,i #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ebhh ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #cj1 #bjad ,ms4 ,michelle ,lujan ,grisham of ,new ,mexico introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and the ,workforce ,a ,,bill ,to establish a ,national ,care ,corps through which qualified volunteers provide care1 companionship1 and other services to seniors and individuals with disabilities4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,national ,care ,corps ,act of #bjad4 #b4 ,definitions ,for purposes of this ,act1 the following definitions shall apply3 7#a7 ,corps ,the term ,corps means the ,national ,care ,corps established under section #c of this ,act4 7#b7 ,director ,the term ,director means the ,director of the ,corps appointed under section #c7;b77#a7 of this ,act4 7#c7 ,local ,care ,corps ,program ,the term local ,care ,corps program means a program funded with a grant awarded under section #aj7;b7 of this ,act that hosts ,corps members and arranges for them to provide approved services to individuals in need4 7#d7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 #c4 ,establishment of ,national ,care ,corps 7a7 ,in general ,there is established in the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services a program to be known as the ,national ,care ,corps through which ,corps members provide approved services to individuals in need via participation in local ,care ,corps programs4 7b7 ,staff 7#a7 ,appointment of ,director ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,administrator for ,community ,living1 shall appoint a ,director of the ,corps4 7#b7 ,duties of ,director ,the ,director shall-- 7,a7 design1 develop1 and administer ,corps programs2 7,b7 manage the daily operations of the ,corps2 and 7,c7 report to the ,administrator for ,community ,living4 7#c7 ,authority to ,employ ,staff ,the ,director may employ such staff as is necessary to carry out this ,act4 #d4 ,selection and eligibility of members 7a7 ,in ,general 7#a7 ,selection ,the ,director shall select eligible individuals for membership in the ,corps4 7#b7 ,nondiscrimination ,in selecting ,corps members1 the ,director shall comply with all applicable provisions of ,state and ,federal laws and regulations pertaining to nondiscrimination and equal employment opportunity4 7b7 ,eligible ,individuals ,to be eligible for membership in the ,corps1 an individual shall-- 7#a7 be at least #ah years of age on or before ,december #ca of the calendar year in which the individual begins participation in the ,corps2 7#b7 agree to participate in the ,corps for a period of not more than #bd months2 7#c7 submit an application to the ,director at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,director may require2 7#d7 pass a criminal background check as described in subsection 7c72 and 7#e7 agree to comply with such terms and conditions as the ,director may require4 7c7 ,criminal background check 7#a7 ,in ,general ,before selecting any individual for membership in the ,corps1 the ,director shall request a criminal background check of such individual4 7#b7 ,membership ,prohibitions ,an individual shall be ineligible to be a ,corps member if-- 7,a7 such individual refuses to consent to the criminal background check2 or 7,b7 the criminal background check does not demonstrate to the ,director's satisfaction that such individual is fit for ,corps service4 #e4 ,authorized ,benefits for ,corps ,members 7a7 ,in ,general ,the ,director shall provide for members of the ,corps to receive allowances1 health insurance1 and post-service educational awards authorized by this section4 7b7 ,allowances ,the ,director shall provide each ,corps member with such living1 travel1 and leave allowances1 and such housing transportation1 supplies1 equipment1 and subsistence as the ,director may determine to be necessary for the member's maintenance and to ensure the member's health and capacity to serve effectively4 7c7 ,health insurance 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,director shall provide for each ,corps member to receive health insurance coverage4 7#b7 ,minimum essential coverage ,the health insurance coverage described paragraph 7#a7 shall meet the requirements of section #ejjj;,a7f7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf4 7d7 ,post-,service ,educational ,award 7#a7 ,in ,general ,the ,director shall establish an educational award for ,corps members4 7#b7 ,amounts 7,a7 ,amount for ,full-,time ,service ,in the case of a ,corps member who completes a #ab-month term of full-time service as determined by the ,director1 such member shall receive an educational award having a value equal to the maximum amount of a ,federal ,pell ,grant under section #dja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj;a7 that a student eligible for such grant may receive in the aggregate 7without regard to whether the funds are provided through discretionary or mandatory appropriations7 for the award year4 ,a ,corps member may receive up to #b such awards4 7,b7 ,amount for ,other ,periods of ,service ,in the case of a ,corps member who completes less than a #ab-month term of full-time service as determined by the ,director1 such member may receive a portion of the educational award described in subparagraph 7,a7 that corresponds to the quantity of service actually completed by the member4 7#c7 ,uses of ,award ,an educational award shall be used to pay-- 7,a7 costs of attendance at an institution of higher education2 or 7,b7 government or commercial loans received by an individual for costs of attendance at an institution of higher education4 7#d7 ,definitions ,for purposes of this subsection1 the following definitions shall apply3 7,a7 ,cost of ,attendance ,the term cost of attendance has the meaning given such term by section #dgb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhgll74 7,b7 ,institution of ,higher ,education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term by section #aja7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a774 7e7 ,regulations ,the ,director shall issue any regulations that the ,director determines to be necessary to carry out this section4 #f4 ,assignment of ,corps ,members to ,seniors and ,individuals with ,disabilities 7a7 ,assignment of ,corps ,members 7#a7 ,in ,general ,the ,director shall assign each ,corps member to participate in a local ,care ,corps program4 7#b7 ,priority of ,assignment ,in assigning ,corps members to local ,care ,corps programs1 the ,director shall assign not less than #bj percent of members to programs that serve geographic areas in which the ,director determines there is a shortage of approved services available to individuals in need1 with consideration given to low-income and minority populations4 7b7 ,services ,provided by ,corps ,members 7#a7 ,in ,general ,corps members may only provide approved services to individuals in need through participation in local ,care ,corps programs4 7#b7 ,approved ,services ,approved services are services provided directly to individuals in need in home-based settings that-- 7,a7 result in person-to-person1 supportive relationships with each individual served2 7,b7 support the achievement and maintenance of the highest level of independent living for each individual in need2 7,c7 are meaningful to the ,corps member2 and 7,d7 are supported by appropriate orientation1 training1 and supervision4 7#c7 ,prohibited ,services ,in performing duties as a ,corps member1 no member shall provide-- 7,a7 professional medical services2 7,b7 administrative support services to a local ,corps program2 7,c7 care in an institutional setting2 7,d7 care prohibited under ,state law2 or 7,e7 any other services determined by the director to be inconsistent with the purposes of the ,corps4 7#d7 ,guidance ,regarding ,scope of ,services ,the ,director may issue guidance describing the scope of services that may be provided by ,corps members4 ,in issuing such guidance1 the ,director shall provide for a public notice and comment period of not less than #cj days before issuing the guidance in final form4 7c7 ,individual in ,need ,the term individual in need means an individual who-- 7#a7 is at least #fe years of age or has a disability as defined in section #c of the ,americans ,with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abajb72 7#b7 has difficulty with self-care2 and 7#c7 meets such other criteria as the ,director determines to be appropriate4 #g4 ,training and ,standards of ,conduct 7a7 ,pre-,assignment ,training ,program ,the ,director shall develop a training program that provides ,corps members with instruction in the skills necessary to carry out an assignment in a local ,care ,corps program4 ,such training program shall include-- 7#a7 at least #bj hours of instruction for each ,corps member2 and 7#b7 any other requirements the ,director determines to be appropriate4 7b7 ,standards of ,conduct ,the ,director shall establish and enforce standards to promote proper conduct and discipline within the ,corps4 #h4 ,status of ,corps ,members ,under ,federal ,law 7a7 ,in general ,except as otherwise provided in this section1 members of the ,corps shall not1 by reason of their status as members1 be treated as ,federal employees or be subject to the provisions of law relating to ,federal employment4 7b7 ,work-,related injuries 7#a7 ,in general ,for purposes of subchapter ,i of chapter #ha of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 relating to the compensation of ,federal employees for work injuries1 members of the ,corps shall be treated as employees of the ,united ,states within the meaning of the term employee1 as defined in section #haja of such title4 7#b7 ,special rule ,in the application of the provisions of subchapter ,i of chapter #ha of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 to a member of the ,corps1 the member shall not be treated to be in the performance of duty while absent from the member's assigned post of duty unless the absence is authorized in accordance with procedures prescribed by the ,director4 7c7 ,tort claims procedure ,a member of the ,corps shall be treated as an employee of the ,united ,states for purposes of chapter #aga of title #bh1 ,united ,states ,code1 relating to tort claims liability and procedure4 #i4 ,reporting ,requirements ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 acting through the ,administrator for ,community ,living1 shall transmit to ,congress at least once in each fiscal year a report on the ,corps4 ,at minimum1 such report shall include-- 7#a7 a description of the population served by the ,corps during the preceding fiscal year2 7#b7 an evaluation of ,corps operations2 and 7#c7 recommendations1 if any1 for improving ,corps operations4 #aj4 ,local ,care ,corps ,programs 7a7 ,functions of ,local ,care ,corps ,programs ,local ,care ,corps programs shall-- 7#a7 conduct in-person orientation and training for ,corps members2 7#b7 develop and monitor member assignments1 which shall include selecting the individuals in need to be served by ,corps members1 matching members to assignments1 and supervising members2 7#c7 maintain records and prepare reports as required by the ,director2 and 7#d7 carry out any other activities determined to be appropriate by the ,director4 7b7 ,grants for ,local ,care ,corps ,programs ,the ,director may award grants to qualified entities for the operation of local ,care ,corps programs4 7#a7 ,qualified ,entity ,the term qualified entity means a public or private nonprofit entity that is-- 7,a7 part of an aging network1 as defined by section #ajb7e7 of the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjjb7e772 7,b7 a time-banking or volunteer organizing agency2 7,c7 a ,state1 county1 or local government2 or 7,d7 any other entity determined to be appropriate by the ,director4 7#b7 ,application ,process ,to be eligible for a grant under this subsection1 a qualified entity shall-- 7,a7 submit an application to the ,director at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,director may require2 and 7,b7 abide by such terms and conditions as the ,director determines to be appropriate4 #aa4 ,authorization of ,appropriations 7a7 ,in ,general ,there is authorized to be appropriated #cej1jjj1jjj for each of the fiscal years beginning after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7b7 ,continued ,availability of ,funds ,amounts authorized to be appropriated under subsection 7a7 for a fiscal year are authorized to remain available for that fiscal year and the subsequent fiscal year4