COVID-19 National Service Response Act

To provide administrative support and flexibility to the Corporation for National and Community Service to respond to the COVID–19 national emergency as declared by the President under the National Emergencies Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1601 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the COVID–19 National Service Response Act 2. COVID–19 National emergency response for the Corporation for National and Community Service (a) Accrual of service hours (1) Accrual through other service hours (A) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 ( 42 U.S.C. 4950 42 U.S.C. 12501 (B) Affected individuals Subparagraph (A) shall apply to any individual serving in a position eligible for an educational award under subtitle D of title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12601 (i) who is performing limited service due to COVID–19; or (ii) whose position has been suspended or placed on hold due to COVID–19. (2) Provisions in case of early exit In any case where an individual serving in a position eligible for an educational award under subtitle D of title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12601 (A) deem such individual as having met the requirements of the position; and (B) award the individual the full value of the educational award under such subtitle for which the individual would otherwise have been eligible. (b) Availability of Funds Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all funds made available to the Corporation for National and Community Service under any Act, including the amounts appropriated to the Corporation under the headings OPERATING EXPENSES SALARIES AND EXPENSES OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL Corporation for National and Community Service Public Law 116–94 (c) No Required Return of Grant Funds Notwithstanding section 129(l)(3)(A)(i) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12581(l)(3)(A)(i) (d) Extension of Terms and Age Limits Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Corporation for National and Community Service may extend the term of service (for a period not to exceed the 1-year period immediately following the end of the national emergency) or waive any upper age limit (except in no case shall the maximum age exceed 26 years of age) for national service programs carried out by the National Civilian Community Corps under subtitle E of title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12611 (1) addressing disruptions due to COVID–19; and (2) minimizing the difficulty in returning to full operation due to COVID–19 on such programs and participants.

Summary: COVID-19 National Service Response Act This bill modifies the Corporation for National and Community Service program to respond to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) national emergency. The corporation shall allow an individual serving in a position eligible for an educational award, who is performing limited service or whose position has been suspended or placed on hold due to COVID-19, to accrue other service hours that will count toward the number of hours needed for the individual's education award. The bill (1) deems certain individuals who are required to exit such positions early at the direction of the corporation to have met the requirements of the position, and (2) makes certain funds available for FY2021 for the program. The corporation may (1) permit fixed-amount grant recipients to maintain a pro rata amount of grant funds at the corporation's discretion for participants who exited, were suspended, or are serving in a limited capacity due to COVID-19; and (2) extend the term of service or waive any upper age limit for national service programs carried out by the National Civilian Community Corps for purposes of addressing disruptions, and minimizing the difficulty in returning to full operation, due to COVID-19.