I
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4803
To amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to create the
Right of Passage Community Service Program.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 22, 2002
Ms. DELAURO (for herself, Mr. ALLEN, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. FORD, Mr. PRICE
of North Carolina, and Mr. SAWYER) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce
A BILL
To amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990
to create the Right of Passage Community Service Program.
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 ‘‘Right of Passage Com-
munity Service Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following:
(1) The teenage years are a pivotal time of life,
when young people are making choices that will ef-
fect them for the rest of their lives.
(2) How young people spend their time during
their teenage years may set them on a course of ac-
tive citizenship and engaged learning, or down a
path of risky behavior with the likelihood of failure.
(3) Research suggests that when young people
see that they are able to improve the lives of others
they feel that they are able to control and improve
their own lives.
(4) If properly trained, organized, and super-
vised, teenagers are a resource that can make a sig-
nificant contribution to their communities.
(5) Opportunities for volunteer service during
the teenage years could become a right of passage
for future generations.
(6) The National Academy of Sciences Report
on Youth Development concluded that ‘‘the future
well-being of the country depends on raising genera-
tions of skilled, competent, and responsible adults’’.
(b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this Act to—
(1) create a national network of service pro-
grams for middle school students to serve in their
communities after school and during the summer;
(2) provide students with opportunities to serve
in their communities and participate in other pro-
grams such as workshops in leadership development,
public speaking, conflict resolution, team-building,
and other character-building programs;
(3) provide young people an experience that re-
inforces their connection to the community, enriches
their education, and strengthens their personal and
civic values; and
(4) instill an ethic of service in young people
which will stay with them throughout their lives.
SEC. 3. RIGHT OF PASSAGE COMMUNITY SERVICE PRO-
GRAM.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Section 122(a) of the Na-
tional and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
12572(a)) is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraph (15) as para-
graph (16); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (14) the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(15) A community-based Right of Passage
after school and summer service corps program that
offers young people—
‘‘(A) the opportunity to perform service in
their communities;
‘‘(B) the opportunity to participate in ac-
tivities that would provide training in leadership
development, public speaking, conflict resolu-
tion, team building, and other critical skills;
‘‘(C) service-learning curricula linked to
academic goals; and
‘‘(D) the opportunity to work with older
AmeriCorps members who can organize service
projects and act as mentors.’’.
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—Section 137 of such Act (42
U.S.C. 12591) is amended—
(1) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (d); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(c) SPECIAL RULES FOR RIGHT OF PASSAGE PRO-
GRAM.—An individual shall be considered to be a partici-
pant in a Right of Passage community-based after school
or summer service corps program described in section
122(a)(15) (42 U.S.C. 12591) that is carried out with as-
sistance provided under section 121(a) (42 U.S.C. 12571)
if the individual—
‘‘(1) satisfies the requirements of paragraphs
(1), (2), and (6) of subsection (a); and
‘‘(2) is between the ages of 12 and 16, inclusive
at the time the individual begins the term of serv-
ice.’’.
(c) TERMS OF SERVICE.—Section 139(b) of such Act
(42 U.S.C. 12593(b)) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
‘‘(4) SPECIAL RULE FOR RIGHT OF PASSAGE
PROGRAM.—An individual participating in a Right of
Passage community-based after school or summer
service 
corps 
program 
described 
in 
section
122(a)(15) shall agree to participate in the program
for not less than 160 hours during a period of not
less than 2 months and not more than 1 year.’’.
(d) NATIONAL SERVICE EDUCATIONAL AWARD.—
(1) SPECIAL
RULE
FOR
RIGHT
OF
PASSAGE
PROGRAM.—Section 141 of such Act (42 U.S.C.
12595) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(c) SPECIAL RULE FOR RIGHT OF PASSAGE PRO-
GRAM.—An individual participating in a Right of Passage
community-based after school or summer service corps
program described in section 122(a)(15), upon completion
of the required 160 hours of service shall receive an edu-
cation award of $500.’’.
(2) ELIGIBLE
INDIVIDUALS.—Section 146 is
amended—
(A) in subsection (a)(2) by striking ‘‘or a
program described in section 122(a)(9);’’ and
inserting ‘‘, a program described in section
122(a)(9), or a program described in section
122(a)(15);’’; and
(B) in subsection (d)(2)—
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
‘‘or’’;
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking
‘‘period.’’ and inserting ‘‘period; or’’; and
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(C) participated in a program described
in section 12572(a)(15).’’.
SEC. 4. REPORT.
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Corporation shall transmit to the Congress
a report and evaluation of the program authorized by this
Act.
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