Service Starts At Home Act
Bill: H.R.6956 | Sponsor: Rep. Kim, Andy (D-NJ)
Policy area: Education

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.

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.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Service Starts At Home Act''.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) The term ``cost of attendance'' has the meaning given 
        that term in section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
        (20 U.S.C. 1087ll).
            (2) The terms ``elementary school'', ``regular high school 
        diploma'', ``secondary school'', and ``State'' have the 
        meanings given those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary 
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (3) The term ``institution of higher education'' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
            (4)(A) The term ``volunteer service work'' means unpaid 
        acts of volunteer service conducted for or on behalf of a 
        government or other nonprofit organization, which may include a 
        community-based organization, faith-based organization, school, 
        national service program, civic or fraternal service 
        organization, local government agency, or other such 
        organization.
            (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).
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