F:\COMP\DOMESTIC\DOMESTIC

Status: Original and derived artifacts are available for this document.

Download: pdf

DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973
(Public Law 93–113, Oct. 1, 1973; 42 U.S.C. 4950 et seq.)
[As Amended Through P.L. 111–13, Enacted April 21, 2009]
AN ACT To provide for the operation of programs by the ACTION Agency, to
establish certain new such programs, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 1

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973’’.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of this Act is
as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Volunteerism policy.

TITLE I—NATIONAL VOLUNTEER ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAMS
Sec
.
Sec
.
Sec
.
Sec
.
Sec

PART A—VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE TO AMERICA
101. Statement of purpose.
102. Authority to operate VISTA program.
103. Selection and assignment of volunteers.
104. Terms and periods of service.
105. Support service.
106. Participation of beneficiaries.
107. Participation of younger and older persons.
108. Limitation.
109. Applications for assistance.

PART C—SPECIAL VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS
Sec. 121. Statement of purpose.
Sec. 122. Authority to establish and operate special volunteer and demonstration
programs.
Sec. 123. Technical and financial assistance.
TITLE II—NATIONAL SENIOR SERVICE CORPS

Sec. 200. Statement of purpose.

PART A—RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

Sec. 201. Grants and contracts for volunteer service projects.

PART B—FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM

Sec. 211. Grants and contracts for volunteer service projects.

1 Public Law 111–13 (enacted on April 21, 2009) amends the Domestic Volunteer Service Act.
Section 6101(a) of such Public Law provides as follows:

(a) IN GENERAL.—This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, take effect on October 1,
2009.
The text of the Domesitic Volunteer Service Act (as amended) are shown here.

3

Sec.

DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973

4

PART C—SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM
Sec. 213. Grants and contracts for volunteer service projects.
Sec
.
Sec
.
Sec
.
Sec
.
S

PART D—GENERAL PROVISIONS
221. Promotion of National Senior Service Corps.
222. Payments.
223. Minority population participation.
224. Use of locally generated contributions in National Senior Service Corps.
225. Programs of national significance.
226. Adjustments to Federal financial assistance.
227. Multiyear grants or contracts.
228. Acceptance of donations.
PART E—DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS

Sec. 231. Authority of Director.

TITLE IV—ADMINISTRATION AND COORDINATION
403. Political activities.
404. Special limitations.
406. Labor standards.
408. Joint funding.
409. Prohibition of Federal control.
410. Coordination with other programs.
411. Prohibition.
412. Notice and hearing procedures for suspension and termination of financial
assistance.
414. Distribution of benefits between rural and urban areas.
415. Application of Federal law.
416. Evaluation.
417. Nondiscrimination provisions.
418. Eligibility for other benefits.
419. Legal expenses.
421. Definitions
422. .
Sec 423. Audit.
.
424. Reduction of paperwork.
Sec 425. Review of project renewals.
.
426. Protection against improper use.
Provisions under the National and Community Service Act of 1990.
S
Sec
.
Sec
.
Sec
.
Sec
.
Sec
.
Sec
.
Sec
.
Sec
.

TITLE V—AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS
501.
502. National volunteer antipoverty programs.
504. National Senior Service Corps.
505. Administration and coordination.
A il bilit f
i ti
TITLE VI—AMENDMENTS TO OTHER LAWS AND REPEALERS
Sec 601. Supersedence of Reorganization Plan No. 1 of July 1, 1971.
.
602. Creditable service for civil service retirement.
Sec 603. Repeal of title VIII of the Economic Opportunity Act.
604. Repeal of title VI of the Older Americans Act.
.
S
Sec
.
Sec
.
S

VOLUNTEERISM POLICY

SEC. 2. (a) Because of the long-standing importance of volunteerism throughout American history, it is the policy of the Congress to foster the tradition of volunteerism through greater involvement on the part of individuals of all ages and backgrounds.
(b) The purpose of this Act is to foster and expand voluntary
citizen service in communities throughout the Nation in activities
designed to help the poor, the disadvantaged, the vulnerable,
and the elderly. In carrying out this purpose, the Corporation for National and Community Service shall utilize to the fullest extent the
programs authorized under this Act, coordinate with other Federal,
State, and local agencies, expand relationships with, and support

5

DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973

Sec. 103

for, the efforts of civic, community, and educational organizations,
and utilize the energy, innovative spirit, experience, and skills of
all Americans.
(42 U.S.C. 4950)

TITLE I—NATIONAL VOLUNTEER ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAMS
PART A—VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE TO AMERICA
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

SEC. 101. This part provides for the Volunteers in Service to
America (VISTA) program of full-time volunteer service, together
with appropriate powers and responsibilities designed to assist in
the development and coordination of such program. The purpose of
this part is to strengthen and supplement efforts to eliminate and
alleviate poverty and poverty-related problems in the United States
by encouraging and enabling persons from all walks of life, all geographical areas, and all age groups, including low-income individuals, elderly and retired Americans, to perform meaningful and
constructive volunteer service in agencies, institutions, and situations where the application of human talent and dedication may assist in the solution of poverty and poverty-related problems and secure and increase opportunities for self-advancement by persons affected by such problems. In addition, the objectives of this part are
to generate the commitment of private sector resources, to encourage volunteer service at the local level, to support efforts by local
agencies and community organizations to achieve long-term sustainability of projects, and to strengthen local agencies and community organizations to carry out the objectives of this part.
(42 U.S.C. 4951)

AUTHORITY TO OPERATE VISTA PROGRAM

SEC. 102. This part shall be administered by one of the Assistant Directors appointed pursuant to section 194(d)(1)(A) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990. Such Director may recruit, select, and train persons to serve in full-time volunteer programs consistent with the provisions and to carry out the
purposeof this part.
(42 U.S.C. 4952)
SELECTION AND ASSIGNMENT OF VOLUNTEERS

SEC. 103. (a) The Director, on the receipt of applications by
public or nonprofit private organizations to receive volunteers
under this part, may assign volunteers selected under subsection
(b) to work in appropriate projects and programs sponsored by such
organizations, including work—
(1) in meeting the health, education, welfare, or related
needs of Indians living on reservations or Federal trust lands,
of migratory and seasonal farmworkers and their families, and
of residents of the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands;

Sec. 103

i

DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973

6

(2) in the care and rehabilitation of mentally ill, developmentally disabled, and other individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with severe disabilities;
(3) in addressing the problems of the homeless, unemployed individuals, and low-income youths;
(4) in addressing the special needs connected with alcohol
and drug abuse through prevention, education, rehabilitation,
treatment, and related activities, consistent with the purpose
of this part;
(5) in addressing significant health care problems, including mental illness, chronic and life-threatening illnesses, and
health care for homeless individuals (especially homeless children) through prevention, treatment, and community-based
care activities;
(6) in connection with programs or activities authorized,
supported, or of a character eligible for assistance under this
Act or the Community Service Block Grant Act, titles VIII
and X of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, the Head
Start Act, the Community Economic Development Act of 1981,
or other similar Acts, in furtherance of the purpose of this
title;
(7) in strengthening, supplementing, and expanding efforts
to address the problem of illiteracy throughout the United
States;
(8) in assisting with the reentry and reintegration of formerly incarcerated youth and adults into society, including
providing training and counseling in education, employment,
and life skills;
(9) in developing and carrying out financial literacy, financial planning, budgeting, saving, and reputable credit accessibility programs in low-income communities, including those
programs that educate individuals about financing home ownership and higher education;
(10) in initiating and supporting before-school and afterschool programs, serving children in low-income communities,
that may engage participants in mentoring, tutoring, life skills
and study skills programs, service-learning, physical, nutrition,
and health education programs, and other activities addressing
the needs of the children;
(11) in establishing and supporting community economic
development initiatives, with a priority on work on such initiatives in rural areas and the other areas where such initiatives
are needed most;
(12) in assisting veterans and their family members
through establishing or augmenting programs that assist such
persons with access to legal assistance, health care (including
mental health care), employment counseling or training, education counseling or training, affordable housing, and other
support services; and
(13) in addressing the health and wellness of individuals
in low-income communities and individuals in underserved
communities, including programs to increase access to preventive services, insurance, and health services.
(b)(1) The Director shall establish placement procedures that
l
i
i ti
d th t ff
t iti
f

7

DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973

Sec. 103

both local and national placement of volunteers for service
underthis part.
(2)(A) The Director shall establish and maintain within the national headquarters of the Corporation (or any successor entity of
such agency) a volunteer placement office which shall be responsible for all functions related to the recruitment and placement of
volunteers under this part. Such functions and activities shall be
carried out in coordination or in conjunction with recruitment and
placement activities carried out under the National and Community Service Act of 1990.
(B) Such volunteer placement office shall develop, operate, and
maintain a current and comprehensive database that provides information—
(i) to individuals, with respect to specific opportunities for
service as a volunteer with approved projects or programs to
which no volunteer has been assigned; and
(ii) to approved projects or programs, with respect to the
availability of individuals whose applications for service as a
volunteer have been approved and who are awaiting an assignment with a specific project or program.
(C) The Director shall assign or hire as necessary, such additional national, regional, and State personnel to carry out the functions described in this subsection and subsection (c) as may be necessary to ensure that such functions are carried out in a timely and
effective manner. The Director shall give priority in the hiring of
such additional personnel to individuals who have formerly
served as volunteers under this part and to individuals who have
special- ized experience in the recruitment and management of
volunteers.
(3) Volunteers shall be selected from among qualified individuals submitting an application for such service at such time, in
such form, and containing such information as may be necessary
to evaluate the suitability of each individual for such service and
to determine, in accordance with paragraph (7), the most appropriate assignment for each such volunteer. The Director shall approve the application of each individual who applies in conformance
with this subsection and who, on the basis of the information provided in the application, is determined by the Director to be qualified to serve as a volunteer under this part.
(4) The Director shall ensure that applications for service as a
volunteer under this part are available to the public on request
tothe Corporation (including any State or regional offices of the
Agency) and that an individual making such request is informed
ofthe manner in which such application is required to be
submitted.A completed application may be submitted by any
interested indi-vidual to, and shall be accepted by, any office of
the Corporation.(5)(A) The Director shall provide for the
assignment of each ap- plicant approved as a volunteer under this
part to a project or pro-gram that is, to the maximum extent
practicable, consistent withthe abilities, experiences, and
preferences of such applicant thatare set forth in the application
described in paragraph (4) and theneeds and preferences of
projects or programs approved for the assignment of such volunteers.
(B) I
i
t b
h (A) th Di t
h ll tili

Sec. 103

DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973

8

(C) A sponsoring organization of VISTA may recruit volunteers
for service under this part. The Director shall give a locally recruited volunteer priority for placement in the sponsoring organization of VISTA that recruited such volunteer.
(D) A volunteer under this part shall not be assigned to any
project or program without the express approval and consent of
such project or program.
(E) If an applicant under this part who is recruited locally becomes unavailable for service prior to the commencement of service, the recipient of the project grant or contract that was designated to receive the services of such applicant may replace such
applicant with another qualified applicant approved by the Director.
(F) If feasible and appropriate, low-income community volunteers shall be given the option of serving in the home
communities of such volunteers in teams with nationally recruited
specialist vol- unteers. The Director shall attempt to assign such
volunteers to serve in the home or nearby communities of such
volunteers and shall make national efforts to attract other
individuals to serve in the VISTA program. The Director shall also,
in the assignment of volunteers under this subparagraph, recognize
that community- identified needs that cannot be met in the local
area and the indi- vidual desires of VISTA volunteers in regard to
the service in var- ious geographical areas of the United States
should be taken into consideration.
(c)(1) The Director, in conjunction with the personnel described
in subsection (b)(2)(C), shall engage in public awareness and recruitment activities. Such activities may include—
(A) public service announcements through the Internet
and related technologies, radio, television, and the print media;
(B) advertising through the Internet and related technologies, print media, direct mail, and other means;
(C) disseminating information about opportunities for service as a volunteer under this part to relevant entities including
institutions of higher education and other educational institutions (including libraries), professional associations, community-based agencies, youth service and volunteer organizations,
business organizations, labor unions, senior citizens organizations, State or local offices of economic development, State employment security agencies, employment offices, and other institutions and organizations from or through which potential
volunteers may be recruited;
(D) disseminating such information through presentations
made personally by employees of the Corporation or other designees of the Director, to students and faculty at
institutions of higher education and to other entities described
in subpara- graph (C), including presentations made at the
facilities, con- ventions, or other meetings of such entities;
(E) publicizing the student loan deferment and forgiveness
opportunities available to VISTA volunteers under parts B and
E of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1071 et seq.) and including such information in all applications
and recruitment materials;

9

DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973

Sec. 103

(F) publicizing national service educational awards available under the National and Community Service Act of 1990;
(G) providing, on request, technical assistance with the recruitment of volunteers under this part to programs and
projects receiving assistance under this part; and
(H) maintaining and publicizing a national toll-free telephone number through which individuals may obtain information about opportunities for service as a volunteer under this
part and request and receive an application for such service.
(2) In designing and implementing the activities authorized
under this section, the Director shall seek to involve individuals
who have formerly served as volunteers under this part to assist
in the dissemination of information concerning the program established under this part. The Director may reimburse the costs incurred by such former volunteers for such participation, including
expenses incurred for travel.
(3) The Director shall consult with the Director of the Peace
Corps to coordinate the recruitment and public awareness activities
carried out under this subsection with those of the Peace Corps and
to develop joint procedures and activities for the recruitment of volunteers to serve under this part.
(d) The Director shall provide each low-income community volunteer with an individual plan for job advancement or for transition to a situation leading to gainful employment. Whenever feasible, such efforts shall be coordinated with an appropriate local
workforce investment board established under section 117 of the
Workforce Investment Act of 1998. 1
(e) The Director may provide or arrange for educational and
vocational counseling of volunteers and recent former
volunteers under this part to (1) encourage them to use, in the
national inter- est, the skills and experience which they have
derived from their training and service, particularly working in
combating poverty as members of the helping professions, and (2)
promote the develop- ment of appropriate opportunities for the use
of such skills and ex- perience, and the placement therein of such
volunteers.
(f) Except as provided in subsection (e), the assignment of volunteers under this section shall be on such terms and conditions
(including restrictions on political activities that appropriately recognize the special status of volunteers living among the persons or
groups served by programs to which they have been assigned) as
the Director may determine, including work assignments in their
own or nearby communities.
(g) Volunteers under this part shall not be assigned to work
in a program or project in any community unless the application for
such program or project contains evidence of local support and has
been submitted to the Governor or other chief executive officer of
the State concerned. In the event of a timely request in writing,
supported by a statement of reasons, by the Governor or other chief
executive officer of the State concerned, the Director shall terminate a program or project or the assignment of a volunteer to a
j t
t l t
th
30 d
ft
th d t
h
1 Effective July 1, 2000, Public Law 105–277 attempts to amend the second sentence of subsection (d) to read as follows: ‘‘private industry council established under the Job Training Partnership Act or’’. The amendment probably should just strike the quoted matter.

Sec. 104

DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973

1

quest is received by the Director, or at such later date as is agreed
upon by the Director and such Governor or other chief executive officer.
(h) The Director is encouraged to enter into agreements with
other Federal agencies to use VISTA volunteers in furtherance of
program objectives that are consistent with the purposes described
in section 101.
(i) The Director may enter into agreements under which public
and private nonprofit organizations, with sufficient financial capacity and size, pay for all or a portion of the costs of supporting the
service of volunteers under this part.
(42 U.S.C. 4953)
TERMS AND PERIODS OF SERVICE

SEC. 104. (a) Volunteers serving under this part shall be required to make a full-time personal commitment to combating poverty and poverty-related problems. To the maximum extent practicable, the requirement for full-time commitment shall include a
commitment to live among and at the economic level of the people
served, and to remain available for service without regard to regular working hours, at all times during their periods of service, except for authorized periods of leave.
(b)(1) Volunteers serving under this part may be enrolled initially for periods of service of not less than 1 year, nor more than
2 years, except as provided in paragraph (2) or subsection (e).
(2) Volunteers serving under this part may be enrolled for periods of service of less than 1 year if the Director determines, on an
individual basis, that a period of service of less than 1 year is necessary to meet a critical scarce skill need.
(3) Volunteers serving under this part may be reenrolled for
periods of service in a manner to be determined by the Director.
No volunteer shall serve for more than a total of 5 years under this
part.
(c) Volunteers under this part shall, upon enrollment, take the
oath of office as prescribed for persons appointed to any office of
honor or profit by section 3331 of title 5, United States Code, and
shall swear (or affirm) that the volunteer does not advocate the
overthrow of the constitutional form of government of the United
States and that the volunteer is not a member of an organization
that advocates the overthrow of the constitutional form of government of the United States, knowing that such organization so advocates, except that persons legally residing within a State but
who are not citizens or nationals of the United States, may serve
under this part without taking or subscribing to such oath, if the
Director determines that the service of such persons will further the
inter- ests of the United States. Such persons shall take such
alternative oath or affirmation as the Director shall deem
appropriate.
(d) The Director shall establish a procedure, including notice
and opportunity to be heard, for volunteers under this part to
present and obtain resolution of grievances and to present their
views in connection with the terms and conditions of their service.
The Director shall promptly provide to each volunteer in service on
th d t
f
t
t f thi A t
d t
h
h
l t

1

DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973

Sec. 105

ning service thereafter, information regarding such procedure and
the terms and conditions of their service.
(e)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the Director may enroll full-time VISTA summer associates in a program
for the summer months only, under such terms and conditions as
the Director shall determine to be appropriate. Such individuals
shall be assigned to projects that meet the criteria set forth in section 103(a).
(2) In preparing reports relating to programs under this Act,
the Director shall report on participants, costs, and accomplishments under the summer program separately.
(3) The limitation on funds appropriated for grants and contracts, as contained in section 108, shall not apply to the summer
program.
(42 U.S.C. 4954)
SUPPORT SERVICE

SEC. 105. (a)(1)(A) The Director may provide a stipend to volunteers, while they are in training and during their assignments,
enrolled for periods of service of not less than one year under this
part, except that the Director may, on an individual basis, make
an exception to provide a stipend to a volunteer enrolled under this
part for an extended period of service not totaling one year.
(B) Such stipend shall be set at a rate that is not less than a
minimum of $125 per month and not more than a maximum of
$150 per month, subject to the availability of funds to provide
such a maximum rate. The Director may provide a stipend set at a
rate that is not more than a maximum of $250 per month in the
case of persons who have served as volunteers under this part
for at least 1 year and who, in accordance with standards
established in such regulations as the Director shall prescribe, have
been des- ignated volunteer leaders on the basis of experience
and specialskills and a demonstrated leadership among volunteers.
(C) The Director shall not provide a stipend under this subsection to an individual who elects to receive a national service
educational award under subtitle D of title I of the National and
Community Service Act of 1990.
(2) Stipends shall be payable only upon completion of a
period of service, except that under such circumstances as the
Director shall determine, in accordance with regulations which the
Director shall prescribe, the accrued stipend, or any part of the
accrued sti- pend, may be paid to the volunteer, or, on behalf of
the volunteer, to members of the volunteer’s family or others during
the period of the volunteer’s service. In the event of the death of a
volunteer dur- ing service, the amount of any unpaid stipend shall
be paid in ac- cordance with the provisions of section 5582 of title
5, United States Code.
(b)(1) The Director shall also provide volunteers such living,
travel (including travel to and from places of training and to and
from locations to which volunteers are assigned during periods of
service) and leave allowances, and such housing, supplies, equipment, subsistence, clothing, health and dental care, transportation,
supervision, preservice training and where appropriate in-service

Sec. 106

DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973

1

training, technical assistance and such other support as the Director deems necessary and appropriate to carry out the purpose and
provisions of this part, and shall insure that each such
volunteer has available such allowances and support as will enable
the volun- teer to carry out the purpose and provisions of this part
and to ef- fectively perform the work to which such volunteer is
assigned.
(2) The Director shall set the subsistence allowance for volunteers under paragraph (1) for each fiscal year so that—
(A) the minimum allowance is not less than an amount
equal to 95 percent of such poverty line (as defined in section
673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C.
9902(2))) for a single individual as expected for each fiscal
year; and
(B) the average subsistence allowance, excluding allowances for Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and Alaska, is no
less than 105 percent of such poverty line.
(3) The Director shall adjust the subsistence allowances for volunteers serving in areas that have a higher cost of living than the
national average to reflect such higher cost. The Director shall review such adjustments on an annual basis to ensure that the adjustments are current.
(c)(1) The Director shall—
(A) make child care available for children of each volunteer
enrolled under this part who need such child care in order to
participate as volunteers; or
(B) provide a child care allowance to each such volunteer
who needs such assistance in order to participate as volunteers.
(2) The Corporation shall establish guidelines regarding the
circumstances under which child care shall be made available
under this subsection and the value of any child care allowance
tobe provided.
(42 U.S.C. 4955)
PARTICIPATION OF BENEFICIARIES

SEC. 106. To the maximum extent practicable, the people of the
communities to be served by volunteers under this title shall participate in planning, developing, and implementing programs thereunder, and the Director, after consultation with sponsoring agencies (including volunteers assigned to them) and the people served
by such agencies, shall establish in regulations a continuing mechanism for the meaningful participation of such program beneficiaries.
(42 U.S.C. 4956)

SEC. 107. PARTICIPATION OF YOUNGER AND OLDER PERSONS.

In carrying out this part and part C, the Director shall take
necessary steps, including the development of special projects,
where appropriate, to encourage the fullest participation of individuals 18 through 27 years of age, and individuals 55 years of
age and older, in the various programs and activities authorized
under such parts.
(

)

1

DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973

Sec. 109

LIMITATION

SEC. 108. (a) Of funds appropriated for the purpose of this part
under section 501, not more than 30 percent for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1984, and for each fiscal year thereafter, may be
obligated for the direct cost of supporting volunteers in programs
or projects carried out pursuant to grants and contracts made
under section 402(12).
(b) No funds shall be obligated under this part pursuant to
grants or contracts made after the date of the enactment of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act Amendments of 1979 for new projects
for the direct cost of supporting volunteers unless the recipient of
each such grant or contract has been selected through a competitive process which includes—
(1) public announcements of the availability of funds for
such grants or contracts, general criteria for the selection of
new recipients, and a description of the application process and
the application review process; and
(2) a requirement that each applicant for any such
grant or contract identify, with sufficient particularity to assure
that the assignments of volunteers under such grants and
contracts will carry out the purpose of this part, the
particular poverty or poverty-related problems on which the
grant or contract will focus, and any such grant or contract
shall specifically so iden- tify such problems.
(42 U.S.C. 4958)

SEC. 109. APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE.

In reviewing an application for assistance under this part, the
Director shall not deny such assistance to any project or
program, or any public or private nonprofit organization, solely on
the basis of the duration of the assistance such project, program, or
organiza- tion has received under this part prior to the date of
submission of the application. The Director shall grant assistance
under this part on the basis of merit and to accomplish the goals of
the VISTA program, and shall consider the needs and requirements
of projects in existence on such date as well as potential new
projects.
(42 U.S.C. 4960)

PART C—SPECIAL VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS 1
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

SEC. 121. This part provides for special emphasis and demonstration volunteer programs, together with appropriate powers
and responsibilities designed to assist in the development and coordination of such programs. The purpose of this part is to
strengthen and supplement efforts to meet a broad range of needs,
particularly those related to poverty, by encouraging and enabling
persons from all walks of life and from all age groups to perform
meaningful and constructive volunteer service in agencies, institutions, and organizations where the application of human talent and
d di ti
h l t
t
h
d It i th f th
1 So

13.

in law. There is no part B. See amendment made by section 2121 of Public Law 111–

Sec. 122

DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACT OF 1973

1

of this part to provide technical and financial assistance to encourage voluntary organizations and volunteer efforts at the national,
State, and local level.
(42 U.S.C. 4991)

SEC. 122. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE SPECIAL VOLUNTEER AND DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director is authorized to conduct special
volunteer programs for demonstration programs, or award grants
to or enter into contracts with public or nonprofit organizations to
carry out such programs. Such programs shall encourage wider volunteer participation on a full-time, part-time, or short-term basis
to further the purpose of this part, and identify particular segments of the poverty community that could benefit from volunteer
and other antipoverty efforts.
(b) ASSIGNMENT AND SUPPORT OF VOLUNTEERS.—The assignment of volunteers under this section, and the provision of support
for such volunteers, including any subsistence allowances and stipends, shall be on such terms and conditions as the Director shall
determine to be appropriate, but shall not exceed the level of support provided under section 105. Projects using volunteers who do
not receive stipends may also be supported under this section.
(c) CRITERIA AND PRIORITIES.—In carrying out this section and
section 123, the Director shall establish criteria and priorities for
awarding grants and entering into contracts under this part in
each fiscal year. No grant or contract exceeding $100,000 shall be
made under this part unless the recipient of the grant or contractor
has been selected by a competitive process that includes public announcement of the availability of funds for such grant or contract,
general criteria for the selection of recipients or contractors, and a
description of the application process and application review process.
(42 U.S.C. 4992)

SEC. 123. TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

The Director may provide technical and financial assistance to
Federal agencies, State and local governments and agencies, private nonprofit organizations, employers, and other private organizations that utilize or desire to utilize volunteers in carrying out
the purpose of this part.
(42 U.S.C. 4993)

TITLE II—NATIONAL SENIOR SERVICE CORPS
SEC. 200. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

It is the purpose of this title to provide—
(1) opportunities for senior service to meet unmet local,
State, and national needs in the areas of education, public
safety, emergency and disaster preparedness, relief, and recovery, health and human needs, and the environment;
(2) for the National Senior Service Corps, comprised of the
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, the Foster Grandparent Program, and the Senior Companion Program, and
demonstration and other programs, to empower people 55
years of age or older to contribute to their communities