I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2668 
To establish a National Care Corps through which qualified volunteers provide 
care, companionship, and other services to seniors and individuals with 
disabilities. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 4, 2015 
Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico (for herself, Mr. DOGGETT, 
Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mrs. DINGELL, and Ms. ROY-
BAL-ALLARD) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To establish a National Care Corps through which qualified 
volunteers provide care, companionship, and other serv-
ices to seniors and individuals with disabilities. 
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 Care Corps 
Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
For purposes of this Act, the following definitions 
shall apply: 
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(1) CORPS.—The term ‘‘Corps’’ means the Na-
tional Care Corps established under section 3 of this 
Act. 
(2) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the Corps appointed under section 
3(b)(1) of this Act. 
(3) LOCAL CARE CORPS PROGRAM.—The term 
‘‘local Care Corps program’’ means a program fund-
ed with a grant awarded under section 10(b) of this 
Act that hosts Corps volunteers and arranges for 
them to provide approved services to individuals in 
need. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL CARE CORPS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the De-
partment of Health and Human Services a program to 
be known as the ‘‘National Care Corps’’ through which 
Corps volunteers provide approved services to individuals 
in need via participation in local Care Corps programs. 
(b) STAFF.— 
(1) APPOINTMENT
OF
DIRECTOR.—The Sec-
retary, acting through the Administrator of the Ad-
ministration for Community Living, shall appoint a 
Director of the Corps. 
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(2) DUTIES
OF
DIRECTOR.—The Director 
shall— 
(A) design, develop, and administer Corps 
programs; 
(B) manage the daily operations of the 
Corps; and 
(C) report to the Administrator of the Ad-
ministration for Community Living. 
(3) AUTHORITY TO EMPLOY STAFF.—The Di-
rector may employ such staff as is necessary to 
carry out this Act. 
SEC. 4. SELECTION AND ELIGIBILITY OF VOLUNTEERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) SELECTION.—The Director shall select eli-
gible individuals as Corps volunteers. 
(2) NONDISCRIMINATION.—In selecting Corps 
volunteers, the Director shall comply with all appli-
cable provisions of State and Federal laws and regu-
lations pertaining to nondiscrimination and equal 
employment opportunity. 
(b) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.—To be eligible to serve 
as a volunteer in the Corps, an individual shall— 
(1) be at least 18 years of age on or before De-
cember 31 of the calendar year in which the indi-
vidual begins participation in the Corps; 
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(2) agree to participate in the Corps for a pe-
riod of not more than 24 months, consisting of not 
more than 2 terms of up to 12 months; 
(3) submit an application to the Director at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such in-
formation as the Director may require; 
(4) pass a criminal background check as de-
scribed in subsection (c); and 
(5) agree to comply with such terms and condi-
tions as the Director may require. 
(c) CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Before selecting any indi-
vidual to serve as a volunteer in the Corps, the Di-
rector shall request a criminal background check of 
such individual on a nationwide basis. 
(2) VOLUNTEER PROHIBITIONS.—An individual 
shall be ineligible to be a Corps volunteer if— 
(A) such individual refuses to consent to 
the criminal background check; or 
(B) the criminal background check does 
not demonstrate to the Director’s satisfaction 
that such individual is fit for Corps service. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZED BENEFITS FOR CORPS VOLUNTEERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall provide for 
Corps volunteers to receive allowances, health insurance, 
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and post-service educational awards authorized by this 
section. 
(b) ALLOWANCES.—The Director shall provide each 
Corps volunteer with such living, travel, and leave allow-
ances, and such housing, transportation, supplies, equip-
ment, and subsistence as the Director determines to be 
necessary for the volunteer’s maintenance and to ensure 
the volunteer’s health and capacity to serve effectively. 
(c) HEALTH INSURANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall provide 
for each Corps volunteer to receive health insurance 
coverage. 
(2) MINIMUM
ESSENTIAL
COVERAGE.—The 
health insurance coverage described paragraph (1) 
shall meet the requirements of section 5000A(f) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 
(d) POST-SERVICE EDUCATIONAL AWARD.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall establish 
an educational award for Corps volunteers. 
(2) AMOUNTS.— 
(A) NUMBER OF AWARDS.—A Corps volun-
teer may receive up to 2 educational awards 
under this subsection, one for each term of 
service as a volunteer. 
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(B) AMOUNT FOR FULL TERM OF SERV-
ICE.—In the case of a Corps volunteer who 
completes a term of full-time service in the 
Corps for a period of 12 months, as determined 
by the Director, such volunteer shall receive an 
educational award having a value equal to the 
maximum amount of a Federal Pell Grant 
under section 401 of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a) that a student eligi-
ble for such grant may receive in the aggregate 
(without regard to whether the funds are pro-
vided through discretionary or mandatory ap-
propriations) for the award year. 
(C) INCENTIVE TO PURSUE A DEGREE IN 
A HEALTH CARE PROFESSION.—In the case of 
a Corps volunteer who commits to using his or 
her educational award (or awards, if applicable) 
under this subsection for completion of a de-
gree, a certificate, or training in a health care 
profession, the value of such awards shall be 
twice the value that would otherwise be applica-
ble under subparagraph (B). 
(D) AMOUNT
FOR
OTHER
PERIODS
OF 
SERVICE.— 
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(i) In the case of a Corps volunteer 
who completes less than a 12-month term 
of full-time service in the Corps, as deter-
mined by the Director, such volunteer may 
receive a portion of the educational award 
described in subparagraph (B) or (C) (as 
applicable) that corresponds to the quan-
tity of service actually completed by the 
volunteer. 
(ii) In the case of a Corps volunteer 
who completes more than 12 months of 
full-time service in the Corps, and less 
than 24 months of such service, as deter-
mined by the Director, such volunteer may 
receive, for the portion of service exceeding 
12 months, a portion of the educational 
award described in subparagraph (B) or 
(C) (as applicable) that corresponds to the 
quantity of service actually completed by 
the volunteer. 
(3) USES OF AWARD.—An educational award 
shall be used to pay— 
(A) costs of attendance at an institution of 
higher education; or 
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(B) government or commercial loans re-
ceived by an individual for the cost of attend-
ance at an institution of higher education. 
(4) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this sub-
section, the following definitions shall apply: 
(A) COST
OF
ATTENDANCE.—The term 
‘‘cost of attendance’’ has the meaning given 
such term by section 472 of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ll). 
(B) 
INSTITUTION
OF
HIGHER
EDU-
CATION.—The term ‘‘institution of higher edu-
cation’’ has the meaning given such term under 
subsection (a) or (b) of section 101 of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1001). 
(e) FEDERAL HIRING PREFERENCE.—In the case of 
a Corps volunteer who completes at least one term of full- 
time service in the Corps for a total period of 12 months 
or more, as determined by the Director, such volunteer 
shall be eligible for appointment in the competitive service 
in the same manner as Peace Corps volunteers as pre-
scribed in Executive Order Number 11103 (April 10, 
1963). 
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(f) REGULATIONS.—The Director shall issue any reg-
ulations that the Director determines to be necessary to 
carry out this section. 
SEC. 6. ASSIGNMENT OF CORPS VOLUNTEERS TO SENIORS 
AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. 
(a) ASSIGNMENT OF CORPS VOLUNTEERS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Director shall assign 
each Corps volunteer to participate in a local Care 
Corps program. 
(2) PRIORITY OF ASSIGNMENT.—In assigning 
Corps volunteers to local Care Corps programs, the 
Director shall— 
(A) take into consideration the population 
and geographic preferences of the volunteers; 
and 
(B) assign not less than 20 percent of vol-
unteers to programs that serve geographic 
areas in which the Director determines there is 
a shortage of approved services available to in-
dividuals in need, with consideration given to 
low-income and minority populations. 
(b) SERVICES PROVIDED BY CORPS VOLUNTEERS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Director shall assign 
Corps volunteers only for providing approved serv-
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ices to individuals in need through participation in 
local Care Corps programs. 
(2) APPROVED
SERVICES.—Approved services 
are services provided directly to individuals in need 
in home-based or community-based settings that— 
(A) result in person-to-person, supportive 
relationships with each individual served; 
(B) support the achievement and mainte-
nance of the highest level of independent living 
for each individual in need; 
(C) are supported by appropriate orienta-
tion, training, and supervision; and 
(D) are provided in support of, or in co-
ordination with, a caregiver, if applicable. 
(3) PROHIBITED SERVICES.—In performing du-
ties as a Corps volunteer, no volunteer shall pro-
vide— 
(A) professional medical services; 
(B) administrative support services to a 
local Corps program; 
(C) care in an institutional setting; 
(D) care prohibited under State law; or 
(E) any other services determined by the 
director to be inconsistent with the purposes of 
the Corps. 
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(4) GUIDANCE
REGARDING
SCOPE
OF
SERV-
ICES.—The Director shall issue guidance describing 
the scope of services that may be provided by Corps 
volunteers. In issuing such guidance, the Director 
shall provide for a public notice and comment period 
of not less than 60 days before issuing the guidance 
in final form. 
(c) INDIVIDUAL IN NEED.—The term ‘‘individual in 
need’’ means an individual who— 
(1) is at least 65 years of age or has a dis-
ability as defined in section 3 of the Americans With 
Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102); 
(2) has difficultly with self-care or living inde-
pendently; and 
(3) meets such other criteria as the Director de-
termines to be appropriate. 
SEC. 7. TRAINING AND STANDARDS OF CONDUCT. 
(a) PRE-ASSIGNMENT TRAINING PROGRAM.—The 
Director shall develop a training program that provides 
Corps volunteers with instruction in the skills necessary 
to carry out an assignment in a local Care Corps program. 
Such training program shall include— 
(1) at least 40 hours of instruction for each 
Corps volunteer for each term (of 12 months or less) 
to be served in the Corps by the volunteer; 
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(2) additional training for volunteers whose as-
signment requires further instruction; and 
(3) any other requirements the Director deter-
mines to be appropriate. 
(b) STANDARDS OF CONDUCT.—The Director shall 
establish and enforce standards to promote proper conduct 
and discipline within the Corps. 
SEC. 8. STATUS OF CORPS VOLUNTEERS UNDER FEDERAL 
LAW. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided in 
this section, Corps volunteers shall not, by reason of their 
status as volunteers, be treated as Federal employees or 
be subject to the provisions of law relating to Federal em-
ployment. 
(b) WORK-RELATED INJURIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of subchapter 
I of chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, relat-
ing to the compensation of Federal employees for 
work injuries, Corps volunteers shall be treated as 
employees of the United States within the meaning 
of the term ‘‘employee’’, as defined in section 8101 
of such title. 
(2) SPECIAL RULE.—In the application of the 
provisions of subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 5, 
United States Code, to a Corps volunteer, the volun-
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teer shall not be treated to be in the performance of 
duty while absent from the volunteer’s assigned post 
of duty unless the absence is authorized in accord-
ance with procedures prescribed by the Director. 
(c) TORT CLAIMS PROCEDURE.—A Corps volunteer 
shall be treated an employee of the United States for pur-
poses of chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, relat-
ing to tort claims liability and procedure. 
SEC. 9. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. 
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting 
through the Administrator of the Administration for Com-
munity Living, shall transmit to Congress at least once 
in each fiscal year a report on the Corps. At minimum, 
such report shall include— 
(1) a description of the population served by 
the Corps during the preceding fiscal year, includ-
ing— 
(A) an estimate of the number of individ-
uals served in each State, disaggregated by 
race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status; and 
(B) identification of the type of settings in 
which the services were provided; 
(2) an evaluation of Corps operations; and 
(3) recommendations, if any, for improving 
Corps operations. 
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