of the evaluations made under paragraphs (1) and (2).
(g)
The Director is authorized to use such sums as are required, but not to exceed 1 per centum of the funds appropriated under this Act, to conduct program and project evaluations (directly, or by grants or contracts) as required by this Act. In the case of allotments from such an appropriation, the amount available for such allotments (and the amount deemed appropriate therefor) shall be reduced accordingly.
[42 U.S.C. 5056]
SEC. 417.

NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISIONS.
(a)

In General.—
(1)

Basis.—
An individual with responsibility for the operation of a program that receives assistance under this Act shall not discriminate against a participant in, or member of the staff of, such program on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or political affiliation of such participant or member, or on the basis of disability, if the participant or member is a qualified individual with a disability.
(2)

Definition.—
As used in paragraph (1), the term “qualified individual with a disability” has the meaning given the term in section 101(8) of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12111(8)).
(b)

Federal Financial Assistance.—
Any assistance provided under this Act shall constitute Federal financial assistance for purposes of title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.), section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.).
(c)

Religious Discrimination.—
(1)

In general.—
Except as provided in paragraph (2), an individual with responsibility for the operation of a program that receives assistance under this Act shall not discriminate on the basis of religion against a participant in such program or a member of the staff of such program who is paid with funds received under this Act.
(2)

Exception.—
Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the employment, with assistance provided under this Act, of any member of the staff, of a program that receives assistance under this Act, who was employed with the organization operating the program on the date the grant under this Act was awarded.
(d)

Rules and Regulations.—
The Director shall promulgate rules and regulations to provide for the enforcement of this section that shall include provisions for summary suspension of assistance for not more than 30 days, on an emergency basis, until notice and an opportunity to be heard can be provided.
[42 U.S.C. 5057]

eligibility for other benefits
Sec. 418.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no payment for supportive services or reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses made to persons serving pursuant to title II of this Act shall be subject to any tax or charge or be treated as wages or compensation for the purposes of unemployment, temporary disability, retirement, public assistance, workers' compensation or similar benefit payments, or minimum wage laws. This section shall become effective with respect to all payments made after the effective date of this Act.
[42 U.S.C. 5058]

legal expenses
Sec. 419.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law and pursuant to regulations which the Director shall prescribe, counsel may be employed and counsel fees, court costs, bail, and other expenses incidental to the defense of volunteers may be paid in judicial or administrative proceedings to which full-time volunteers (or part-time volunteers when such proceeding arises directly out of the performance of activities pursuant to this Act), serving under this Act have been made parties.
[42 U.S.C. 5059]

definitions
Sec. 421.
For the purposes of this Act—
(1)
the term “Director” means the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service appointed under section 193 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990;
(2)
the terms “United States” and “States” mean the several States, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, the American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and, for the purposes of title II of this Act, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands;
(3)
the term “nonprofit” as applied to any agency, institution, or organization means an agency, institution, or organization which is, or is owned and operated by, one or more corporations or associations no part of the net earnings of which inures, or may lawfully inure, to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual;
(4)
the term “poor” or “low-income” persons, individuals, or volunteers means such individuals whose incomes fall at or below the poverty line as set forth in section 625 of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as amended by Public Law 92–424 (42 U.S.C. 2971d): Provided, That in determining who is “poor” or “low-income”, the Director shall take into consideration existing poverty guidelines as appropriate to local situations;
(5)
the terms “public agencies or organizations” and “Federal, State, or local agencies” shall include any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community (including any Alaskan native village or regional village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act) which is recognized by the United States or the State in which it resides as eligible for special programs and services provided to Indians because of their status as Indians;
(6)
the term “poverty line for a single individual” means such poverty line as established by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget in accordance with section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2));
(7)
the term “Corporation” means the Corporation for National and Community Service established under section 191 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990;
(8)
the term “foster grandparent” means a volunteer in the Foster Grandparent Program;
(9)
the term “Foster Grandparent Program” means the program established under part B of title II;
(10)
except as provided in section 417, the term “individual with a disability” has the meaning given the term in section 7(20)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973;
(11)
the term “Inspector General” means the Inspector General of the Corporation;
(12)
the term “national senior volunteer” means a volunteer in the National Senior Service Corps;
(13)
the term “National Senior Service Corps” means the programs established under parts A, B, C, and E of title II;
(14)
the term “Retired and Senior Volunteer Program” means the program established under part A of title II;
(15)
the term “retired or senior volunteer” means a volunteer in the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program;
(16)
the term “senior companion” means a volunteer in the Senior Companion Program;
(17)
the term “Senior Companion Program” means the program established under part C of title II;
(18)
the terms “VISTA” and “Volunteers in Service to America” mean the program established under part A of title I;
(19)
the term “VISTA volunteer” means a volunteer in VISTA; and
(20)
the term “authorizing committees” means the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
[42 U.S.C. 5061]

audit
Sec. 422.
(a)
Each recipient of Federal grants, subgrants, contracts, subcontracts, or loans entered into under this Act other than by formal advertising, and which are otherwise authorized by this Act, shall keep such records as the Director or the Inspector General shall prescribe, including records which fully disclose the amount and disposition by such recipient of the proceeds of such assistance, the total cost of the project or undertaking in connection with which such assistance is given or used, the amount of that portion of the cost of the project or undertaking supplied by other sources, and such other records as will facilitate an effective audit.
(b)
The Director, the Inspector General, and the Comptroller General of the United States, or any of their duly authorized representatives, shall, until the expiration of three years after completion of the project or undertaking referred to in subsection (a) of this section, have access for the purpose of audit and examination to any books, documents, papers, and records of such recipients which in the opinion of the Director, the Inspector General, or the Comptroller General may be related or pertinent to the grants, contracts, subcontracts, subgrants, or loans referred to in subsection (a).
[42 U.S.C. 5062]

reduction of paperwork
Sec. 423.
In order to reduce unnecessary, duplicative, or disruptive demands for information, the Director, in consultation with other appropriate agencies and organizations, shall continually review and evaluate all requests for information made under this Act and take such action as may be necessary to reduce the paper work required under this Act. The Director shall request only such information as the Director deems essential to carry out the purposes and provisions of this Act.
[42 U.S.C. 5063]

review of project renewals
Sec. 424.
If the executive authority of any State of local government submits to the director, not later than 30 days before the expiration of any contract or grant to carry out any project under this Act, a statement which objects to the renewal of such contract or grant, then the Director shall (1) review such statement and take it into account in determining whether to renew such contract or grant; and (2) submit to such executive authority a written statement of reasons regarding the Director's determination with respect to such renewal and specifically with respect to any objection so submitted.
[42 U.S.C. 5064]
SEC. 425.

PROTECTION AGAINST IMPROPER USE.
Whoever falsely—
(1)
advertises or represents; or
(2)
publishes or displays any sign, symbol, or advertisement, reasonably calculated to convey the impression,
that an entity is affiliated with, funded by, or operating under the authority of the Corporation, VISTA, or any of the programs of the National Senior Service Corps may be enjoined under an action filed by the Attorney General, on a complaint by the Director.
[42 U.S.C. 5065]
SEC. 426.

PROVISIONS UNDER THE NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ACT OF 1990.
The Corporation shall carry out this Act in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the relevant provisions of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq.), particularly the provisions of section 122 and subtitle F of title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12572, 12631 et seq.) relating to the national service laws.
[42 U.S.C. 5066]
TITLE V—

AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS
SEC. 501.

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAMS.
(a)

Authorizations.—
(1)

Volunteers in service to america.—
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part A of title I $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2010 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 2014.
(2)

Special volunteer programs.—
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part C of title I such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014.
(3)

Specification of budget function.—
The authorizations of appropriations contained in this subsection shall be considered to be a component of budget function 500 as used by the Office of Management and Budget to cover education, training, employment, and social services, and, as such, shall be considered to be related to the programs of the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education for budgetary purposes.
(b)

Subsistence.—
The minimum level of an allowance for subsistence required under section 105(b)(2), to be provided to each volunteer under title I, may not be reduced or limited in order to provide for an increase in the number of volunteer service years under part A of title I.
(c)

Limitation.—
No part of the funds appropriated to carry out part A of title I may be used to provide volunteers or assistance to any program or project authorized under part C of title I, or under title II, unless the program or project meets the antipoverty criteria of part A of title I.
(d)

Availability.—
Amounts appropriated for part A of title I shall remain available for obligation until the end of the fiscal year following the fiscal year for which the amounts were appropriated.
[42 U.S.C. 5081]
SEC. 502.

NATIONAL SENIOR SERVICE CORPS.
(a)

Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.—
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part A of title II, $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 2014.
(b)

Foster Grandparent Program.—
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part B of title II, $115,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 2014.
(c)

Senior Companion Program.—
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part C of title II, $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 2014.
(d)

Demonstration Programs.—
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part E of title II, such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014.
[42 U.S.C. 5082]
[Sec. 503. Repealed. P.L. 95–510, sec. 102(b) October 24, 1978, 92 Stat. 1781.]
SEC. 504.

ADMINISTRATION AND COORDINATION.
(a)

In General.—
For each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014, there are authorized to be appropriated for the administration of this Act as provided for in title IV, 18 percent of the total amount appropriated under sections 501 and 502 with respect to such year.
(b)

Evaluation.—
For each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014, the Director is authorized to expend not less than 2½ percent, and not more than 5 percent, of the amount appropriated under subsection (a), for the purposes prescribed in section 416.
[42 U.S.C. 5084]

availability of appropriations
Sec. 505.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, unless enacted in express and specific limitation of the provisions of this section, funds appropriated for any fiscal year to carry out any program under this Act or any predecessor authority shall remain available, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, for obligation and expenditure until expended.
[42 U.S.C. 5085]
TITLE VI—

AMENDMENTS TO OTHER LAWS AND REPEALERS

supersedence of reorganization plan number 1 of july 1, 1971
Sec. 601.
(a)
Sections 1, 2(a), 3, and 4 of the Reorganization Plan Number 1 of 1971 (July 1, 1971) are hereby superseded.
(b)
The personnel, property, records, and unexpected balances of appropriations, allocations, and other funds employed, used, held, available, or to be made available in connection with the functions transferred to the Director of the ACTION Agency by sections 2(a) and 4 of such reorganization plan are hereby transferred to the ACTION Agency established by section 401. All grants, contracts, and other agreements awarded or entered into under the authority of such reorganization plan will be recognized under comparable provisions of this Act so that there is no disruption of ongoing activities for which there is continuing authority.
(c)
All official actions taken by the Director of the ACTION Agency, the designee of the Director, or any other person under the authority of such reorganization plan which are in force on the effective date of this Act and for which there is continuing authority under the provisions of this Act, and the length of the period of service of volunteers serving or under going training under title VIII of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2991–2994d) on the effective date of this Act, shall continue in full force and effect until modified, superseded, or revoked by the Director.
(d)
All references to ACTION, or the Director of ACTION in any statute, reorganization plan, Executive order, regulation, or other official document or proceeding shall, on and after the effective date of this Act, be deemed to refer to the ACTION Agency established by section 401 and the Director thereof.
(e)
No suit, action or other proceeding, and no cause of action, by or against the agency known as ACTION created by such reorganization plan, or any action by any officer thereof acting in an official capacity, shall abate by reason of enactment of this Act.
(f)
Persons appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to positions requiring such advice and consent under such reorganization plan may continue to serve in the same capacity in the ACTION Agency without the necessity of an additional appointment by the President or further such advice and consent by the Senate.

creditable service for civil service retirement
Sec. 602.
Section 8332(b)(7) of title 5, United States Code (relating to creditable service to civil service retirement), is amended by inserting a comma and “or a period of service of a full-time volunteer enrolled in a program of at least one year's duration under part A, B, or C of title I of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (—U.S.C.—)” after “Economic Opportunity Act of 1964”.

repeal of title viii of the economic opportunity act
Sec. 603.
Title VIII of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2991–2994d), is hereby repealed.

repeal of title vi of the older americans act
Sec. 604.
(a)
Title VI of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3044–3044e), is hereby repealed.
(b)
Section 908 of the Older Americans Comprehensive Services AmendmentsAct of 1973 (Public Law 93–29) is amended by striking out “1973,” and “1974,” and inserting in lieu thereof “1974,” and “1975,”, respectively.