[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5678 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5678
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
September 22, 2023
Mr. Kim of New Jersey introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
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 grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible
entities to support paid internships within units of local government
for secondary school students and students who are qualified
undergraduates at institutions of higher education in the State in
which the entity is located.
(b) Application.--To be considered for a grant under subsection
(a), an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary of
Education at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
as the Secretary may require.
(c) Local Government Internship Program.--Each eligible entity that
receives a grant under subsection (a) shall use such grant to carry out
a program under which the entity--
(1) identifies appropriate paid internship opportunities
within units of local government for secondary school students
and students who are undergraduates at institutions of higher
education in the State in which the entity is located;
(2) establishes a process for the selection of students to
fill such internships;
(3) determines hourly rates of pay and other terms and
conditions applicable to such internships;
(4) pays the costs incurred in providing such internships.
(d) Accommodations and Educational Standards.--In carrying out the
internship program under subsection (c), an eligible entity shall--
(1) work with institutions of higher education to ensure
that the work performed by interns has educational value and
meets applicable educational standards; and
(2) seek to provide reasonable employment-related
accommodations to interns who have childcare needs,
transportation difficulties, or other such challenges, which
may include accommodations such as flexible work schedules for
interns and allowing interns to telework to the extent
determined practicable by the eligibility entity concerned.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2024 through 2028.
SEC. 3. SCHOLARSHIP FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROGRAMS.
(a) Funding.--
(1) State programs.--
(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 subparagraph (B), to carry out the scholarship
program under subsection (b).
(B) Allocations to states.--Of the amount
appropriated to carry out this section for each fiscal
year and not reserved under paragraph (2), each State
that has an application approved by the Secretary under
subparagraph (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 subparagraph.
(C) State application.--To be eligible to receive
an allocation under subparagraph (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.
(2) Federal program.--Of the amount appropriated to carry
out this section for each fiscal, the Secretary of Education
may reserve not more than 20 percent to carry out the Federal
supplemental scholarship program under subsection (c).
(b) State Administered Scholarship Program.--
(1) In general.--Each State that receives an allocation
under subsection (a)(2) 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)(I) be enrolled in a secondary school
and be in the final year of a program of study
leading to a regular high school diploma; or
(II) be enrolled in an institution of
higher education; and
(ii) 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 received scholarship under this subsection for an
academic year 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) Renewal process.--Subject to the availability of funds
for such purpose, a State that receives an allocation under
subsection (a) shall--
(A) award a scholarship to each renewal applicant
who meets the requirements described in paragraph
(3)(B); and
(B) establish a streamlined process under which
renewal applicants can apply for such scholarships with
minimal documentation required.
(5) Priority.--In awarding scholarships under this
subsection, a State shall--
(A) in accordance with paragraph (4), 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).
(6) 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.
(7) 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.
(8) 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 138 hours, of volunteer service
work in the preceding school year (or another one-year
period determined by the Secretary of Education);
(B) $1500, for a student who completed at least 138
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);
(C) $2000, for a student who completed at least 175
hours, but less than 213 hours, of volunteer service
work in such period;
(D) $2500, for a student who completed at least 213
hours, but less than 250 hours, of volunteer service
work in such period; and
(E) $3000, for a student who completed at least 250
hours of volunteer service work in such period.
(c) Federal Supplemental Scholarship Program.--
(1) In general.--From amounts reserved under subsection
(a)(2), the Secretary of Education may carry out a program
under which the Secretary awards supplementary funds, on a
competitive basis, directly to eligible students who have
already received scholarships for volunteer service work.
(2) Amount.--The amount of supplementary funds awarded to
each student under paragraph (1) shall be determined by the
Secretary of Education.
(3) Priority.--In awarding scholarships under this
subsection, the Secretary shall prioritize the award of funds
to students who have not received a scholarship under
subsection (b).
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2024 through 2028.
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 term ``eligible entity'' means a State or a unit of
local government.
(3) 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).
(4) 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).
(5) The term ``unit of local government'' means--
(A) a county, municipality, town, township,
village, parish, borough, or other unit of general
government below the State level; or
(B) a governing body of an Indian tribe or tribal
organization.
(6)(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 eligible for a
scholarship under section 3.
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