[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6956 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6956
To direct the Secretary of Education to carry out grant programs to
encourage student participation in local government and volunteer
service, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 7, 2022
Mr. Kim of New Jersey introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Education to carry out grant programs to
encourage student participation in local government and volunteer
service, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Service Starts At Home Act''.
SEC. 2. GRANTS TO SUPPORT INTERNSHIPS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall carry out a program under
which the Secretary makes allocations to States, in accordance with
subsection (b), to support paid internships for secondary school
students within local government agencies.
(b) Allocations to States.--Of the amount appropriated to carry out
this section for each fiscal year, each State that has an application
approved by the Secretary under subsection (c) shall be allocated an
amount in proportion to number of students enrolled in the public
elementary and secondary schools in the State for the previous school
year relative to the total number of students enrolled in the public
elementary and secondary schools for such school year in every State
that has an application approved by the Secretary under such
subsection.
(c) Application.--To be eligible to receive an allocation under
subsection (b) a State shall submit an application to the Secretary of
Education at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
as the Secretary may require.
(d) Local Government Internship Program.--Each State that receives
an allocation under subsection (b) shall use such allocation to carry
out a program under which the State--
(1) in consultation with local government officials--
(A) identifies appropriate paid internship
opportunities for secondary school students within
local government agencies;
(B) establishes a process for the selection of
students to fill such internships; and
(C) determines hourly rates of pay and other terms
and conditions applicable to such internships; and
(2) provides funds to local government agencies to
reimburse such agencies for costs incurred in providing such
internships.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2022
and each succeeding fiscal year.
SEC. 3. SCHOLARSHIP FOR SERVICE PROGRAM.
(a) Funding for States.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall carry
out a program under which the Secretary makes allocations to
States, in accordance with paragraph (2), to carry out the
scholarship program under subsection (b).
(2) Allocations to states.--Of the amount appropriated to
carry out this section for each fiscal year, each State that
has an application approved by the Secretary under paragraph
(3) shall be allocated an amount in proportion to number of
students enrolled in the public elementary and secondary
schools in the State for the previous school year relative to
the total number of students enrolled in the public elementary
and secondary schools for such school year in every State that
has an application approved by the Secretary under such
paragraph.
(3) State application.--To be eligible to receive an
allocation under paragraph (2) a State shall submit an
application to the Secretary of Education at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
require.
(b) State Administered Scholarship Program.--
(1) In general.--Each State that receives an allocation
under subsection (a) shall use such allocation to carry out a
program under which the State awards scholarships, on a
competitive basis, to eligible students who demonstrate a
commitment to volunteer service work.
(2) Application.--A student who seeks a scholarship under
this subsection shall submit an application to the State at
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as
the State may require.
(3) Student eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a
scholarship under this subsection a student shall meet the
following criteria:
(A) First-time applicant.--In the case of a first-
time applicant for a scholarship under this subsection,
the student shall--
(i) be enrolled in public secondary school;
(ii) be in the final year of a program of
study leading to a regular high school diploma;
and
(iii) have completed at least 100 hours of
volunteer service work in the preceding school
year (or another one-year period determined by
the Secretary of Education).
(B) Renewal applicant.--In the case of a student
who previously received a scholarship under this
subsection and who is seeking a scholarship for a
subsequent academic year, the student shall--
(i) be enrolled in an institution of higher
education;
(ii) be in good academic standing (as
determined by the institution); and
(iii) have completed at least 100 hours of
volunteer service work in the preceding school
year (or another one-year period determined by
the Secretary of Education).
(4) Priority.--In awarding scholarships under this
subsection, a State shall--
(A) first award scholarships to renewal applicants
described in paragraph (3)(B); and
(B) from any funds remaining after awarding such
scholarships, award scholarships to first-time
applicants described in paragraph (3)(A).
(5) Use of funds.--A scholarship received by a student
under this subsection may be used by such student only to pay
the student's costs of attendance at an institution of higher
education.
(6) Duration.--Each scholarship under this subsection shall
be awarded for a period of one academic year. A student may
receive a scholarship under this subsection for a total period
of not more than four academic years.
(7) Amount.--The amount of each scholarship under this
subsection shall be--
(A) $1000, for a student who completed at least 100
hours, but less than 175 hours, of volunteer service
work in the preceding school year (or another one-year
period determined by the Secretary of Education);
(B) $2000, for a student who completed at least 175
hours, but less than 250 hours, of volunteer service
work in such period; and
(C) $3000, for a student who completed at least 250
hours of volunteer service work in such period.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for fiscal year
2022 and each succeeding fiscal year.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) The term ``cost of attendance'' has the meaning given
that term in section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1087ll).
(2) The terms ``elementary school'', ``regular high school
diploma'', ``secondary school'', and ``State'' have the
meanings given those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(3) The term ``institution of higher education'' has the
meaning given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
(4)(A) The term ``volunteer service work'' means unpaid
acts of volunteer service conducted for or on behalf of a
government or other nonprofit organization, which may include a
community-based organization, faith-based organization, school,
national service program, civic or fraternal service
organization, local government agency, or other such
organization.
(B) Such term does not include acts of proselytizing,
conducting worship services, religious instruction, political
lobbying, court ordered service, or service conducted primarily
for the benefit of the family of a student described in section
3(c).
<all>