I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2167 
To amend the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to expand the authority 
of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, and the 
Secretary of the Interior to provide service opportunities for young Amer-
icans, to help restore natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, rec-
reational, and scenic resources of the United States, to train a new 
generation of public land managers and enthusiasts, to promote the 
value of public service, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 30, 2015 
Mr. GRIJALVA (for himself, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. CARTWRIGHT, and Mr. 
FARR) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture 
and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to expand 
the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Sec-
retary of Commerce, and the Secretary of the Interior 
to provide service opportunities for young Americans, 
to help restore natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, 
recreational, and scenic resources of the United States, 
to train a new generation of public land managers and 
enthusiasts, to promote the value of public service, and 
for other purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2015’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Amendment to existing short title. 
Sec. 3. Name and project description changes. 
Sec. 4. Findings. 
Sec. 5. Purposes. 
Sec. 6. Definitions. 
Sec. 7. Public Lands Service Corps program. 
Sec. 8. Residential conservation centers and program support. 
Sec. 9. Resource assistants and consulting interns. 
Sec. 10. Inclusion of Indian Youth Service Corps and issuance of guidance. 
Sec. 11. Living allowances and terms of service. 
Sec. 12. National service educational awards. 
Sec. 13. Nondisplacement. 
Sec. 14. Funding. 
Sec. 15. Authorization of appropriations. 
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO EXISTING SHORT TITLE. 
Section 201 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 
(16 U.S.C. 1701 note; title II of Public Law 91–378) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES. 
‘‘(a) SHORT TITLE.—This title may be cited as the 
‘Public Lands Service Corps Act of 1993’. 
‘‘(b) REFERENCES.—Any reference contained in any 
law, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the 
United States to the ‘Public Lands Corps Act of 1993’ 
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shall be considered to be a reference to the ‘Public Lands 
Service Corps Act of 1993’.’’. 
SEC. 3. NAME AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION CHANGES. 
The Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 
1721 et seq.; title II of Public Law 91–378) is amended— 
(1) in the title heading, by striking ‘‘PUBLIC 
LANDS CORPS’’ and inserting ‘‘PUBLIC 
LANDS SERVICE CORPS’’; 
(2) in section 204 (16 U.S.C. 1723), in the 
heading, by striking ‘‘PUBLIC LANDS CORPS’’ and 
inserting ‘‘PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS’’; 
(3) 
in 
section 
210(a)(2) 
(16 
U.S.C. 
1729(a)(2)), in the heading, by striking ‘‘PUBLIC 
LANDS’’; 
(4) by striking ‘‘Public Lands Corps’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘Corps’’; 
(5) by striking ‘‘conservation center’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘residential conservation 
center’’; 
(6) by striking ‘‘conservation centers’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘residential conserva-
tion centers’’; 
(7) 
by 
striking 
‘‘appropriate 
conservation 
project’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘appro-
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priate natural and cultural resources conservation 
project’’; and 
(8) 
by 
striking 
‘‘appropriate 
conservation 
projects’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘ap-
propriate natural and cultural resources conservation 
projects’’. 
SEC. 4. FINDINGS. 
Section 202(a) of the Public Lands Corps Act of 
1993 (16 U.S.C. 1721(a)), as amended by section 3, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Corps can benefit’’ and 
inserting ‘‘conservation corps can benefit’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘the natural and cultural’’ 
and inserting ‘‘natural and cultural’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as 
paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) Participants in conservation corps receive 
meaningful education and training, and their experi-
ence with conservation corps provides preparation 
for careers in public service. 
‘‘(3) Young men and women who participate in 
the rehabilitation and restoration of the natural, cul-
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tural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and sce-
nic treasures of the United States will gain an in-
creased appreciation and understanding of the public 
lands and heritage of the United States, and of the 
value of public service, and are likely to become life- 
long advocates for those values.’’; 
(4) in paragraph (4), as redesignated by para-
graph (2), by inserting ‘‘, cultural, historic, archae-
ological, recreational, and scenic’’ after ‘‘Many facili-
ties and natural’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(6) The work of conservation corps can benefit 
communities adjacent to public lands and facilities 
through renewed civic engagement and participation 
by corps participants and those they serve, improved 
student achievement, and restoration and rehabilita-
tion of public assets.’’. 
SEC. 5. PURPOSES. 
Subsection (b) of section 202 of the Public Lands 
Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1721) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are as fol-
lows: 
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‘‘(1) To introduce young men and women to 
public service while furthering their understanding 
and appreciation of the natural, cultural, historic, 
archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources of 
the United States. 
‘‘(2) To facilitate training and recruitment op-
portunities in which service is credited as qualifying 
experience for careers in the management of such 
resources. 
‘‘(3) To instill in a new generation of young 
men and women from across the United States, in-
cluding young men and women from diverse back-
grounds, the desire to seek careers in resource stew-
ardship and public service by allowing them to work 
directly with professionals in agencies responsible for 
the management of the natural, cultural, historic, 
archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources of 
the United States. 
‘‘(4) To perform, in a cost-effective manner, ap-
propriate natural and cultural resources conservation 
projects where such projects are not being performed 
by existing employees. 
‘‘(5) To assist State and local governments and 
Indian tribes in performing research and public edu-
cation tasks associated with the conservation of nat-
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ural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, 
and scenic resources. 
‘‘(6) To expand educational opportunities on 
public lands and by rewarding individuals who par-
ticipate in conservation corps with an increased abil-
ity to pursue higher education and job training. 
‘‘(7) To promote public understanding and ap-
preciation of the missions and the natural and cul-
tural resources conservation work of the partici-
pating Federal agencies through training opportuni-
ties, community service and outreach, and other ap-
propriate means. 
‘‘(8) To create a grant program for Indian 
tribes to establish the Indian Youth Service Corps so 
that Indian youth can benefit from carrying out 
projects on Indian lands that the Indian tribes and 
communities determine to be priorities.’’. 
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 203 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 
(16 U.S.C. 1722) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through 
(7), (8) through (10), and (11) through (13) as 
paragraphs (5) through (9), (11) through (13), and 
(15) through (17), respectively; 
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(2) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and in-
serting the following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(1) APPROPRIATE
NATURAL
AND
CULTURAL 
RESOURCES
CONSERVATION
PROJECT.—The term 
‘appropriate natural and cultural resources conserva-
tion project’ means any project for the conservation, 
restoration, construction, or rehabilitation of nat-
ural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, 
or scenic resources. 
‘‘(2) CONSULTING
INTERN.—The term ‘con-
sulting intern’ means a consulting intern selected 
under section 206(a)(2). 
‘‘(3) CORPS
AND
PUBLIC
LANDS
SERVICE 
CORPS.—The terms ‘Corps’ and ‘Public Lands Serv-
ice Corps’ mean the Public Lands Service Corps es-
tablished under section 204(a). 
‘‘(4) CORPS
PARTICIPANT.—The term ‘Corps 
participant’ means an individual enrolled— 
‘‘(A) in the Corps or the Indian Youth 
Service Corps; or 
‘‘(B) as a resource assistant or consulting 
intern.’’; 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (9), as redesig-
nated by paragraph (1), the following new para-
graph: 
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‘‘(10) INDIAN
YOUTH
SERVICE
CORPS.—The 
term ‘Indian Youth Service Corps’ means a qualified 
youth or conservation corps established under sec-
tion 207 that— 
‘‘(A) enrolls individuals between the ages 
of 15 and 25, inclusive, a majority of whom are 
Indians; and 
‘‘(B) is established pursuant to a tribal 
resolution that describes the agreement between 
the Indian tribe and the qualified youth or con-
servation corps to operate an Indian Youth 
Service Corps program for the benefit of the 
members of the Indian tribe.’’; 
(4) by striking paragraph (12), as redesignated 
by paragraph (1), and inserting the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(12) PUBLIC LANDS.—The term ‘public lands’ 
means any land or water (or interest therein) owned 
or administered by the United States, including 
those areas of coastal and ocean waters, the Great 
Lakes and their connecting waters, and submerged 
lands over which the United States exercises juris-
diction, except that such term does not include In-
dian lands.’’; 
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(5) in paragraph (13), as redesignated by para-
graph (1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘full-time,’’; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘on eligible service 
lands’’ after ‘‘resource setting’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘16’’ and inserting 
‘‘15’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(C) in subparagraph (C), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) makes available for audit for each fis-
cal year for which the qualified youth or con-
servation corps receives Federal funds under 
this Act, all information pertaining to the ex-
penditure of the funds, any matching funds, 
and participant demographics.’’; 
(6) by inserting after paragraph (13), as redes-
ignated by paragraph (1) and amended by para-
graph (5), the following new paragraph: 
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‘‘(14) 
RESIDENTIAL
CONSERVATION
CEN-
TERS.—The term ‘residential conservation centers’ 
means the facilities authorized under section 205.’’; 
(7) in paragraph (15), as redesignated by para-
graph (1), by striking ‘‘206’’ and inserting 
‘‘206(a)(1)’’; and 
(8) in paragraph (16), as redesignated by para-
graph (1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) with respect to the National Marine 
Sanctuary System, coral reefs, and other coast-
al, estuarine, and marine habitats, and other 
lands and facilities administered by the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
the Secretary of Commerce.’’. 
SEC. 7. PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS PROGRAM. 
Section 204 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 
(16 U.S.C. 1723), as amended by section 3, is amended— 
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(1) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), (e), 
and (f) as subsections (d), (f), (g), and (h), respec-
tively; 
(2) by striking subsections (a) and (b) and in-
serting the following new subsections: 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE 
CORPS.—There is established in the Department of the 
Interior, the Department of Agriculture, and the Depart-
ment of Commerce a Public Lands Service Corps. 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF CORPS OFFICE; COORDI-
NATORS; LIAISON.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICES.— 
‘‘(A) DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.— 
The Secretary of the Interior shall establish a 
department-level office to coordinate the Corps 
activities within the Department of the Interior. 
‘‘(B) DEPARTMENT
OF
AGRICULTURE.— 
The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish 
within the Forest Service an office to coordinate 
the Corps activities within that agency. 
‘‘(C) DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.—The 
Secretary of Commerce shall establish within 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
istration an office to coordinate the Corps ac-
tivities within that agency. 
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‘‘(2) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
COORDINATORS.— 
The Secretary shall designate a Public Lands Serv-
ice Corps coordinator for each agency under the ju-
risdiction of the Secretary that administers Corps 
activities. 
‘‘(3) ESTABLISHMENT OF LIAISON.—The Sec-
retary of the Interior shall establish an Indian Youth 
Service Corps liaison that will— 
‘‘(A) provide outreach to Indian tribes 
about opportunities for establishing Corps and 
Indian Youth Service Corps programs; and 
‘‘(B) coordinate with the Tribal Liaison of 
the Corporation for National Service to identify 
and establish Corps and Indian Youth Service 
Corps opportunities for Indian youth. 
‘‘(c) PARTICIPANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may enroll 
in the Corps individuals who are— 
‘‘(A) hired by an agency under the juris-
diction of the Secretary to perform work au-
thorized under this Act; or 
‘‘(B) members of a qualified youth or con-
servation corps with which the Secretary has 
entered into a cooperative agreement to perform 
work authorized under this Act. 
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‘‘(2) RESOURCE ASSISTANTS AND CONSULTING 
INTERNS.—The Secretary may also enroll in the 
Corps resource assistants and consulting interns in 
accordance with section 206(a). 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.—To be eligi-
ble for enrollment as a Corps participant, an indi-
vidual shall— 
‘‘(A)(i) be between the ages of 15 and 25, 
inclusive; or 
‘‘(ii) in the case of a military veteran, be 
not older than 35; and 
‘‘(B) satisfy the requirements of section 
137(a)(5) of the National and Community Serv-
ice Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12591(a)(5)). 
‘‘(4) TERMS.—Each Corps participant may be 
enrolled in the Corps for a term of up to 2 years of 
service, which may be served over a period that ex-
ceeds 2 calendar years. 
‘‘(5) CIVIL SERVICE.—An individual may be en-
rolled as a Corps participant without regard to the 
civil service and classification laws, rules, or regula-
tions of the United States. 
‘‘(6) PREFERENCE.—The Secretary may estab-
lish a preference for the enrollment as Corps partici-
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pants individuals who are economically, physically, 
or educationally disadvantaged. 
‘‘(7) LOCAL PREFERENCE.—The Secretary may 
establish a preference for enrollment of Corps par-
ticipants who are individuals who live in that State 
or region.’’; 
(3) in subsection (d), as redesignated by para-
graph (1)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘contracts and’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘subsection (d)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subsection (f)’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and insert-
ing the following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(2) RECRUITMENT.—The Secretary shall carry 
out, or enter into cooperative agreements to provide, 
a program to attract eligible youth to the Corps by 
publicizing Corps opportunities through high schools, 
colleges, employment centers, electronic media, and 
other appropriate institutions and means. 
‘‘(3) PREFERENCE.—In entering into coopera-
tive agreements under paragraph (1) or awarding 
competitive grants to Indian tribes or tribally au-
thorized organizations under section 207, the Sec-
retary may give preference to qualified youth or con-
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servation corps that are located in specific areas 
where a substantial portion of members are economi-
cally, physically, or educationally disadvantaged.’’; 
(4) by inserting after subsection (d), as redesig-
nated by paragraph (1), the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(e) TRAINING.—For purposes of training, the Sec-
retary shall take into account training already received by 
Corps participants enrolled from qualified youth or con-
servation corps.’’; 
(5) in subsection (f), as redesignated by para-
graph (1)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the heading, by striking ‘‘IN 
GENERAL.—’’ and inserting ‘‘USE
OF 
CORPS; PROJECTS.—’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘The Secretary may 
utilize the Corps or any qualified youth or 
conservation corps to carry out’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may 
use the Corps to carry out, with appropriate su-
pervision and training,’’; 
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(iii) by striking ‘‘on public lands’’ and 
inserting on ‘‘on eligible service lands’’; 
and 
(iv) by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraph: 
‘‘(B) PROJECTS.—Appropriate natural and 
cultural resources conservation projects carried 
out under this section may include— 
‘‘(i) protecting, restoring, or enhanc-
ing ecosystem components to promote spe-
cies recovery, improve biological diversity, 
enhance productivity and carbon sequestra-
tion, and enhance adaptability and resil-
ience of eligible service lands and resources 
to climate change and other natural and 
human disturbances; 
‘‘(ii) promoting the health of eligible 
service lands, including— 
‘‘(I) protecting and restoring wa-
tersheds and forest, grassland, ripar-
ian, estuarine, marine, or other habi-
tat; 
‘‘(II) 
reducing 
the 
risk 
of 
uncharacteristically 
severe 
wildfire 
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and mitigating damage from insects, 
disease, and disasters; 
‘‘(III) controlling erosion; 
‘‘(IV) controlling and removing 
invasive, noxious, or nonnative spe-
cies; and 
‘‘(V) restoring native species; 
‘‘(iii) collecting biological, archae-
ological, and other scientific data, includ-
ing climatological information, species pop-
ulations and movement, habitat status, and 
other information; 
‘‘(iv) assisting in historical and cul-
tural research, museum curatorial work, 
oral history projects, documentary photog-
raphy, and activities that support the cre-
ation of public works of art related to eligi-
ble service lands; and 
‘‘(v) constructing, repairing, rehabili-
tating, and maintaining roads, trails, 
campgrounds and other visitor facilities, 
employee housing, cultural and historic 
sites and structures, and other facilities 
that further the purposes of this Act.’’; 
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(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and 
(3) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the 
following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(2) VISITOR SERVICES.—The Secretary may— 
‘‘(A) enter into or amend an existing coop-
erative agreement with a cooperating associa-
tion, educational institution, friends group, or 
similar nonprofit partner organization for the 
purpose of providing training and work experi-
ence to Corps participants in areas such as 
sales, office work, accounting, and management, 
provided that the work experience directly re-
lates to the conservation and management of el-
igible service lands; and 
‘‘(B) allow Corps participants to help pro-
mote visitor safety and enjoyment of eligible 
service lands, and assist in the gathering of vis-
itor use data. 
‘‘(3) INTERPRETATION.—The Secretary may 
permit Corps participants to provide interpretation 
or education services for the public under the direct 
and immediate supervision of an agency employee— 
‘‘(A) to provide orientation and informa-
tion services to visitors; 
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‘‘(B) to assist agency employees in the de-
livery of interpretive or educational programs 
where audience size, environmental conditions, 
safety, or other factors make such assistance 
desirable; 
‘‘(C) to present programs that relate the 
personal experience of the Corps participants 
for the purpose of promoting public awareness 
of the Corps, the role of the Corps in public 
land management agencies, and the availability 
of the Corps to potential participants; and 
‘‘(D) to create nonpersonal interpretive 
products, such as website content, Junior Rang-
er program books, printed handouts, and audio-
visual programs.’’; 
(6) in subsection (g), as redesignated by para-
graph (1)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by striking ‘‘those projects which’’ and inserting 
‘‘priority projects and other projects that’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and insert-
ing the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) will instill in Corps participants a work 
ethic and a sense of public service;’’; and 
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(7) by adding at the end the following new sub-
sections: 
‘‘(i) OTHER PARTICIPANTS.—The Secretary may 
allow volunteers from other programs administered or des-
ignated by the Secretary to participate as volunteers in 
projects carried out under this section. 
‘‘(j) CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECKS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The requirements of sec-
tion 189D(b) of the National and Community Serv-
ice Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12645g(b)) shall apply 
to each individual age 18 or older seeking— 
‘‘(A) to become a Corps participant; 
‘‘(B) to receive funds authorized under this 
Act; or 
‘‘(C) to supervise or otherwise have regular 
contact with Corps participants in activities au-
thorized under this Act. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBILITY
PROHIBITION.—If any of 
paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 189D(c) of 
the National and Community Service Act of 1990 
(42 U.S.C. 12645g(c)) apply to an individual de-
scribed in paragraph (1), that individual shall not be 
eligible for the position or activity described in para-
graph (1), unless the Secretary provides an exemp-
tion for good cause.’’. 
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SEC. 8. RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATION CENTERS AND PRO-
GRAM SUPPORT. 
Section 205 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 
(16 U.S.C. 1724) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(2) TEMPORARY
HOUSING.—The Secretary 
may make arrangements with another Federal agen-
cy, State, local government, or private organization 
to provide temporary housing for Corps participants 
as needed and available. 
‘‘(3) 
TRANSPORTATION.—In 
project 
areas 
where Corps participants reside at their own homes, 
the Secretary may provide transportation to and 
from project sites.’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (d) as sub-
section (e); 
(3) by inserting after subsection (c) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(d) MENTORS.—The Secretary may recruit from 
programs, such as Federal volunteer and encore service 
programs, and from veterans groups, military retirees, and 
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active duty personnel, such adults as may be suitable and 
qualified to provide training, mentoring, and crew-leading 
services to Corps participants.’’; and 
(4) in subsection (e), as redesignated by para-
graph (2), by striking ‘‘that are appropriate’’ and all 
that follows through the period and inserting ‘‘that 
the Secretary determines to be necessary for a resi-
dential conservation center.’’. 
SEC. 9. RESOURCE ASSISTANTS AND CONSULTING IN-
TERNS. 
Section 206 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 
(16 U.S.C. 1725) is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by inserting ‘‘AND 
CONSULTING INTERNS’’ before the period; 
(2) by striking subsections (a) and (b) and in-
serting the following new subsections: 
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION.— 
‘‘(1) RESOURCE ASSISTANTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may 
provide individual placements of resource assist-
ants with any agency under the jurisdiction of 
the Secretary that carries out appropriate nat-
ural 
and 
cultural 
resources 
conservation 
projects to carry out research or resource pro-
tection activities on behalf of the agency. 
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‘‘(B) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for se-
lection as a resource assistant, an individual 
shall be at least 17 years of age. 
‘‘(C) PREFERENCE.—In selecting resource 
assistants for placement under this paragraph, 
the Secretary shall give a preference to individ-
uals who are enrolled in an institution of higher 
education or are recent graduates from an insti-
tution of higher education, with particular at-
tention given to ensuring full representation of 
women and participants from Historically Black 
Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving in-
stitutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities. 
‘‘(2) CONSULTING INTERNS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may 
provide individual placements of consulting in-
terns with any agency under the jurisdiction of 
the Secretary that carries out appropriate nat-
ural 
and 
cultural 
resources 
conservation 
projects to carry out management analysis ac-
tivities on behalf of the agency. 
‘‘(B) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for se-
lection as a consulting intern, an individual 
shall be enrolled in, and have completed at least 
1 full year at, a graduate or professional school 
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that has been accredited by an accrediting body 
recognized by the Secretary of Education. 
‘‘(b) USE
OF EXISTING NONPROFIT ORGANIZA-
TIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Whenever 1 or more non-
profit organizations can provide appropriate recruit-
ment and placement services to fulfill the require-
ments of this section, the Secretary may implement 
this section through such organizations. 
‘‘(2) EXPENSES.—Participating organizations 
shall contribute to the expenses of providing and 
supporting the resource assistants or consulting in-
terns from sources of funding other than the Sec-
retary, at a level of not less than 25 percent of the 
total costs (15 percent of which may be from in-kind 
sources) of each participant in the resource assistant 
or consulting intern program who has been recruited 
and placed through that organization. 
‘‘(3) REPORTING.—Each participating organi-
zation shall be required to submit an annual report 
evaluating the scope, size, and quality of the pro-
gram, including the value of work contributed by the 
resource assistants and consulting interns, to the 
mission of the agency.’’. 
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SEC. 10. INCLUSION OF INDIAN YOUTH SERVICE CORPS 
AND ISSUANCE OF GUIDANCE. 
The Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 is amended— 
(1) by redesignating sections 207 through 211 
(16 U.S.C. 1726 through 1730) as sections 209 
through 213, respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after section 206 (16 U.S.C. 
1725) the following new sections: 
‘‘SEC. 207. INDIAN YOUTH SERVICE CORPS. 
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION
OF
COOPERATIVE
AGREE-
MENTS AND COMPETITIVE GRANTS.—The Secretary is au-
thorized to enter into cooperative agreements with, or 
make competitive grants to, Indian tribes and qualified 
youth or conservation corps for the establishment and ad-
ministration of Indian Youth Service Corps programs to 
carry out appropriate natural and cultural resources con-
servation projects on Indian lands. 
‘‘(b) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive assist-
ance under this section, an Indian tribe or a qualified 
youth or conservation corps shall submit to the Secretary 
an application in such manner and containing such infor-
mation as the Secretary may require, including— 
‘‘(1) a description of the methods by which In-
dian youth will be recruited for and retained in the 
Indian Youth Service Corps; 
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‘‘(2) a description of the projects to be carried 
out by the Indian Youth Service Corps; 
‘‘(3) a description of how the projects were 
identified; and 
‘‘(4) an explanation of the impact of, and the 
direct community benefits provided by, the proposed 
projects. 
‘‘SEC. 208. GUIDANCE. 
‘‘Not later than 18 months after funds are made 
available to the Secretary to carry out this Act, the Sec-
retary shall issue guidelines for the management of pro-
grams under the jurisdiction of the Secretary that are au-
thorized under this Act.’’. 
SEC. 11. LIVING ALLOWANCES AND TERMS OF SERVICE. 
Section 209 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 
(16 U.S.C. 1726), as redesignated by section 10, is 
amended by striking subsections (a), (b), and (c) and in-
serting the following new subsections: 
‘‘(a) LIVING ALLOWANCES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide 
each Corps participant with a living allowance in an 
amount established by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) TRAVEL COSTS.—The Secretary may reim-
burse Corps participants for travel costs at the be-
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ginning and end of the term of service of the Corps 
participants. 
‘‘(b) TERMS OF SERVICE.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each Corps participant 
shall agree to participate for such term of service as 
may be established by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) CONSULTATIONS.—With respect to the In-
dian Youth Service Corps, the term of service shall 
be established in consultation with the affected In-
dian tribe or tribally authorized organization. 
‘‘(c) HIRING PREFERENCE AND FUTURE EMPLOY-
MENT.—The Secretary may— 
‘‘(1) grant to a Corps participant credit for 
time served as a Corps participant, which may be 
used toward future Federal hiring; 
‘‘(2) provide to a former participant of the 
Corps or the Indian Youth Service Corps non-
competitive hiring status for a period of not more 
than 2 years after the date on which the service of 
the candidate in the Corps or the Indian Youth 
Service Corps was complete, if the candidate— 
‘‘(A) has served a minimum of 960 hours 
on an appropriate natural or cultural resources 
conservation project that included at least 120 
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hours through the Corps or the Indian Youth 
Service Corps; and 
‘‘(B) meets Office of Personnel Manage-
ment qualification standards for the position for 
which the candidate is applying; 
‘‘(3) provide to a former resource assistant or 
consulting intern noncompetitive hiring status for a 
period of not more than 2 years after the date on 
which the individual has completed an under-
graduate or graduate degree, respectively, from an 
accredited institution, if the candidate— 
‘‘(A) successfully fulfilled the resource as-
sistant or consulting intern program require-
ments; and 
‘‘(B) meets Office of Personnel Manage-
ment qualification standards for the position for 
which the candidate is applying; and 
‘‘(4) provide, or enter into contracts or coopera-
tive agreements with qualified employment agencies 
to provide, alumni services such as job and edu-
cation counseling, referrals, verification of service, 
communications, and other appropriate services to 
Corps participants who have completed the term of 
service.’’. 
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SEC. 12. NATIONAL SERVICE EDUCATIONAL AWARDS. 
Section 210 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 
(16 U.S.C. 1727), as redesignated by section 10 and 
amended by section 3, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), in the first sentence— 
(A) by striking ‘‘participant in the Corps 
or a resource assistant’’ and inserting ‘‘Corps 
participant’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘participant or resource as-
sistant’’ and inserting ‘‘Corps participant’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘either participants in the 
Corps or resource assistants’’ and inserting 
‘‘Corps participants’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘or a resource assistant’’. 
SEC. 13. NONDISPLACEMENT. 
Section 211 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 
(16 U.S.C. 1728), as redesignated by section 10, is 
amended by striking ‘‘activities carried out’’ and all that 
follows through the period and inserting ‘‘Corps partici-
pants.’’. 
SEC. 14. FUNDING. 
Section 212 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 
(16 U.S.C. 1729), as redesignated by section 10, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
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(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the second sentence, by striking 
‘‘non-federal 
sources’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘sources other than the Secretary’’; and 
(ii) by inserting after the second sen-
tence the following: ‘‘The Secretary may 
pay up to 90 percent of the costs of a 
project if the Secretary determines that the 
reduction is necessary to enable participa-
tion from a greater range of organizations 
or individuals.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘or In-
dian Youth Service Corps’’ after ‘‘Corps’’ each 
place it appears; 
(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
following new subsection: 
‘‘(b) FUNDS AVAILABLE UNDER NATIONAL
AND 
COMMUNITY SERVICE ACT.—To carry out this title, the 
Secretary shall be eligible to apply for and receive assist-
ance under section 121(b) of the National and Community 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 12571(b)).’’; and 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘section 211’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘section 213’’; and 
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(B) by inserting ‘‘or Indian Youth Service 
Corps’’ after ‘‘Corps’’. 
SEC. 15. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 213 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 
(16 U.S.C. 1730), as redesignated by section 10, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘year’’ and all 
that follows through the period and inserting 
‘‘year.’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (b); and 
(3) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (b). 
Æ 
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