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 allocations to States, in accordance with subsection (b), to support paid internships for secondary school students within local government agencies. (b) Allocations to States Of the amount appropriated to carry out this section for each fiscal year, each State that has an application approved by the Secretary under subsection (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 subsection. (c) Application To be eligible to receive an allocation under subsection (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. (d) Local government internship program Each State that receives an allocation under subsection (b) shall use such allocation to carry out a program under which the State— (1) in consultation with local government officials— (A) identifies appropriate paid internship opportunities for secondary school students within local government agencies; (B) establishes a process for the selection of students to fill such internships; and (C) determines hourly rates of pay and other terms and conditions applicable to such internships; and (2) provides funds to local government agencies to reimburse such agencies for costs incurred in providing such internships. (e) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 and each succeeding fiscal year. 3. Scholarship for service program (a) Funding for States (1) 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 paragraph (2), to carry out the scholarship program under subsection (b). (2) Allocations to States Of the amount appropriated to carry out this section for each fiscal year, each State that has an application approved by the Secretary under paragraph (3) 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 paragraph . (3) State application To be eligible to receive an allocation under paragraph (2) 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. (b) State administered scholarship program (1) In general Each State that receives an allocation under subsection (a) 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) be enrolled in public secondary school; (ii) be in the final year of a program of study leading to a regular high school diploma; 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). (B) Renewal applicant In the case of a student who previously received a scholarship under this subsection 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) Priority In awarding scholarships under this subsection, a State shall— (A) 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). (5) 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. (6) 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. (7) 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 175 hours, of volunteer service work in the preceding school year (or another one-year period determined by the Secretary of Education); (B) $2000, for a student who completed at least 175 hours, but less than 250 hours, of volunteer service work in such period; and (C) $3000, for a student who completed at least 250 hours of volunteer service work in such period. (c) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 and each succeeding fiscal year. 4. Definitions In this Act: (1) The term cost of attendance 20 U.S.C. 1087ll (2) The terms elementary school regular high school diploma secondary school State 20 U.S.C. 7801 (3) The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1001 (4) (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 described in section 3(c).

Summary: Service Starts At Home Act This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to carry out two programs to support student participation in local government and volunteer service. Specifically, ED must make allocations for states to (1) support paid internships within local government agencies for secondary school students, and (2) 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.