I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2668 

To establish a National Care Corps through which qualified volunteers provide 

care, companionship, and other services to seniors and individuals with 

disabilities. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 4, 2015 

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico (for herself, Mr. DOGGETT, 

Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mrs. DINGELL, and Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Education and the Workforce 

A BILL 

To establish a National Care Corps through which qualified 

volunteers provide care, companionship, and other services to seniors and individuals with disabilities. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Care Corps 

5 Act of 2015’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 For purposes of this Act, the following definitions 

8 shall apply: 


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1 (1) CORPS.—The term ‘‘Corps’’ means the Na2 tional Care Corps established under section 3 of this 

3 Act. 

4 (2) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 

5 the Director of the Corps appointed under section 

6 3(b)(1) of this Act. 

7 (3) LOCAL CARE CORPS PROGRAM.—The term 

8 ‘‘local Care Corps program’’ means a program fund9 ed with a grant awarded under section 10(b) of this 

10 Act that hosts Corps volunteers and arranges for 

11 them to provide approved services to individuals in 

12 need. 

13 (4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

14 the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 

15 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL CARE CORPS. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the De17 partment of Health and Human Services a program to 

18 be known as the ‘‘National Care Corps’’ through which 

19 Corps volunteers provide approved services to individuals 

20 in need via participation in local Care Corps programs. 

21 (b) STAFF.— 

22 (1) APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR.—The Sec23 retary, acting through the Administrator of the Ad24 ministration for Community Living, shall appoint a 

25 Director of the Corps. 


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1 (2) DUTIES OF DIRECTOR.—The Director 

2 shall— 

3 (A) design, develop, and administer Corps 

4 programs; 

5 (B) manage the daily operations of the 

6 Corps; and 

7 (C) report to the Administrator of the Ad8 ministration for Community Living. 

9 (3) AUTHORITY TO EMPLOY STAFF.—The Di10 rector may employ such staff as is necessary to 

11 carry out this Act. 

12 SEC. 4. SELECTION AND ELIGIBILITY OF VOLUNTEERS. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.— 

14 (1) SELECTION.—The Director shall select eli15 gible individuals as Corps volunteers. 

16 (2) NONDISCRIMINATION.—In selecting Corps 

17 volunteers, the Director shall comply with all appli18 cable provisions of State and Federal laws and regu19 lations pertaining to nondiscrimination and equal 

20 employment opportunity. 

21 (b) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.—To be eligible to serve 

22 as a volunteer in the Corps, an individual shall— 

23 (1) be at least 18 years of age on or before De24 cember 31 of the calendar year in which the indi25 vidual begins participation in the Corps; 


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1 (2) agree to participate in the Corps for a pe2 riod of not more than 24 months, consisting of not 

3 more than 2 terms of up to 12 months; 

4 (3) submit an application to the Director at 

5 such time, in such manner, and containing such in6 formation as the Director may require; 

7 (4) pass a criminal background check as de8 scribed in subsection (c); and 

9 (5) agree to comply with such terms and condi10 tions as the Director may require. 

11 (c) CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—Before selecting any indi13 vidual to serve as a volunteer in the Corps, the Di14 rector shall request a criminal background check of 

15 such individual on a nationwide basis. 

16 (2) VOLUNTEER PROHIBITIONS.—An individual 

17 shall be ineligible to be a Corps volunteer if— 

18 (A) such individual refuses to consent to 

19 the criminal background check; or 

20 (B) the criminal background check does 

21 not demonstrate to the Director’s satisfaction 

22 that such individual is fit for Corps service. 

23 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZED BENEFITS FOR CORPS VOLUNTEERS. 

24 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall provide for 

25 Corps volunteers to receive allowances, health insurance, 


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1 and post-service educational awards authorized by this 

2 section. 

3 (b) ALLOWANCES.—The Director shall provide each 

4 Corps volunteer with such living, travel, and leave allow5 ances, and such housing, transportation, supplies, equip6 ment, and subsistence as the Director determines to be 

7 necessary for the volunteer’s maintenance and to ensure 

8 the volunteer’s health and capacity to serve effectively. 

9 (c) HEALTH INSURANCE.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall provide 

11 for each Corps volunteer to receive health insurance 

12 coverage. 

13 (2) MINIMUM ESSENTIAL COVERAGE.—The 

14 health insurance coverage described paragraph (1) 

15 shall meet the requirements of section 5000A(f) of 

16 the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 

17 (d) POST-SERVICE EDUCATIONAL AWARD.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall establish 

19 an educational award for Corps volunteers. 

20 (2) AMOUNTS.— 

21 (A) NUMBER OF AWARDS.—A Corps volun22 teer may receive up to 2 educational awards 

23 under this subsection, one for each term of 

24 service as a volunteer. 


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1 (B) AMOUNT FOR FULL TERM OF SERV2 ICE.—In the case of a Corps volunteer who 

3 completes a term of full-time service in the 

4 Corps for a period of 12 months, as determined 

5 by the Director, such volunteer shall receive an 

6 educational award having a value equal to the 

7 maximum amount of a Federal Pell Grant 

8 under section 401 of the Higher Education Act 

9 of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a) that a student eligi10 ble for such grant may receive in the aggregate 

11 (without regard to whether the funds are pro12 vided through discretionary or mandatory ap13 propriations) for the award year. 

14 (C) INCENTIVE TO PURSUE A DEGREE IN

15 A HEALTH CARE PROFESSION.—In the case of 

16 a Corps volunteer who commits to using his or 

17 her educational award (or awards, if applicable) 

18 under this subsection for completion of a de19 gree, a certificate, or training in a health care 

20 profession, the value of such awards shall be 

21 twice the value that would otherwise be applica22 ble under subparagraph (B). 

23 (D) AMOUNT FOR OTHER PERIODS OF

24 SERVICE.— 


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1 (i) In the case of a Corps volunteer 

2 who completes less than a 12-month term 

3 of full-time service in the Corps, as deter4 mined by the Director, such volunteer may 

5 receive a portion of the educational award 

6 described in subparagraph (B) or (C) (as 

7 applicable) that corresponds to the quan8 tity of service actually completed by the 

9 volunteer. 

10 (ii) In the case of a Corps volunteer 

11 who completes more than 12 months of 

12 full-time service in the Corps, and less 

13 than 24 months of such service, as deter14 mined by the Director, such volunteer may 

15 receive, for the portion of service exceeding 

16 12 months, a portion of the educational 

17 award described in subparagraph (B) or 

18 (C) (as applicable) that corresponds to the 

19 quantity of service actually completed by 

20 the volunteer. 

21 (3) USES OF AWARD.—An educational award 

22 shall be used to pay— 

23 (A) costs of attendance at an institution of 

24 higher education; or 


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1 (B) government or commercial loans re2 ceived by an individual for the cost of attend3 ance at an institution of higher education. 

4 (4) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this sub5 section, the following definitions shall apply: 

6 (A) COST OF ATTENDANCE.—The term 

7 ‘‘cost of attendance’’ has the meaning given 

8 such term by section 472 of the Higher Edu9 cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ll). 

10 (B) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDU11 CATION.—The term ‘‘institution of higher edu12 cation’’ has the meaning given such term under 

13 subsection (a) or (b) of section 101 of the 

14 Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 

15 1001). 

16 (e) FEDERAL HIRING PREFERENCE.—In the case of 

17 a Corps volunteer who completes at least one term of full18 time service in the Corps for a total period of 12 months 

19 or more, as determined by the Director, such volunteer 

20 shall be eligible for appointment in the competitive service 

21 in the same manner as Peace Corps volunteers as pre22 scribed in Executive Order Number 11103 (April 10, 

23 1963). 


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1 (f) REGULATIONS.—The Director shall issue any reg2 ulations that the Director determines to be necessary to 

3 carry out this section. 

4 SEC. 6. ASSIGNMENT OF CORPS VOLUNTEERS TO SENIORS 

5 AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. 

6 (a) ASSIGNMENT OF CORPS VOLUNTEERS.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall assign 

8 each Corps volunteer to participate in a local Care 

9 Corps program. 

10 (2) PRIORITY OF ASSIGNMENT.—In assigning 

11 Corps volunteers to local Care Corps programs, the 

12 Director shall— 

13 (A) take into consideration the population 

14 and geographic preferences of the volunteers; 

15 and 

16 (B) assign not less than 20 percent of vol17 unteers to programs that serve geographic 

18 areas in which the Director determines there is 

19 a shortage of approved services available to in20 dividuals in need, with consideration given to 

21 low-income and minority populations. 

22 (b) SERVICES PROVIDED BY CORPS VOLUNTEERS.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall assign 

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1 ices to individuals in need through participation in 

2 local Care Corps programs. 

3 (2) APPROVED SERVICES.—Approved services 

4 are services provided directly to individuals in need 

5 in home-based or community-based settings that— 

6 (A) result in person-to-person, supportive 

7 relationships with each individual served; 

8 (B) support the achievement and mainte9 nance of the highest level of independent living 

10 for each individual in need; 

11 (C) are supported by appropriate orienta12 tion, training, and supervision; and 

13 (D) are provided in support of, or in co14 ordination with, a caregiver, if applicable. 

15 (3) PROHIBITED SERVICES.—In performing du16 ties as a Corps volunteer, no volunteer shall pro17 vide— 

18 (A) professional medical services; 

19 (B) administrative support services to a 

20 local Corps program; 

21 (C) care in an institutional setting; 

22 (D) care prohibited under State law; or 

23 (E) any other services determined by the 

24 director to be inconsistent with the purposes of 

25 the Corps. 


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1 (4) GUIDANCE REGARDING SCOPE OF SERV2 ICES.—The Director shall issue guidance describing 

3 the scope of services that may be provided by Corps 

4 volunteers. In issuing such guidance, the Director 

5 shall provide for a public notice and comment period 

6 of not less than 60 days before issuing the guidance 

7 in final form. 

8 (c) INDIVIDUAL IN NEED.—The term ‘‘individual in 

9 need’’ means an individual who— 

10 (1) is at least 65 years of age or has a dis11 ability as defined in section 3 of the Americans With 

12 Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102); 

13 (2) has difficultly with self-care or living inde14 pendently; and 

15 (3) meets such other criteria as the Director de16 termines to be appropriate. 

17 SEC. 7. TRAINING AND STANDARDS OF CONDUCT. 

18 (a) PRE-ASSIGNMENT TRAINING PROGRAM.—The 

19 Director shall develop a training program that provides 

20 Corps volunteers with instruction in the skills necessary 

21 to carry out an assignment in a local Care Corps program. 

22 Such training program shall include— 

23 (1) at least 40 hours of instruction for each 

24 Corps volunteer for each term (of 12 months or less) 

25 to be served in the Corps by the volunteer; 


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1 (2) additional training for volunteers whose as2 signment requires further instruction; and 

3 (3) any other requirements the Director deter4 mines to be appropriate. 

5 (b) STANDARDS OF CONDUCT.—The Director shall 

6 establish and enforce standards to promote proper conduct 

7 and discipline within the Corps. 

8 SEC. 8. STATUS OF CORPS VOLUNTEERS UNDER FEDERAL 

9 LAW. 

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided in 

11 this section, Corps volunteers shall not, by reason of their 

12 status as volunteers, be treated as Federal employees or 

13 be subject to the provisions of law relating to Federal em14 ployment. 

15 (b) WORK-RELATED INJURIES.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of subchapter 

17 I of chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, relat18 ing to the compensation of Federal employees for 

19 work injuries, Corps volunteers shall be treated as 

20 employees of the United States within the meaning 

21 of the term ‘‘employee’’, as defined in section 8101 

22 of such title. 

23 (2) SPECIAL RULE.—In the application of the 

24 provisions of subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 5, 

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1 teer shall not be treated to be in the performance of 

2 duty while absent from the volunteer’s assigned post 

3 of duty unless the absence is authorized in accord4 ance with procedures prescribed by the Director. 

5 (c) TORT CLAIMS PROCEDURE.—A Corps volunteer 

6 shall be treated an employee of the United States for pur7 poses of chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, relat8 ing to tort claims liability and procedure. 

9 SEC. 9. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. 

10 The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting 

11 through the Administrator of the Administration for Com12 munity Living, shall transmit to Congress at least once 

13 in each fiscal year a report on the Corps. At minimum, 

14 such report shall include— 

15 (1) a description of the population served by 

16 the Corps during the preceding fiscal year, includ17 ing— 

18 (A) an estimate of the number of individ19 uals served in each State, disaggregated by 

20 race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status; and 

21 (B) identification of the type of settings in 

22 which the services were provided; 

23 (2) an evaluation of Corps operations; and 

24 (3) recommendations, if any, for improving 

25 Corps operations. 


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1 SEC. 10. LOCAL CARE CORPS PROGRAMS. 

2 (a) FUNCTIONS OF LOCAL CARE CORPS PRO3 GRAMS.—Local Care Corps programs shall— 

4 (1) conduct in-person orientation and training 

5 for Corps volunteers; 

6 (2) develop and monitor volunteer assignments, 

7 which shall include selecting the individuals in need 

8 to be served by Corps volunteers, matching volun9 teers to assignments, and supervising volunteers; 

10 (3) maintain records and prepare reports as re11 quired by the Director; and 

12 (4) carry out any other activities determined to 

13 be appropriate by the Director. 

14 (b) GRANTS FOR LOCAL CARE CORPS PROGRAMS.— 

15 The Director may award grants to qualified entities for 

16 the operation of local Care Corps programs. 

17 (1) QUALIFIED ENTITY.—The term ‘‘qualified 

18 entity’’ means a public or private nonprofit entity 

19 that is— 

20 (A) part of an aging network, as defined 

21 by section 102(5) of the Older Americans Act 

22 of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002(5)); 

23 (B) a time-banking or volunteer organizing 

24 agency; 

25 (C) a State, county, or local government; 

26 or 


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1 (D) any other entity determined to be ap2 propriate by the Director. 

3 (2) APPLICATION PROCESS.—To be eligible for 

4 a grant under this subsection, a qualified entity 

5 shall— 

6 (A) submit an application to the Director 

7 at such time, in such manner, and containing 

8 such information as the Director may require; 

9 and 

10 (B) abide by such terms and conditions as 

11 the Director determines to be appropriate. 

12 SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro14 priated $350,000,000 for each of the fiscal years begin15 ning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

16 (b) CONTINUED AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.— 

17 Amounts authorized to be appropriated under subsection 

18 (a) for a fiscal year are authorized to remain available for 

19 that fiscal year and the subsequent fiscal year. 

Æ 


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