I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2934
To amend the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 to provide for the
establishment of a National Youth Technology Corps Program, using
VISTA volunteers who are highly proficient in computer technologies
to recruit and organize youth to implement and maintain computer
systems for public schools, community centers, public senior centers,
and libraries and to teach students, teachers, senior citizens, and other
persons how to use these technologies and systems.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 23, 1999
Mr. LARSON (for himself, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. BONIOR, Mr. FROST,
Mr. DOOLEY of California, Mr. ETHERIDGE, Mr. CAPUANO, Ms. WOOL-
SEY, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. WU, Mr. ROMERO-
BARCELO´, Mr. COSTELLO, Mr. OWENS, and Mr. HOLT) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the
Workforce
A BILL
To amend the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 to
provide for the establishment of a National Youth Tech-
nology Corps Program, using VISTA volunteers who are
highly proficient in computer technologies to recruit and
organize youth to implement and maintain computer sys-
tems for public schools, community centers, public senior
centers, and libraries and to teach students, teachers,
senior citizens, and other persons how to use these tech-
nologies and systems.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Youth Tech-
nology Corps Act’’.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL YOUTH TECHNOLOGY CORPS.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.—The Domestic
Volunteer Service Act of 1973 is amended by inserting
after section 109 (42 U.S.C. 4959) the following new sec-
tion:
‘‘SEC. 109A. NATIONAL YOUTH TECHNOLOGY CORPS.
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—As part of the Volunteers in
Service to America program established under this part,
the Director shall establish a National Youth Technology
Corps for the purpose of using volunteers serving under
this part who are highly proficient in computer and other
information technologies—
‘‘(1) to recruit and organize youth—
‘‘(A) to implement and maintain computer
systems for public schools, community centers,
public senior centers, libraries, and related enti-
ties; and
‘‘(B) to teach students, teachers, senior
citizens, and other persons how to use computer
and other information technologies and systems;
‘‘(2) to promote the involvement of such youth
in community service through the provision of serv-
ices involving the use of technology;
‘‘(3) to promote entrepreneurship among, and
employment opportunities for, such youth in tech-
nology-related fields; and
‘‘(4) to provide recognition, on an annual basis
and otherwise, to the youth and organizations affili-
ated with the program that demonstrate outstanding
efforts and achievements in accordance with the pro-
grams.
‘‘(b) ASSIGNMENT.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall assign
volunteers to projects and programs that meet the
antipoverty criteria of this part and that provide as-
sistance to persons who are unserved or underserved
by computer education programs.
‘‘(2) ASSIGNMENT PRIORITIES.—In the assign-
ment of volunteers, the Director shall give priority
consideration to—
‘‘(A) programs and projects that assist in-
dividuals residing in unserved or underserved
areas with the highest concentrations of low in-
come individuals and families;
‘‘(B) projects and programs focusing on
providing computer training to high risk popu-
lations;
‘‘(C) projects and programs operating in
areas with the highest concentration of individ-
uals and families living at or below the poverty
level;
‘‘(D) projects and programs providing
computer training to parents of disadvantaged
children between the ages of 2 and 8, who may
be educationally at risk; and
‘‘(E) Statewide programs and projects that
encourage the creation of new computer train-
ing efforts, encourage the coordination of intra-
State computer training efforts, and provide
technical assistance to local computer training
efforts.
‘‘(c) ADMINISTRATION.—Programs and projects
under this section may be administered by—
‘‘(1) public or private nonprofit agencies and
organizations;
‘‘(2) community-based nonprofit organizations;
‘‘(3) local and State education agencies;
‘‘(4) local and State agencies administering
adult basic education programs;
‘‘(5) educational institutions;
‘‘(6) libraries;
‘‘(7) antipoverty organizations;
‘‘(8) local, municipal, and State governmental
entities; and
‘‘(9) eligible providers of employment and train-
ing activities under subtitle B of title I of the Work-
force Investment Act of 1998.
‘‘(d) EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF VOLUNTEERS.—
The Director shall ensure an equitable distribution of vol-
unteers under this section in accordance with the equitable
distribution requirement of section 414 of this Act.
‘‘(e) EXTENT OF PROGRAM.—The National Youth
Technology Corps shall consist of all volunteers serving
under part A who are working on projects and programs
of the type described in subsection (a).
‘‘(f) EFFECT OF FUNDING REDUCTION.—In any fis-
cal year in which the funding provided under part A is
reduced, the funding provided under this section shall be
proportionately reduced.’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents
in section 1(b) of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of
1973 is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 109 the following new item:
‘‘Sec. 109A. National Youth Technology Corps.’’.
Æ