Service Starts At Home Act

To direct the Secretary of Education to carry out grant programs to encourage student participation in local government and volunteer service, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Service Starts At Home Act 2. Grants to support internships in local government (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall carry out a program under which the Secretary makes grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to support paid internships within units of local government for secondary school students and students who are qualified undergraduates at institutions of higher education in the State in which the entity is located. (b) Application To be considered for a grant under subsection (a), an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary of Education at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (c) Local government internship program Each eligible entity that receives a grant under subsection (a) shall use such grant to carry out a program under which the entity— (1) identifies appropriate paid internship opportunities within units of local government for secondary school students and students who are undergraduates at institutions of higher education in the State in which the entity is located; (2) establishes a process for the selection of students to fill such internships; (3) determines hourly rates of pay and other terms and conditions applicable to such internships; (4) pays the costs incurred in providing such internships. (d) Accommodations and educational standards In carrying out the internship program under subsection (c), an eligible entity shall— (1) work with institutions of higher education to ensure that the work performed by interns has educational value and meets applicable educational standards; and (2) seek to provide reasonable employment-related accommodations to interns who have childcare needs, transportation difficulties, or other such challenges, which may include accommodations such as flexible work schedules for interns and allowing interns to telework to the extent determined practicable by the eligibility entity concerned. (e) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028. 3. Scholarship for volunteer service programs (a) Funding (1) State programs (A) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall carry out a program under which the Secretary makes allocations to States, in accordance with subparagraph (B), to carry out the scholarship program under subsection (b). (B) Allocations to States Of the amount appropriated to carry out this section for each fiscal year and not reserved under paragraph (2), each State that has an application approved by the Secretary under subparagraph (C) shall be allocated an amount in proportion to number of students enrolled in the public elementary and secondary schools in the State for the previous school year relative to the total number of students enrolled in the public elementary and secondary schools for such school year in every State that has an application approved by the Secretary under such subparagraph . (C) State application To be eligible to receive an allocation under subparagraph (B) a State shall submit an application to the Secretary of Education at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (2) Federal program Of the amount appropriated to carry out this section for each fiscal, the Secretary of Education may reserve not more than 20 percent to carry out the Federal supplemental scholarship program under subsection (c). (b) State administered scholarship program (1) In general Each State that receives an allocation under subsection (a)(2) shall use such allocation to carry out a program under which the State awards scholarships, on a competitive basis, to eligible students who demonstrate a commitment to volunteer service work. (2) Application A student who seeks a scholarship under this subsection shall submit an application to the State at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the State may require. (3) Student eligibility To be eligible to receive a scholarship under this subsection a student shall meet the following criteria: (A) First-time applicant In the case of a first-time applicant for a scholarship under this subsection, the student shall— (i) (I) be enrolled in a secondary school and be in the final year of a program of study leading to a regular high school diploma; or (II) be enrolled in an institution of higher education; and (ii) have completed at least 100 hours of volunteer service work in the preceding school year (or another one-year period determined by the Secretary of Education). (B) Renewal applicant In the case of a student who received scholarship under this subsection for an academic year and who is seeking a scholarship for a subsequent academic year, the student shall— (i) be enrolled in an institution of higher education; (ii) be in good academic standing (as determined by the institution); and (iii) have completed at least 100 hours of volunteer service work in the preceding school year (or another one-year period determined by the Secretary of Education). (4) Renewal process Subject to the availability of funds for such purpose, a State that receives an allocation under subsection (a) shall— (A) award a scholarship to each renewal applicant who meets the requirements described in paragraph (3)(B); and (B) establish a streamlined process under which renewal applicants can apply for such scholarships with minimal documentation required. (5) Priority In awarding scholarships under this subsection, a State shall— (A) in accordance with paragraph (4), first award scholarships to renewal applicants described in paragraph (3)(B); and (B) from any funds remaining after awarding such scholarships, award scholarships to first-time applicants described in paragraph (3)(A). (6) Use of funds A scholarship received by a student under this subsection may be used by such student only to pay the student’s costs of attendance at an institution of higher education. (7) Duration Each scholarship under this subsection shall be awarded for a period of one academic year. A student may receive a scholarship under this subsection for a total period of not more than four academic years. (8) Amount The amount of each scholarship under this subsection shall be— (A) $1000, for a student who completed at least 100 hours, but less than 138 hours, of volunteer service work in the preceding school year (or another one-year period determined by the Secretary of Education); (B) $1500, for a student who completed at least 138 hours, but less than 175 hours, of volunteer service work in the preceding school year (or another one-year period determined by the Secretary of Education); (C) $2000, for a student who completed at least 175 hours, but less than 213 hours, of volunteer service work in such period; (D) $2500, for a student who completed at least 213 hours, but less than 250 hours, of volunteer service work in such period; and (E) $3000, for a student who completed at least 250 hours of volunteer service work in such period. (c) Federal supplemental scholarship program (1) In general From amounts reserved under subsection (a)(2), the Secretary of Education may carry out a program under which the Secretary awards supplementary funds, on a competitive basis, directly to eligible students who have already received scholarships for volunteer service work. (2) Amount The amount of supplementary funds awarded to each student under paragraph (1) shall be determined by the Secretary of Education. (3) Priority In awarding scholarships under this subsection, the Secretary shall prioritize the award of funds to students who have not received a scholarship under subsection (b). (d) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028. 4. Definitions In this Act: (1) The term cost of attendance 20 U.S.C. 1087ll (2) The term eligible entity (3) The terms elementary school regular high school diploma secondary school State 20 U.S.C. 7801 (4) The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1001 (5) The term unit of local government (A) a county, municipality, town, township, village, parish, borough, or other unit of general government below the State level; or (B) a governing body of an Indian tribe or tribal organization. (6) (A) The term volunteer service work (B) Such term does not include acts of proselytizing, conducting worship services, religious instruction, political lobbying, court ordered service, or service conducted primarily for the benefit of the family of a student eligible for a scholarship under section 3.

Summary: Service Starts At Home Act This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to carry out programs to support student participation in local government and volunteer service. Specifically, ED must make competitive grants for states or local governments to support paid internships within local governments for secondary school students and undergraduate students. Additionally, ED must make allocations for states to award competitive scholarships to eligible students who demonstrate a commitment to volunteer service work conducted for or on behalf of a government or nonprofit organization. Further, ED may carry out a program to award supplementary funds (on a competitive basis) directly to eligible students who have already received scholarships for volunteer service work.