,i #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cdic ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #bg1 #bjag,ms4 ,michelle ,lujan ,grisham of ,new ,mexico 7for herself1 ,ms4 ,ros-,lehtinen1 ,ms4 ,moore1 ,mr4 ,sean ,patrick ,maloney of ,new ,york1 ,ms4 ,shea-,porter1 ,mr4 ,ben ,ray ,lujn of ,new ,mexico1 ,mr4 ,gallego1 ,mrs4 ,dingell1 ,ms4 ,roybal-,allard1 ,ms4 ,norton1 and ,mr4 ,evans7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,public ,health ,service ,act to authorize grants for local care corps programs through which qualified volunteers provide care1 companionship1 and other services to seniors and individuals in need1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,care ,corps ,demonstration ,act of #bjag4 #b4 ,grants for local care corps programs ,part ,d of title ,,iii of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bed;b et seq47 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating the second subpart ,,xi 7relating to a community-based collaborative care network program7 as subpart ,,xii2 7#b7 by redesignating the second section #cdj;,h 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bef;i7 as section #cdj;,i2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 ,,xiii ,local care corps programs #cdj;,j4 ,grants for local care corps programs 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may award grants to eligible entities described in subsection 7b7 to establish and implement a local care corps program through which eligible volunteers described in subsection 7c7 perform approved care services described in subsection 7d74 7b7 ,eligible entities ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an entity shall be a public or private nonprofit entity that is-- 7#a7 part of an aging network1 as defined in section #ajb7e7 of the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife2 7#b7 a time-banking or volunteer organizing agency that has expertise in delivering home- and community-based long-term services and supports to older adults and people with disabilities2 7#c7 a ,state1 county1 or local government2 or 7#d7 any other entity that has expertise in delivering home- and community-based long-term services and supports to older adults and people with disabilities1 as determined to be appropriate by the ,secretary4 7c7 ,eligible volunteers 7#a7 ,eligibility criteria ,to be eligible to serve as a volunteer in a local care corps program funded through a grant under this section1 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 program2 7,b7 agree to participate in the program for a period of not more than #bd months1 consisting of not more than #b terms of up to #ab months2 7,c7 submit an application to the grantee at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the grantee may require2 7,d7 pass a criminal background check as described in paragraph 7#b72 and 7,e7 agree to comply with such terms and conditions as the grantee may require4 7#b7 ,criminal background check 7,a7 ,in ,general ,before selecting any individual to serve as a volunteer in a local care corps program funded through a grant under this section1 the grantee shall request a criminal background check of such individual on a nationwide basis4 7,b7 ,volunteer prohibitions ,an individual shall be ineligible to be a volunteer in such program if-- 7i7 the individual refuses to consent to the criminal background check2 or 7ii7 the criminal background check does not demonstrate to the grantee's satisfaction that the individual is fit for service in such program4 7d7 ,approved care services 7#a7 ,in general ,in carrying out a local care corps program funded through a grant under this section1 the grantee shall assign volunteers only for providing services-- 7,a7 that are approved care services described in paragraph 7#b72 and 7,b7 within one or more populations that-- 7i7 have a shortage of such approved care services2 or 7ii7 consist primarily of low-income or minority individuals4 7#b7 ,approved care services ,approved care services are services provided directly to individuals in need 7as defined in paragraph 7#e77 in home-based or community-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 supported by appropriate orientation1 training1 and supervision2 and 7,d7 are provided in support of1 or in coordination with1 a caregiver1 if applicable4 7#c7 ,prohibited ,services ,in performing duties as part of a local care corps program funded through a grant under this section1 no volunteer shall provide-- 7,a7 professional medical services2 7,b7 administrative support services of the program2 7,c7 care in an institutional setting2 7,d7 care prohibited under ,state law2 7,e7 financial services2 or 7,f7 any other services determined by the ,secretary to be inconsistent with the purposes of local care corps programs funded under this section4 7#d7 ,guidance regarding scope of services ,the ,secretary shall issue guidance describing the scope of services that may be provided by volunteers as part of a local care corps program funded through a grant under this section4 ,in issuing such guidance1 the ,director shall provide for a public notice and comment period of not less than #fj days before issuing the guidance in final form4 7#e7 ,individual in need ,in this paragraph1 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 #aiij2 7,b7 has difficulty with self-care or living independently2 and 7,c7 meets such other criteria as the grantee determines to be appropriate4 7e7 ,training and standards of conduct 7#a7 ,pre-assignment training program ,as a condition on receipt of a grant for a local care corps program under this section1 an eligible entity shall agree to develop a training program that provides volunteers in such program with instruction in the skills necessary to carry out an assignment in the program4 ,such training shall include-- 7,a7 at least #dj hours of instruction for each volunteer for each term 7of #ab months or less7 to be served in such program2 7,b7 additional training for volunteers whose assignment requires further instruction2 and 7,c7 any other training the grantee determines to be appropriate4 7#b7 ,standards of ,conduct ,as a condition on receipt of a grant for a local care corps program under this section1 an eligible entity shall agree to establish and enforce standards to promote proper conduct and discipline within such program4 7f7 ,authorized benefits for volunteers ,as a condition on receipt of a grant for a local care corps program under this section1 an eligible entity shall agree to the following3 7#a7 ,in general ,the eligible entity will provide for volunteers participating in the program to receive allowances1 health insurance1 and post-service educational awards1 in accordance with this subsection4 7#b7 ,allowances ,the eligible entity will provide for each volunteer to receive such living1 travel1 and leave allowances1 and such housing1 transportation1 supplies1 equipment1 and subsistence as the eligible entity determines to be necessary for-- 7,a7 the volunteer's maintenance2 and 7,b7 to ensure the volunteer's health and capacity to serve effectively4 7#c7 ,health insurance ,the eligible entity will provide for each volunteer to receive health insurance coverage meeting the requirements of section #ejjj;,a7f7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf4 7#d7 ,post-,service ,educational ,award 7,a7 ,in general ,the eligible entity will establish an educational award for volunteers4 7,b7 ,amounts 7i7 ,number of awards ,a volunteer may receive up to #b educational awards under this subsection1 one for each term of service as a volunteer4 7ii7 ,amount for full term of service ,in the case of a volunteer who completes a term of full-time service in the program for a period of #ab months1 as determined by the eligible entity1 such volunteer shall receive an educational award having a value of #f1jjj for the award year4 7iii7 ,incentive ,to pursue a health care profession ,in the case of a volunteer who commits to using an educational award 7or awards1 if applicable7 under this subsection for completion of a degree1 a certificate1 or training in a health care profession1 or in a social services profession related to the delivery of long-term services and supports to older adults and people with disabilities or to their caregivers1 the value of such awards shall be #aj1jjj for the award year4 7iv7 ,amount for ,other ,periods of ,service 7,i7 ,first #ab months ,in the case of a volunteer who completes less than a #ab-month term of full-time service in the program1 as determined by the eligible entity1 such volunteer may receive a portion of the educational award described in clause 7ii7 or 7iii7 7as applicable7 that corresponds to the quantity of service actually completed by the volunteer4 7,,ii7 ,second #ab months ,in the case of a volunteer who completes more than #ab months of full-time service in the program1 and less than #bd months of such service1 as determined by the eligible entity1 such volunteer may receive1 for the portion of service exceeding #ab months1 a portion of the educational award described in clause 7ii7 or 7iii7 7as applicable7 that corresponds to the quantity of service actually completed by the volunteer4 7,c7 ,uses of ,award ,an educational award under this subsection shall be used to pay-- 7i7 costs of attendance at an institution of higher education2 or 7ii7 government or commercial loans received by an individual for the cost of attendance at an institution of higher education4 7,d7 ,definitions ,in this paragraph3 7i7 ,the term cost of attendance has the meaning given such term by section #dgb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife4 7ii7 ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term under subsection 7a7 or 7b7 of section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife4 7g7 ,application process ,to seek a grant under this section1 an eligible entity shall-- 7#a7 submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information and assurances as the ,secretary may require2 and 7#b7 include in such application a description of the scope of the services proposed to be provided through the entity's local care corps program4 7h7 ,reporting requirements 7#a7 ,reports to ,secretary ,as a condition of receipt of a grant under this section for a local care corps program1 an eligible entity shall agree to submit annual reports to the ,secretary including-- 7,a7 a description of the population served by the eligible entity through the grant during the preceding fiscal year1 including-- 7i7 an estimate of the number of individuals served1 disaggregated by race1 ethnicity1 age1 socioeconomic status1 and disability status2 and 7ii7 identification of the type of settings in which the services were provided2 7,b7 an evaluation of program operations2 and 7,c7 recommendations1 if any1 for improving programs funded under this section4 7#b7 ,report to ,congress ,not later than the end of fiscal year #bjba1 the ,secretary shall submit a report to the ,congress on local care corps programs funded under this section1 including-- 7,a7 summaries of the information submitted to the ,secretary pursuant to paragraph 7#a72 and 7,b7 recommendations1 if any1 for improving programs funded under this section4 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #aj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjah through #bjbb1 to remain available until expended4 4