http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c111:6:./temp/~c111qVP7GW:: (This link is not working tonight, April 20)
(Enrolled as Agreed to or Passed by Both House and Senate)
(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
SEC. 1001. REFERENCES.
Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever in this title an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a provision, the amendment or repeal shall be considered to be made to a provision of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq.).
Subtitle A--Amendments to Subtitle A (General Provisions)
SEC. 1101. PURPOSES.
Section 2(b) (42 U.S.C. 12501(b)) is amended--
‘(9) expand and strengthen service-learning programs through year-round opportunities, including opportunities during the summer months, to improve the education of children and youth and to maximize the benefits of national and community service, in order to renew the ethic of civic responsibility and the spirit of community for children and youth throughout the United States;
‘(10) assist in coordinating and strengthening Federal and other service opportunities, including opportunities for participation in emergency and disaster preparedness, relief, and recovery;
‘(11) increase service opportunities for the Nation’s retiring professionals, including such opportunities for those retiring from the science, technical, engineering, and mathematics professions, to improve the education of the Nation’s youth and keep America competitive in the global knowledge economy, and to further utilize the experience, knowledge, and skills of older individuals;
‘(13) encourage individuals age 55 or older to partake of service opportunities;
‘(14) focus national service on the areas of national need such service has the capacity to address, such as improving education, increasing energy conservation, improving the health status of economically disadvantaged individuals, and improving economic opportunity for economically disadvantaged individuals;
SEC. 1102. DEFINITIONS.
‘(35) COMMUNITY-BASED ENTITY- The term ‘community-based entity’ means a public or private nonprofit organization that--
‘(A) has experience with meeting unmet human, educational, environmental, or public safety needs; and
‘(B) meets other such criteria as the Chief Executive Officer may establish.
‘(37) ENCORE SERVICE PROGRAM- The term ‘encore service program’ means a program, carried out by an eligible entity as described in subsection (a), (b), or (c) of section 122, that--
‘(A) involves a significant number of participants age 55 or older in the program; and
‘(B) takes advantage of the skills and experience that such participants offer in the design and implementation of the program.
‘(43) PREDOMINANTLY BLACK INSTITUTION- The term ‘Predominantly Black Institution’ has the meaning given the term in section 318 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059e).
‘(44) PRINCIPLES OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH- The term ‘principles of scientific research’ means principles of research that--
‘(A) apply rigorous, systematic, and objective methodology to obtain reliable and valid knowledge relevant to the subject matter involved;...
‘(C) include, appropriate to the research being conducted--
‘(i) use of systematic, empirical methods that draw on observation or experiment;
‘(ii) use of data analyses that are adequate to support the general findings;
‘(iii) reliance on measurements or observational methods that provide reliable and generalizable findings;
‘(iv) strong claims of causal relationships, only with research designs that eliminate plausible competing explanations for observed results, such as, but not limited to, random-assignment experiments;
‘(v) presentation of studies and methods in sufficient detail and clarity to allow for replication or, at a minimum, to offer the opportunity to build systematically on the findings of the research;
‘(vi) acceptance by a peer-reviewed journal or critique by a panel of independent experts through a comparably rigorous, objective, and scientific review; and
‘(vii) consistency of findings across multiple studies or sites to support the generality of results and conclusions.
‘(45) QUALIFIED ORGANIZATION- The term ‘qualified organization’ means a public or private nonprofit organization with experience working with school-age youth that meets such criteria as the Chief Executive Officer may establish.
‘(46) SCIENTIFICALLY VALID RESEARCH- The term ‘scientifically valid research’ includes applied research, basic research, and field-initiated research in which the rationale, design, and interpretation are soundly developed in accordance with principles of scientific research.....
Subtitle B--Amendments to Subtitle B (Learn and Serve America)
SEC. 1201. SCHOOL-BASED ALLOTMENTS.
‘SEC. 111. PURPOSE.
‘The purpose of this part is to promote service-learning as a strategy to--
‘(1) support high-quality service-learning projects that engage students in meeting community needs with demonstrable results, while enhancing students’ academic and civic learning; and
‘(2) support efforts to build institutional capacity, including the training of educators, and to strengthen the service infrastructure to expand service opportunities.
‘SEC. 111A. DEFINITIONS.
‘(2) implementing, operating, or expanding school-based service-learning programs, which may include paying for the cost of the recruitment, training, supervision, placement, salaries, and benefits of service-learning coordinators, through distribution by State educational agencies, territories, and Indian tribes of Federal funds made available under this part to projects operated by local partnerships among--...
‘(3) planning of school-based service-learning programs, through distribution by State educational agencies, territories, and Indian tribes of Federal funds made available under this part to local educational agencies and Indian tribes, which planning may include paying for the cost of--...
‘(B) the recruitment, training and professional development, supervision, and placement of service-learning coordinators who may be participants ...
‘(4) implementing, operating, or expanding school-based service-learning programs to utilize adult volunteers in service-learning to improve the education of students, through distribution by State educational agencies, territories, and Indian tribes of Federal funds made available under this part to--
‘(A) local educational agencies;...
‘(D) partnerships or combinations of local educational agencies, and entities described in subparagraph (B) or (C); and
‘(5) developing, as service-learning programs, civic engagement programs that promote a better understanding of--
‘(A) the principles of the Constitution, the heroes of United States history (including military heroes), and the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance;
‘(B) how the Nation’s government functions; and
‘(C) the importance of service in the Nation’s character.
‘(b) Duties of Service-Learning Coordinator- A service-learning coordinator referred to in paragraph (2) or (3) of subsection (a) shall provide services to a local partnership described in subsection (a)(2) or entity described in subsection (a)(3), respectively, that may include--
‘(1) providing technical assistance and information to, and facilitating the training of, teachers and assisting in the planning, development, execution, and evaluation of service-learning in their classrooms;
‘(2) assisting local partnerships ...
‘(3) assisting schools and local educational agencies in developing school policies and practices that support the integration of service-learning into the curriculum; and....
‘(d) Special Rule- A State educational agency described in section 111A(2)(A) may designate a statewide entity (which may be a community-based entity) with demonstrated experience in supporting or implementing service-learning programs, to receive the State educational agency’s allotment under this part, and carry out the functions of the agency under this part.
‘(e) Consultation With Secretary of Education- The Corporation is authorized to enter into agreements with the Secretary of Education for initiatives ...that may include--
‘(1) identification and dissemination of research findings on service-learning and scientifically valid research based practices for service-learning; and
‘(2) provision of professional development opportunities that--
‘(A) improve the quality of service-learning instruction and delivery...
‘(B) create and sustain effective partnerships for service-learning programs between local educational agencies, community-based entities, businesses, and other stakeholders....
‘SEC. 113. APPLICATIONS. ...‘
EC. 116. FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS.
‘SEC. 117. LIMITATIONS ON USES OF FUNDS.
‘PART III--INNOVATIVE AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAMS AND RESEARCH
‘SEC. 119. INNOVATIVE AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAMS AND RESEARCH.
‘(a) Definitions- In this part:
‘(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY- The term ‘eligible entity’ means a State educational agency, a State Commission, a territory...
‘(2) ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIP- The term ‘eligible partnership’ means a partnership that--
(A) shall include--
‘(i) 1 or more community-based entities that have demonstrated records of success in carrying out service-learning programs with economically disadvantaged students...
(3) YOUTH ENGAGEMENT ZONE- The term ‘youth engagement zone’ means the area in which a youth engagement zone program is carried out.
‘(4) YOUTH ENGAGEMENT ZONE PROGRAM- The term ‘youth engagement zone program’ means a service-learning program in which members of an eligible partnership collaborate to provide coordinated school-based or community-based service-learning opportunities--
‘(A) in order to address a specific community challenge;
‘(B) for an increasing percentage of out-of-school youth and secondary school students served by a local educational agency; and
‘(C) in circumstances under which--
‘(i) not less than 90 percent of such students participate in service-learning activities as part of the program; or
‘(ii) service-learning is a part of the curriculum in all of the secondary schools served by the local educational agency.
‘(b) General Authority- From the amounts appropriated to carry out this part for a fiscal year, the Corporation may make grants (which may include approved summer of service positions in the case of a grant for a program ...
‘(c) Authorized Activities- Funds under this part may be used to--
‘(1) integrate service-learning programs into the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (referred to in this part as ‘STEM’) curricula at the elementary, secondary, postsecondary, or postbaccalaureate levels in coordination with practicing or retired STEM professionals;
‘(2) involve students in service-learning programs focusing on energy conservation in their community, including conducting educational outreach on energy conservation and working to improve energy efficiency in low-income housing and in public spaces;
‘(3) involve students in service-learning programs in emergency and disaster preparedness;
‘(4) involve students in service-learning programs aimed at improving access to and obtaining the benefits from computers and other emerging technologies...
‘(5) involve high school age youth in the mentoring of middle school youth while involving all participants in service-learning to seek to meet unmet human, educational, environmental, public safety, or emergency and disaster preparedness needs in their community;
‘(6) conduct research and evaluations on service-learning, including service-learning in middle schools, and disseminate such research and evaluations widely;
‘(7) conduct innovative and creative activities as described in section 112(a);
‘(8) establish or implement summer of service programs (giving priority to programs that enroll youth who will be enrolled in any of grades 6 through 9 at the end of the summer concerned) during the summer months (including recruiting, training, and placing service-learning coordinators)--
‘(A) for youth who will be enrolled in any of grades 6 through 12 at the end of the summer concerned...
‘(B) for community-based service-learning projects--
‘(i) that shall--
‘(I) meet unmet human, educational, environmental (including energy conservation and stewardship), and emergency and disaster preparedness and other public safety needs; and
‘(II) be intensive, structured, supervised, and designed to produce identifiable improvements to the community;
‘(ii) that may include the extension of academic year service-learning programs into the summer months; and
‘(iii) under which a student who completes 100 hours of service as described in section 146(b)(2), shall be eligible for a summer of service educational award of $500 or $750 as described in sections 146(a)(2)(C) and 147(d);
‘(9) establish or implement youth engagement zone programs in youth engagement zones, for students in secondary schools served by local educational agencies for which a majority of such students do not participate in service-learning activities that are--
‘(A) carried out by eligible partnerships; and
‘(B) designed to--
‘(i) involve all students in secondary schools served by the local educational agency in service-learning to address a specific community challenge;
‘(ii) improve student engagement, including student attendance and student behavior, and student achievement, graduation rates, and college-going rates at secondary schools; and
‘(iii) involve an increasing percentage of students in secondary school and out-of-school youth in the community in school-based or community-based service-learning activities each year, with the goal of involving all students in secondary schools served by the local educational agency and involving an increasing percentage of the out-of-school youth in service-learning activities; and
‘(10) conduct semester of service programs that--
‘(A) provide opportunities for secondary school students to participate in a semester of coordinated school-based or community-based service-learning opportunities for a minimum of 70 hours (of which at least a third will be spent participating in field-based activities) over a semester, to address specific community challenges;
‘(B) engage as participants high percentages or numbers of economically disadvantaged students;
‘(C) allow participants to receive academic credit, for the time spent in the classroom and in the field for the program, that is equivalent to the academic credit for any class of equivalent length and with an equivalent time commitment; and
‘(D) ensure that the classroom-based instruction component of the program is integrated into the academic program of the local educational agency involved; and
SEC. 1205. SERVICE-LEARNING IMPACT STUDY.
‘PART IV--SERVICE-LEARNING IMPACT STUDY
‘SEC. 120. STUDY AND REPORT.
‘(a) Study-
‘(1) IN GENERAL- From the sums reserved under section 501(a)(1)(B) for this section, the Corporation shall enter into a contract with an entity that is not otherwise a recipient of financial assistance under this subtitle, to conduct a 10-year longitudinal study on the impact of the activities carried out under this subtitle.
‘(2) CONTENTS- In conducting the study, the entity shall consider the impact of service-learning activities carried out under this subtitle on students participating in such activities, including in particular examining the degree to which the activities--
‘(A) improved student academic achievement;
‘(B) improved student engagement;
‘(C) improved graduation rates...
‘(D) improved the degree to which the participants in the activities engaged in subsequent national service, volunteering, or other service activities, or pursued careers in public service, in the nonprofit sector or government....
‘(4) BEST PRACTICES- The entity shall collect information on best practices concerning using service-learning activities to improve the 4 factors....
‘(c) Final Report- The entity shall submit a report to the Corporation containing the results of the study and the information on best practices. The Corporation shall submit such report to the authorizing committees, and shall make such report available to the public on the Corporation’s website.
‘(d) Consultation and Dissemination- On receiving the report described in subsection (c), the Corporation shall consult with the Secretary of Education to review the results of the study, and to identify best practices concerning using service-learning activities to improve the 4 factors described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of subsection (a)(2). The Corporation shall disseminate information on the identified best practices.’.
Subtitle C--Amendments to Subtitle C (National Service Trust Program)
SEC. 1301. PROHIBITION ON GRANTS TO FEDERAL AGENCIES; LIMITS ON CORPORATION COSTS.
‘(B) increase the number of the approved positions to-- .....
SEC. 1302. ELIGIBLE NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAMS.
‘SEC. 122. NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAMS ELIGIBLE FOR PROGRAM ASSISTANCE.
‘(a) National Service Corps- The recipient of a grant under section 121(a) and a Federal agency operating or supporting a national service program under section 121(b) shall use a portion of the financial assistance or positions involved, directly or through subgrants to other entities, to support or carry out the following national service corps or programs, as full- or part-time corps or programs, to address unmet needs:
‘(1) EDUCATION CORPS-
‘(A) IN GENERAL- The recipient may carry out national service programs through an Education Corps that identifies and meets unmet educational needs within communities...
‘(B) ACTIVITIES- An Education Corps described in this paragraph may carry out activities such as--
‘(i) tutoring, or providing other academic support to elementary school and secondary school students;
‘(ii) improving school climate;
‘(iii) mentoring students, including adult or peer mentoring;
‘(iv) linking needed integrated services and comprehensive supports with students, their families, and their public schools;
‘(v) providing assistance to a school in expanding the school day by strengthening the quality of staff and expanding the academic programming offered in an expanded learning time initiative, a program of a 21st century community learning center ...
‘(vi) assisting schools and local educational agencies in improving and expanding high-quality service-learning programs that keep students engaged in schools by carrying out programs that provide specialized training to individuals in service-learning, and place the individuals (after such training) in positions as service-learning coordinators, to facilitate service-learning in programs eligible for funding under part I of subtitle B;...
‘(viii) involving family members of students in supporting teachers and students;
‘(ix) conducting a preprofessional training program in which students enrolled in an institution of higher education--
‘(I) receive training (which may include classes containing service-learning) in specified fields including early childhood education and care, elementary and secondary education, and other fields such as those relating to health services, criminal justice, environmental stewardship and conservation, or public safety;
‘(II) perform service related to such training outside the classroom
‘(III) agree to provide service upon graduation to meet unmet human, educational, environmental, or public safety needs related to such training;
‘(x) assisting economically disadvantaged students in navigating the college admissions process;
‘(xi) providing other activities, addressing unmet educational needs, that the Corporation may designate; or
‘(xii) providing skilled musicians and artists to promote greater community unity through the use of music and arts education and engagement through work in low-income communities, and education, health care, and therapeutic settings, and other work in the public domain with citizens of all ages.
‘(C) EDUCATION CORPS INDICATORS- The indicators for a corps program described in this paragraph are--
‘(i) student engagement, including student attendance and student behavior;
‘(ii) student academic achievement;
‘(iii) secondary school graduation rates as defined in section 1111(b)(2
‘(2) HEALTHY FUTURES CORPS-
‘(A) IN GENERAL- The recipient may carry out national service programs through a Healthy Futures Corps that identifies and meets unmet health needs within communities through activities such as those described in subparagraph (B) and improves performance on the indicators described in subparagraph (C).
‘(B) ACTIVITIES- A Healthy Futures Corps described in this paragraph may carry out activities such as--
‘(i) assisting economically disadvantaged individuals in navigating the health services system;
‘(ii) assisting individuals in obtaining access to health services, including oral health services, for themselves or their children;
‘(iii) educating economically disadvantaged individuals and individuals who are members of medically underserved populations
...‘(vii) assisting in health promotion interventions that improve health status, and helping people adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles and habits to improve health status;
‘(viii) addressing childhood obesity
‘(C) HEALTHY FUTURES CORPS INDICATORS- The indicators for a corps program described in this paragraph are--
‘(i) access to health services among economically disadvantaged individuals and individuals who are members of medically underserved populations;....
‘(b) National Service Programs-.....
SEC. 1309. NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS.
SEC. 1310. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES AND INELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.
Subtitle C of title I (42 U.S.C. 12571 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 132 the following:
SEC. 132A. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES AND INELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.
‘(a) Prohibited Activities- An approved national service position under this subtitle may not be used for the following activities:
‘(1) Attempting to influence legislation. [No freedom to write letters to Congress?]
‘(2) Organizing or engaging in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes.
‘(3) Assisting, promoting, or deterring union organizing.
‘(4) Impairing existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements.
‘(5) Engaging in partisan political activities, or other activities designed to influence the outcome of an election to Federal office or the outcome of an election to a State or local public office.
‘(6) Participating in, or endorsing, events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against political parties, political platforms, political candidates, proposed legislation, or elected officials.
‘(7) Engaging in religious instruction, conducting worship services, providing instruction as part of a program that includes mandatory religious instruction or worship, constructing or operating facilities devoted to religious instruction or worship, maintaining facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship, or engaging in any form of proselytization, consistent with section 132.
‘(8) Consistent with section 132, providing a direct benefit to any--
‘(A) business organized for profit;
‘(B) labor union;
‘(C) partisan political organization;
‘(D) nonprofit organization that fails to comply with the restrictions contained in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, except that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent participants from engaging in advocacy activities undertaken at their own initiative; and
‘(E) organization engaged in the religious activities described in paragraph (7), unless the position is not used to support those religious activities.
‘(9) Providing abortion services or referrals for receipt of such services.
‘(10) Conducting a voter registration drive or using Corporation funds to conduct a voter registration drive.
‘(11) Carrying out such other activities as the Corporation may prohibit.
‘(b) Ineligibility- No assistance provided under this subtitle may be provided to any organization that has violated a Federal criminal statute.....
SEC. 1312. DESCRIPTION OF PARTICIPANTS.
SEC. 1314. TERMS OF SERVICE.
SEC. 1315. ADJUSTMENTS TO LIVING ALLOWANCE.
‘(3) FEDERAL WORK-STUDY STUDENTS- The living allowance that may be provided under paragraph (1) to an individual whose term of service includes hours for which the individual receives a Federal work-study award under part C
Subtitle D--Amendments to Subtitle D (National Service Trust and Provision of National Service Educational Awards)
SEC. 1501. PURPOSE.
‘It is the purpose of this subtitle to authorize the operation of, and support for, residential and other service programs that combine the best practices of civilian service with the best aspects of military service, including leadership and team building, to meet national and community needs. The needs to be met under such programs include those needs related to--
‘(1) natural and other disasters;
‘(2) infrastructure improvement;
‘(3) environmental stewardship and conservation;
‘(4) energy conservation; and
‘(5) urban and rural development.’.
‘(4) TEAM LEADERS-
‘(A) IN GENERAL- The Director may select individuals with prior supervisory or service experience to be team leaders within units in the National Civilian Community Corps, to perform service that includes leading and supervising teams of Corps members. Each team leader shall be selected without regard to the age limitation under section 153(b).
‘(B) RIGHTS AND BENEFITS- A team leader shall be provided the same rights and benefits applicable to other Corps members, except that the Director may increase the limitation on the amount of the living allowance under section 158(b) by not more than 10 percent for a team leader.’;
‘(1) UNITS TO BE ASSIGNED TO CAMPUSES- ’;
(ii) by striking ‘in camps’ and inserting ‘in campuses’;
(C) by amending paragraphs (2) and (3) to read as follows:
‘(2) CAMPUS DIRECTOR- There shall be a campus director for each campus. The campus director is the head of the campus.
‘(3) ELIGIBLE SITE FOR CAMPUS- A campus shall be cost effective and may, upon the completion of a feasibility study, be located in a facility referred to in section 162(c).’; ....
(6) in subsection (f)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ‘superintendent’ and inserting ‘campus director’; and
(3) by amending subsection (c)(2) to read as follows:
(ii) by striking ‘camp’ both places such term appears and inserting ‘campus’;
Section 158 (42 U.S.C. 12618) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘National’ before ‘Civilian Community Corps’; and
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
(i) by inserting ‘National’ before ‘Civilian Community Corps’; and
(B) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘Clothing’ and inserting ‘Uniforms’; and
(C) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘Recreational services and supplies’ and inserting ‘Supplies’.
‘(11) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
SEC. 1516. DEFINITIONS.
Subtitle E of title I (42 U.S.C. 12611 et seq.), as amended by this subtitle, is further amended--
‘(2) CAMPUS DIRECTOR- The term ‘campus director’, with respect to a Corps campus, means the head of the campus under section 155(d).
‘(3) CORPS- The term ‘Corps’ means the National Civilian Community Corps required under section 155 as part of the National Civilian Community Corps Program.
‘(4) CORPS CAMPUS- The term ‘Corps campus’ means the facility or central location established as the operational headquarters and boarding place for particular Corps units.’;....
SEC. 1517. TERMINOLOGY.
Subtitle E of title I (as so amended) (42 U.S.C. 12611 et seq.) is further amended by striking the subtitle heading and inserting the following:
‘Subtitle E--National Civilian Community Corps’.
Subtitle F--Amendments to Subtitle F (Administrative Provisions)
SEC. 1605. RESOLUTION OF DISPLACEMENT COMPLAINTS....‘(f) Parental Involvement-
‘(1) IN GENERAL- Programs that receive assistance under the national service laws shall consult with the parents or legal guardians of children in developing and operating programs that include and serve children.
‘(2) PARENTAL PERMISSION- Programs that receive assistance under the national service laws shall, before transporting minor children, provide the children’s parents with the reason for the transportation and obtain the parents’ written permission for such transportation, consistent with State law.’.
SEC. 1606. STATE COMMISSIONS ON NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.
SEC. 1607. EVALUATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
SEC. 1608. CIVIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT. EC. 179A. CIVIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND VOLUNTEERING RESEARCH AND EVALUATION.
‘(a) Definition of Partnership- In this section, the term ‘partnership’ means the Corporation, acting in conjunction with (consistent with the terms of an agreement entered into between the Corporation and the National Conference) the National Conference on Citizenship referred to in section 150701 of title 36, United States Code, to carry out this section.
‘(b) In General- The partnership shall facilitate the establishment of a Civic Health Assessment by--
‘(1) after identifying public and private sources of civic health data, selecting a set of civic health indicators, in accordance with subsection (c), that shall comprise the Civic Health Assessment;
‘(2) obtaining civic health data relating to the Civic Health Assessment, in accordance with subsection (d); and
‘(3) conducting related analyses, and reporting the data and analyses, as described in paragraphs (4) and (5) of subsection (d) and subsections (e) and (f).
‘(c) Selection of Indicators for Civic Health Assessment-
‘(1) IDENTIFYING SOURCES- The partnership shall select a set of civic health indicators that shall comprise the Civic Health Assessment. In making such selection, the partnership--
‘(A) shall identify public and private sources of civic health data;
‘(B) shall explore collaborating with other similar efforts to develop national indicators in the civic health domain; and
‘(C) may sponsor a panel of experts, such as one convened by the National Academy of Sciences, to recommend civic health indicators and data sources for the Civic Health Assessment.
‘(2) TECHNICAL ADVICE- At the request of the partnership, the Director of the Bureau of the Census and the Commissioner of Labor Statistics shall provide technical advice to the partnership on the selection of the indicators for the Civic Health Assessment.
‘(3) UPDATES- The partnership shall periodically evaluate and update the Civic Health Assessment, and may expand or modify the indicators described in subsection (d)(1) as necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.
‘(d) Data on the Indicators-
‘(1) SPONSORED DATA COLLECTION- In identifying the civic health indicators for the Civic Health Assessment, and obtaining data for the Assessment, the partnership may sponsor the collection of data for the Assessment or for the various civic health indicators being considered for inclusion in the Assessment, including indicators related to--
‘(A) volunteering and community service;
‘(B) voting and other forms of political and civic engagement;
‘(C) charitable giving;
‘(D) connecting to civic groups and faith-based organizations;
‘(E) interest in employment, and careers, in public service in the nonprofit sector or government;
‘(F) understanding and obtaining knowledge of United States history and government; and
‘(G) social enterprise and innovation.
‘(2) DATA FROM STATISTICAL AGENCIES- The Director of the Bureau of the Census and the Commissioner of Labor Statistics shall collect annually, to the extent practicable, data to inform the Civic Health Assessment, and shall report data from such collection to the partnership. In determining the data to be collected, the Director and the Commissioner shall examine privacy issues, response rates, and other relevant issues.
[note: census could manipulate the data -- social capital -- to create yet more crisis and justify more training. Also increased intrusion on privacy of thoughts, values and action]
‘(3) SOURCES OF DATA- To obtain data for the Civic Health Assessment, the partnership shall consider--
‘(A) data collected through public and private sources; and
‘(B) data collected by the Bureau of the Census, through the Current Population Survey, or by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in accordance with paragraph (2).
‘(4) DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS- The partnership shall seek to obtain data for the Civic Health Assessment that will permit the partnership to analyze the data by age group, race and ethnicity, education level, and other demographic characteristics of the individuals involved.
‘(5) OTHER ISSUES- In obtaining data for the Civic Health Assessment, the partnership may also obtain such information as may be necessary to analyze--
‘(A) the role of Internet technology in strengthening and inhibiting civic activities;
‘(B) the role of specific programs in strengthening civic activities;
‘(C) the civic attitudes and activities of new citizens and immigrants; and
‘(D) other areas related to civic activities.
‘(e) Reporting of Data-
‘(1) IN GENERAL- The partnership shall, not less often than once each year, prepare a report containing--
‘(A) detailed data obtained under subsection (d), including data on the indicators comprising the Civic Health Assessment; and
‘(B) the analyses described in paragraphs (4) and (5) of subsection (d), to the extent practicable based on the data the partnership is able to obtain.
‘(2) AGGREGATION AND PRESENTATION- The partnership shall, to the extent practicable, aggregate the data on the civic health indicators comprising the Civic Health Assessment by community, by State, and nationally. The report described in paragraph (1) shall present the aggregated data in a form that enables communities and States to assess their civic health, as measured on each of the indicators comprising the Civic Health Assessment, and compare those measures with comparable measures of other communities and States.
‘(3) SUBMISSION- The partnership shall submit the report to the authorizing committees, and make the report available to the general public on the Corporation’s website.
‘(f) Public Input- The partnership shall--
‘(1) identify opportunities for public dialogue and input on the Civic Health Assessment; and
‘(2) hold conferences and forums to discuss the implications of the data and analyses reported under subsection (e).
‘(g) Volunteering Research and Evaluation-
‘(1) RESEARCH- The partnership shall provide for baseline research and tracking of domestic and international volunteering, and baseline research and tracking related to relevant data on the indicators described in subsection (d). In providing for the research and tracking under this subsection, the partnership shall consider data from the Supplements to the Current Populations Surveys conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and data from other public and private sources, including other data collected by the Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
‘(2) IMPACT RESEARCH AND EVALUATION- The partnership shall sponsor an independent evaluation of the impact of domestic and international volunteering, including an assessment of best practices for such volunteering, and methods of improving such volunteering through enhanced collaboration among--
‘(A) entities that recruit, manage, support, and utilize volunteers;
‘(B) institutions of higher education; and
‘(C) research institutions.
‘(h) Database Prohibition- Nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize the development, implementation, or maintenance of a Federal database of personally identifiable information on individuals participating in data collection for sources of information under this section.’. ...
SEC. 1610. PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS.
Section 182(b) (42 U.S.C. 12642(b)) is amended to read as follows:
‘(b) Report-
‘(1) FEDERAL AGENCY SUBMISSION- The head of each Federal agency and department shall prepare and submit to the Corporation a report concerning the implementation of this section, including an evaluation of the agency or department’s performance on performance goals and benchmarks for each partnership program of the agency or department.
‘(2) REPORT TO CONGRESS- The Corporation shall prepare and submit to the authorizing committees a compilation of the information received under paragraph (1).’.
SEC. 1611. RIGHTS OF ACCESS, EXAMINATION, AND COPYING
SEC. 1612. ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.
Subtitle F of title I (42 U.S.C. 12631 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘SEC. 185. CONSOLIDATED APPLICATION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
‘(b) Report to Congress- Not later than 18 months after the effective date of the Serve America Act, the Corporation shall submit to the authorizing committees a report containing information on the actions taken to consolidate or modify the application procedures and reporting requirements for programs, projects, and activities funded under the national service laws, including a description of the procedures for consultation with recipients of the funding.
‘SEC. 186. SUSTAINABILITY.
‘The Corporation, after consultation with State Commissions and recipients of assistance, may set sustainability goals for projects or programs under the national service laws, so that recipients of assistance under the national service laws are carrying out sustainable projects or programs. Such sustainability goals shall be in writing and shall be used--
‘(1) to build the capacity of the projects or programs that receive assistance under the national service laws to meet community needs;
‘(2) in providing technical assistance to recipients of assistance under the national service laws regarding acquiring and leveraging non-Federal funds for support of the projects or programs that receive such assistance; and
‘(3) to determine whether the projects or programs, receiving such assistance, are generating sufficient community support.
Subtitle H--Amendments to Subtitle H (Investment for Quality and Innovation)
‘PART I--ADDITIONAL CORPORATION ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT NATIONAL SERVICE’.
SEC. 1802. ADDITIONAL CORPORATION ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT NATIONAL SERVICE.
‘(j) Call to Service Campaign- Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Serve America Act, the Corporation shall conduct a nationwide ‘Call To Service’ campaign, to encourage all people of the United States, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religion, or economic status, to engage in full- or part-time national service, long- or short-term public service in the nonprofit sector or government, or volunteering. In conducting the campaign, the Corporation may collaborate with other Federal agencies and entities, State Commissions, Governors, nonprofit and faith-based organizations, businesses, institutions of higher education, elementary schools, and secondary schools.
‘(k) September 11th Day of Service-
‘(1) FEDERAL ACTIVITIES- The Corporation may organize and carry out appropriate ceremonies and activities, which may include activities that are part of the broader Call to Service Campaign under subsection (j), in order to observe the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance at the Federal level.
‘(2) ACTIVITIES- The Corporation may make grants and provide other support to community-based organizations to assist in planning and carrying out appropriate service, charity, and remembrance opportunities in conjunction with the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance.
‘(3) CONSULTATION- The Corporation may consult with and make grants or provide other forms of support to nonprofit organizations with expertise in representing families of victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and other impacted constituencies, and in promoting the establishment of September 11 as an annually recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance.’.
SEC. 1803. REPEALS.
SEC. 1805. NEW FELLOWSHIPS.
‘SEC. 198B. SERVEAMERICA FELLOWSHIPS.
‘(a) Definitions- In this section:
‘(1) AREA OF NATIONAL NEED- The term ‘area of national need’ means an area involved in efforts to--
‘(A) improve education in schools for economically disadvantaged students;
‘(B) expand and improve access to health care;
‘(C) improve energy efficiency and conserve natural resources;
‘(D) improve economic opportunities for economically disadvantaged individuals; or
‘(E) improve disaster preparedness and response.
SEC. 1806. NATIONAL SERVICE RESERVE CORPS.
‘PART II--NATIONAL SERVICE RESERVE CORPS
‘SEC. 198H. NATIONAL SERVICE RESERVE CORPS.
‘(a) Definitions- In this section--
‘(1) the term ‘National Service Reserve Corps member’ means an individual who--
‘(A) has completed a term of national service or is a veteran; ....
SEC. 1807. SOCIAL INNOVATION FUNDS PILOT PROGRAM.
‘PART III--SOCIAL INNOVATION FUNDS PILOT PROGRAM
‘(4) to strengthen the infrastructure to identify, invest in, replicate, and expand initiatives with effective solutions to national and local challenges.
‘(c) Definitions- In this section:
‘(1) COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION- The term ‘community organization’ means a nonprofit organization that carries out innovative, effective initiatives to address community challenges.
‘(2) COVERED ENTITY- The term ‘covered entity’ means--
‘(A) an existing grantmaking institution (existing as of the date on which the institution applies for a grant under this section); or
‘(B) a partnership between--
‘(i) such an existing grantmaking institution; and
‘(ii) an additional grantmaking institution, a State Commission, or a chief executive officer of a unit of general local govt
‘(B) addressing a specific issue area;
‘(3) propose to focus on improving measurable outcomes relating to--
‘(A) education for economically disadvantaged elementary or secondary school students;
‘(B) child and youth development;
‘(C) reductions in poverty or increases in economic opportunity for economically disadvantaged individuals;
‘(D) health, including access to health services and health education;
‘(E) resource conservation and local environmental quality;
‘(F) individual or community energy efficiency;
‘(G) civic engagement; or
‘(H) reductions in crime;
‘(4) have an evidence-based decisionmaking strategy, including--
‘(A) use of evidence produced by prior rigorous evaluations of program effectiveness including, where available, well-implemented randomized controlled trials; and
‘(B) a well-articulated plan to--
‘(i)(I) replicate and expand research-proven initiatives that have been shown to produce sizeable, sustained benefits to participants or society; or ....
‘(B) in making decisions about subgrants for communities, consult with a diverse cross section of community
‘(4)(A) information identifying the issue areas in which the eligible entity will work to improve measurable outcomes;
‘(B) statistics on the needs related to those issue areas in, as appropriate--
‘(i) the specific local geographical area described in paragraph (3)(A); or ...
‘(C) information on the specific measurable outcomes related to the issue areas involved that the eligible entity will seek to improve;
‘(F) have strong leadership and financial and management systems;
‘(G) are committed to the use of data collection and evaluation for improvement of the initiatives;
‘(H) will implement and evaluate innovative initiatives, to be important contributors to knowledge in their fields; and
‘(2) RESEARCH AND EVALUATION ACTIVITIES-
‘(A) RESEARCH AND REPORTS-
‘(i) IN GENERAL- The entity carrying out this subsection shall collect data and conduct or support research with respect to the eligible entities and community organizations receiving grants under subsections ...
‘(ii) REPORTS- The Corporation shall submit periodic reports to the authorizing committees including--
‘(I) the data collected and the results of the research under this subsection;
‘(II) information on lessons learned about best practices from the activities carried out under this section, to improve those activities; and
‘(III) a list of all eligible entities and community organizations receiving funds under this section.
‘(iii) PUBLIC INFORMATION- The Corporation shall annually post the list described in clause (ii)(III) on the Corporation’s website.
‘(B) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE- The Corporation shall, directly or through contract, provide technical assistance to the eligible entities and community organizations that receive grants under subsections (d) and (l).
‘(C) KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT- The Corporation shall, directly or through contract, maintain a clearinghouse for information on best practices resulting from initiatives supported by the eligible entities and community organizations.
SEC. 1808. CLEARINGHOUSES.
Subtitle H of title I (42 U.S.C. 12653 et seq.) is further amended by adding at the end the following:
‘PART IV--NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAMS CLEARINGHOUSES; VOLUNTEER GENERATION FUND
‘SEC. 198P. VOLUNTEER GENERATION FUND.
‘PART V--NONPROFIT CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM
‘SEC. 198S. NONPROFIT CAPACITY BUILDING.
‘(a) Definitions- In this section:
‘(1) INTERMEDIARY NONPROFIT GRANTEE- The term ‘intermediary nonprofit grantee’ means an intermediary nonprofit organization that receives a grant under subsection (b).
‘(2) INTERMEDIARY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION- The term ‘intermediary nonprofit organization’ means an experienced and capable nonprofit entity with meaningful prior experience in providing organizational development assistance, or capacity building assistance, focused on small and midsize nonprofit organizations.
‘(3) NONPROFIT- The term ‘nonprofit’, used with respect to an entity or organization, means--
‘(A) an entity or organization described in section
‘(4) STATE- The term ‘State’ means each of the several States, and the District of Columbia.
‘(7) training individuals operating or overseeing national service programs--leverage resources to increase local participation in national service programs, and to coordinate community-wide planning and service with respect to national service programs; ‘(1) seek to carry out high-quality programs where the services are needed most;