Title: 21st Century Conservation Service Corps Act
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
21st Century Conservation Service Corps Act of 2017
This bill amends the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to replace provisions that established the Public Lands Corps with provisions establishing the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC) to:
The 21CSC shall be implemented jointly by the participating entities, which shall include the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Departments of Interior, Agriculture, Transportation, Labor, Energy, Defense, Veterans Affairs, Commerce, Education, and Housing and Urban Development. Such entities shall: (1) establish a process for an organization to become a 21CSC organization, and (2) support 21CSC projects.
A 21CSC organization shall provide to each youth or veteran corpsmember a wage, stipend, living allowance, and/or an educational credit, as well as skills development, credentials, and education, for participation in a 21CSC project that involves:
The bill sets forth provisions governing 21CSC conservation centers and program support, the provision of resource assistants, and Corpsmember eligibility for a noncompetitive hiring status and national service educational awards.
A participating entity may offer to enter into a cooperative agreement with a tribal agency or a 21CSC organization to establish and administer the Indian Youth 21st Century Conservation Service Corps, which shall carry out 21CSC projects on tribal land or water.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2987 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2987

   To amend the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to establish the 21st 
   Century Conservation Service Corps to place youth and veterans in 
national service positions to conserve, restore, and enhance the great 
         outdoors of the United States, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 21, 2017

 Ms. McSally (for herself, Mr. Moulton, Mr. Tipton, and Mr. Grijalva) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
 Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Education and 
  the Workforce, Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, and 
Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined 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 establish the 21st 
   Century Conservation Service Corps to place youth and veterans in 
national service positions to conserve, restore, and enhance the great 
         outdoors of the United States, 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 ``21st Century Conservation Service 
Corps Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

    Section 202 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1721) 
is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 202. PURPOSES.

    ``The purposes of this title are--
            ``(1) to engage youth and veterans in the United States in 
        civilian national service positions to conserve, rebuild, and 
        enhance the outdoors, natural resources, infrastructure, and 
        recreation assets of the United States;
            ``(2) to increase public access to, and use of, public and 
        tribal land and water, infrastructure, and natural, cultural, 
        and historical resources and treasures, while spurring economic 
        development and outdoor recreation and addressing backlogged 
        maintenance on public land;
            ``(3) to conserve, restore, and enhance public and tribal 
        land and water, infrastructure, and natural, cultural, and 
        historical resources and treasures by carrying out high-
        quality, cost-effective 21st Century Conservation Service Corps 
        projects;
            ``(4) to ensure that, in any State or territory of the 
        United States or on any tribal land, the activities and 
        expertise of Corpsmembers will be accessible to any public 
        organization, nonprofit organization, or tribal agency 
        responsible for the stewardship of land and water that is--
                    ``(A) public;
                    ``(B) tribal; or
                    ``(C) private and has a direct or recognized public 
                benefit, in coordination with the owner of the land or 
                water;
            ``(5) to place youth and veterans in civilian national 
        service positions to protect, restore, and enhance the great 
        outdoors, natural resources, infrastructure, and recreation 
        assets of the United States in a cost-effective manner without 
        undue duplication or overlap of activities or programs carried 
        out by Federal agencies;
            ``(6) to provide youth and veterans placed in civilian 
        national service positions with opportunities to gain in-demand 
        skills, credentials, and education to prepare for, and 
        transition to, success in the 21st century workforce; and
            ``(7) to channel widespread interest among youth and 
        veterans in serving in civilian national service positions to 
        help conserve, restore, and enhance public and tribal land and 
        water, infrastructure, and natural, cultural, and historical 
        resources and treasures--
                    ``(A) for the enjoyment and use of future 
                generations; and
                    ``(B) to develop the next generation of outdoor 
                stewards, entrepreneurs, recreationists, and sportsmen 
                and sportswomen.''.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 203 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 
(16 U.S.C. 1722) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this title:
            ``(1) 21CSC.--The term `21CSC' means the 21st Century 
        Conservation Service Corps established by section 204(a).
            ``(2) 21CSC organization.--The term `21CSC organization' 
        means an organization or association that meets the 
        requirements described in section 204(d).
            ``(3) 21CSC project.--The term `21CSC project' means a 
        project that is carried out by a 21CSC organization.
            ``(4) Corpsmember.--The term `Corpsmember' means an 
        individual who is selected by a 21CSC organization to serve on 
        a 21CSC project.
            ``(5) Indian.--The term `Indian' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101 of the National and Community Service Act 
        of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511).
            ``(6) Indian youth 21st century conservation service 
        corps.--The term `Indian Youth 21st Century Conservation 
        Service Corps' means a program of a 21CSC organization that--
                    ``(A) enrolls participants, the majority of whom 
                are Indians; and
                    ``(B) is established pursuant to an agreement 
                between a tribal agency and a 21CSC organization for 
                the benefit of the members of the tribal agency.
            ``(7) Institution of higher education.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `institution of higher 
                education' has the meaning given the term in section 
                102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                1002).
                    ``(B) Exclusion.--The term `institution of higher 
                education' does not include--
                            ``(i) an institution described in section 
                        101(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                        U.S.C. 1001(b)); or
                            ``(ii) an institution outside the United 
                        States, as described in section 102(a)(1)(C) of 
                        that Act (20 U.S.C. 1002(a)(1)(C)).
            ``(8) Participating entity.--The term `participating 
        entity' means a Federal entity described in section 204(c)(2).
            ``(9) Priority project.--The term `priority project' means 
        a 21CSC project conducted to further 1 or more of the purposes 
        described in section 202 or in section 2 of the Healthy Forests 
        Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6501), including by--
                    ``(A) reducing wildfire risk to a community, 
                municipal water supply, or at-risk land;
                    ``(B) protecting a watershed;
                    ``(C) addressing a threat to forest land or 
                rangeland health, including catastrophic wildfire;
                    ``(D) addressing the impact of insect or disease 
                infestation or any other damaging agent on forest land, 
                water, or rangeland health; or
                    ``(E) conserving, restoring, or enhancing a forest 
                ecosystem or an ecosystem on public, private, or tribal 
                land--
                            ``(i) to improve biological diversity; or
                            ``(ii) to enhance--
                                    ``(I) the productivity of fish and 
                                wildlife habitat;
                                    ``(II) the recovery of a species; 
                                or
                                    ``(III) carbon sequestration.
            ``(10) Resource assistant.--The term `resource assistant' 
        means a resource assistant selected under section 206.
            ``(11) State.--The term `State' means--
                    ``(A) each of the several States of the United 
                States;
                    ``(B) the District of Columbia;
                    ``(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
                    ``(D) the United States Virgin Islands;
                    ``(E) Guam;
                    ``(F) American Samoa; and
                    ``(G) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
                Islands.
            ``(12) Tribal agency.--The term `tribal agency' has the 
        meaning given the term `Indian tribe' in section 101 of the 
        National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511).
            ``(13) Tribal land or water.--The term `tribal land or 
        water' means any real property or water--
                    ``(A) owned by a tribal agency;
                    ``(B) held in trust by the United States for an 
                Indian or a tribal agency; or
                    ``(C) held by an Indian or a tribal agency that is 
                subject to a restriction on alienation imposed by the 
                United States.
            ``(14) Veteran.--The term `veteran' has the meaning given 
        the term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
            ``(15) Youth.--The term `youth' means an individual who is 
        not younger than age 15 and not older than age 30.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 623(i)(6) of title 40, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``any public lands (as defined in 
section 203 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1722))'' 
and inserting ``any land or water (or interest in land or water) owned 
or administered by the United States (other than Indian land)''.

SEC. 4. 21ST CENTURY CONSERVATION SERVICE CORPS.

    Section 204 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1723) 
is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 204. 21ST CENTURY CONSERVATION SERVICE CORPS.

    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established the 21st Century 
Conservation Service Corps, to be comprised of 21CSC organizations and 
Corpsmembers, to carry out, in partnership with participating entities, 
the purposes of this title.
    ``(b) Designation of Coordinators.--The head of each participating 
entity, and the head of any bureau or subdivision of each participating 
entity, shall designate a 21CSC coordinator to coordinate any activity 
of the 21CSC or a 21CSC project carried out by the participating entity 
or the bureau or subdivision of the participating entity.
    ``(c) Participating Entities.--
            ``(1) In general.--The 21CSC shall be implemented jointly 
        by the heads of the participating entities, who may support the 
        21CSC by carrying out the activities described in paragraph 
        (3).
            ``(2) List of participating entities.--The participating 
        entities shall be--
                    ``(A) the Department of the Interior;
                    ``(B) the Department of Agriculture;
                    ``(C) the Department of Transportation;
                    ``(D) the Department of Labor;
                    ``(E) the Department of Energy;
                    ``(F) the Department of Defense;
                    ``(G) the Department of Veterans Affairs;
                    ``(H) the Department of Commerce;
                    ``(I) the Department of Education;
                    ``(J) the Department of Housing and Urban 
                Development;
                    ``(K) the Corporation for National and Community 
                Service;
                    ``(L) the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the 
                Army for Civil Works;
                    ``(M) the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and
                    ``(N) any other Federal agency designated by the 
                President as necessary to carry out a 21CSC project.
            ``(3) Support for the 21csc.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The head of a participating 
                entity may provide support to the 21CSC by--
                            ``(i) establishing standards for the 21CSC;
                            ``(ii) establishing a process for an 
                        organization to apply and be approved to become 
                        a 21CSC organization;
                            ``(iii) developing and supporting a public-
                        private partnership referred to in paragraph 
                        (5)(A)(i);
                            ``(iv) using or leveraging existing funds, 
                        or acquiring funds and other resources, under 
                        section 210 to support 21CSC projects through 
                        entering into a cooperative agreement under 
                        paragraph (5)(A)(i);
                            ``(v) leveraging existing resources 
                        described in section 210(b) to expand the use 
                        of the 21CSC to meet the mission of the 
                        participating entity;
                            ``(vi) using technology to support 21CSC 
                        projects; and
                            ``(vii) collecting performance data on 
                        21CSC projects--
                                    ``(I) to prepare the reports 
                                referred to in subparagraph (C)(i)(I); 
                                and
                                    ``(II) to demonstrate the impact of 
                                the 21CSC projects.
                    ``(B) Coordination.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The heads of each of the 
                        participating entities shall, to the maximum 
                        extent practicable, coordinate with each other 
                        or the head of any other Federal agency that is 
                        affected by, or carrying out, an activity that 
                        is similar to a 21CSC project--
                                    ``(I) to minimize, to the maximum 
                                extent practicable, the duplication of 
                                any specific project performed by any 
                                other participating entity or Federal 
                                agency; and
                                    ``(II) to maximize 21CSC project 
                                completion in a cost-effective manner 
                                by collaborating to leverage existing 
                                resources described in section 210(b).
                            ``(ii) Approval and data collection.--The 
                        head of each participating entity shall, to the 
                        maximum extent practicable, coordinate with 
                        each other head of a participating entity--
                                    ``(I) to approve organizations as 
                                21CSC organizations; and
                                    ``(II) to collect the data referred 
                                to in items (aa) through (dd) of 
                                subparagraph (C)(i)(I).
                            ``(iii) Guidance.--The head of each 
                        participating entity shall, to the maximum 
                        extent practicable, seek guidance from--
                                    ``(I) the Corporation for National 
                                and Community Service;
                                    ``(II) the Departments of Veterans 
                                Affairs and Labor on methods to 
                                increase the participation of veterans 
                                in 21CSC projects; and
                                    ``(III) the Secretary of the 
                                Interior, acting through the Assistant 
                                Secretary for Indian Affairs, on 
                                methods to increase the participation 
                                of Indians in 21CSC projects.
                    ``(C) Reporting.--
                            ``(i) 21CSC reports.--
                                    ``(I) Report to congress.--As soon 
                                as practicable after the date of 
                                enactment of the 21st Century 
                                Conservation Service Corps Act of 2017, 
                                the Chief Executive Officer of the 
                                Corporation for National and Community 
                                Service, in coordination with the head 
                                of each participating entity, shall 
                                submit to Congress a report that 
                                includes data, for the year covered by 
                                the report, including--
                                            ``(aa) the number of 
                                        Corpsmembers that carried out 
                                        21CSC projects and the length 
                                        of the term of service for each 
                                        Corpsmember;
                                            ``(bb) the total amount of 
                                        funding provided by 
                                        participating entities for the 
                                        service of Corpsmembers;
                                            ``(cc) the type of service 
                                        performed by Corpsmembers and 
                                        the impact and accomplishments 
                                        of the service; and
                                            ``(dd) any other similar 
                                        data determined by the Chief 
                                        Executive Officer of the 
                                        Corporation for National and 
                                        Community Service or the head 
                                        of a participating entity to be 
                                        appropriate, including data 
                                        sufficient to determine the 
                                        effectiveness of 21CSC 
                                        organizations in carrying out 
                                        activities to achieve the 
                                        purposes of this title in a 
                                        manner that--

                                                    ``(AA) is cost-
                                                effective; and

                                                    ``(BB) does not 
                                                unduly duplicate or 
                                                overlap with any other 
                                                activity or program 
                                                carried out by any 
                                                other Federal agency.

                                    ``(II) Data from participating 
                                entities.--Not later than 1 year after 
                                the date of enactment of the 21st 
                                Century Conservation Service Corps Act 
                                of 2017, and annually thereafter, the 
                                head of each participating entity shall 
                                submit to the Chief Executive Officer 
                                of the Corporation for National and 
                                Community Service the data described in 
                                items (aa) through (dd) of subclause 
                                (I).
                                    ``(III) Data collection.--The Chief 
                                Executive Officer of the Corporation 
                                for National and Community Service may 
                                coordinate with individual 21CSC 
                                organizations to improve the collection 
                                of the required data described in items 
                                (aa) through (dd) of subclause (I).
                            ``(ii) Comptroller general reports.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--The Comptroller 
                                General of the United States shall 
                                prepare and submit to Congress--
                                            ``(aa) not later than 3 
                                        years after the date of 
                                        submission of the first report 
                                        under clause (i)(I), an interim 
                                        report; and
                                            ``(bb) not later than 5 
                                        years after the date of 
                                        submission of the first report 
                                        under that clause, a final 
                                        report.
                                    ``(II) Contents.--The interim and 
                                final reports referred to in subclause 
                                (I) shall include--
                                            ``(aa) an assessment, based 
                                        on the data described in items 
                                        (aa) through (dd) of clause 
                                        (i)(I), of the effectiveness of 
                                        21CSC organizations in 
                                        achieving the purposes of this 
                                        title in a manner that--

                                                    ``(AA) is cost-
                                                effective; and

                                                    ``(BB) does not 
                                                unduly duplicate or 
                                                overlap with any other 
                                                activity or program 
                                                carried out by any 
                                                other Federal agency; 
                                                and

                                            ``(bb) recommendations on 
                                        how to more effectively manage 
                                        and carry out 21CSC projects to 
                                        achieve the purposes of this 
                                        title in the manner described 
                                        in item (aa).
                                    ``(III) Additional reports.--The 
                                Comptroller General of the United 
                                States may submit to Congress any 
                                additional report that includes the 
                                content described in subclause (II), as 
                                the Comptroller General determines to 
                                be necessary.
            ``(4) Gifts and donations.--The head of a participating 
        entity may accept, use, or dispose of a contribution that is a 
        gift or donation of money, services, or property to support the 
        development, implementation, and expansion of a 21CSC project, 
        in accordance with applicable law (including regulations).
            ``(5) Cooperative agreements with 21csc organizations.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The head of each participating 
                entity may--
                            ``(i) develop a public-private partnership 
                        with a 21CSC organization by entering into a 
                        cooperative agreement with the 21CSC 
                        organization to support and carry out 21CSC 
                        projects; and
                            ``(ii) leverage existing resources 
                        described in section 210(b) to support a 
                        cooperative agreement.
                    ``(B) Type of cooperative agreement.--A cooperative 
                agreement under this paragraph may--
                            ``(i) be limited to an agreement for a 
                        specific 21CSC project;
                            ``(ii) be a broad agreement covering 
                        multiple planned or future 21CSC projects; or
                            ``(iii) be an agreement for a 21CSC project 
                        to be part of a broader 21CSC initiative 
                        carried out in partnership with--
                                    ``(I) the Federal Government;
                                    ``(II) a State government; or
                                    ``(III) a tribal agency.
                    ``(C) Set share.--A cooperative agreement under 
                this paragraph shall include a provision specifying the 
                cost share that the 21CSC organization will provide 
                under section 210(c).
    ``(d) 21CSC Organizations.--
            ``(1) In general.--To be considered and approved as a 21CSC 
        organization, an organization shall, to the maximum extent 
        practicable, demonstrate the ability to meet, and provide 
        assurances that the organization will meet, each requirement 
        described in paragraphs (2) through (6).
            ``(2) 21CSC corpsmembers engaged by 21csc organizations.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In addition to meeting the 
                requirement of subparagraph (B), any individual 
                selected by a 21CSC organization to carry out a 21CSC 
                project shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be--
                            ``(i) notwithstanding paragraphs (3) and 
                        (4) of section 137(a) of the National and 
                        Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
                        12591(a)), a youth, in the case of any 
                        Corpsmember participating in a 21CSC project 
                        supported and carried out by the Corporation 
                        for National and Community Service; or
                            ``(ii) a veteran not older than age 35.
                    ``(B) Citizenship requirement.--Any individual 
                selected as a Corpsmember shall be--
                            ``(i) a citizen or national of the United 
                        States; or
                            ``(ii) a lawful permanent resident of the 
                        United States.
                    ``(C) Emphasis on diversity and inclusion.--In 
                selecting a Corpsmember, a 21CSC organization shall 
                make deliberate outreach efforts to engage an 
                individual who--
                            ``(i) lives in the State or region of the 
                        21CSC organization; and
                            ``(ii) represents a traditionally 
                        underserved population, including veterans, 
                        Indians, and disadvantaged youth (as defined in 
                        section 101 of the National and Community 
                        Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511)).
            ``(3) Compensation for participants.--A 21CSC organization 
        shall provide compensation to each Corpsmember that includes 1 
        or more of the following:
                    ``(A) A wage.
                    ``(B) A stipend.
                    ``(C) A living allowance.
                    ``(D) An educational credit that may be applied 
                towards a program of postsecondary education at an 
                institution of higher education that agrees to award 
                the credit for participation in a 21CSC project.
            ``(4) Organization of service for participants.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In carrying out a 21CSC project, 
                a 21CSC organization shall, to the maximum extent 
                practicable, organize each Corpsmember as--
                            ``(i) a crew-based participant who--
                                    ``(I) serves together with other 
                                crew-based participants; and
                                    ``(II) is directly supervised by a 
                                trained and experienced crew-based 
                                leader or conservation professional; or
                            ``(ii) an individual or small team-based 
                        participant who serves--
                                    ``(I) individually or in a 
                                coordinated small team, as applicable;
                                    ``(II) under the direction of a 
                                conservation professional; and
                                    ``(III) on an initiative that 
                                requires specific skills and dedicated 
                                attention.
                    ``(B) Veteran and civilian cooperation.--A 21CSC 
                organization shall, to the maximum extent practicable, 
                encourage cooperation among veteran and civilian 
                Corpsmembers.
            ``(5) 21CSC projects.--A 21CSC organization shall carry out 
        a 21CSC project that includes national service, and may be a 
        priority project, involving--
                    ``(A) the conservation, restoration, and 
                enhancement of--
                            ``(i) a unit of the National Park System or 
                        National Forest System;
                            ``(ii) public or tribal land or water; or
                            ``(iii) natural, cultural, or historical 
                        resources or treasures;
                    ``(B) the conservation, restoration, management, 
                and development of the natural resources and 
                infrastructure of the United States, including--
                            ``(i) removal of invasive species;
                            ``(ii) wildfire prevention and response;
                            ``(iii) disaster resiliency, mitigation, 
                        response, and recovery;
                            ``(iv) trail development and maintenance;
                            ``(v) coastal restoration and resiliency;
                            ``(vi) historic preservation;
                            ``(vii) public safety;
                            ``(viii) energy efficiency and alternative 
                        energy;
                            ``(ix) water infrastructure;
                            ``(x) construction, repair, rehabilitation, 
                        or maintenance of--
                                    ``(I) a road;
                                    ``(II) a campground; or
                                    ``(III) any other recreation or 
                                visitor facility or housing structure; 
                                and
                            ``(xi) any other related project that 
                        furthers the purposes of this title;
                    ``(C) the support, development, and enhancement of 
                outdoor recreation or urban green space for the purpose 
                of public access;
                    ``(D) service that is primarily indoors, such as 
                service in a science, policy, or program internship, 
                with a clear benefit for natural, cultural, or historic 
                resources or treasures, which may include the provision 
                of interpretation and education services to--
                            ``(i) the public; or
                            ``(ii) a cooperating association, 
                        educational institution, friends group, or 
                        similar nonprofit partner organization; and
                    ``(E) notwithstanding section 132A of the National 
                and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12584a), a 
                project described in this paragraph on private land or 
                water in partnership with a private entity if--
                            ``(i) the project has a direct or 
                        recognized public or environmental benefit; or
                            ``(ii) the funding for the project 
                        originated from a governmental entity, 
                        regardless of the end payor.
            ``(6) 21CSC corpsmembers.--In carrying out a 21CSC project, 
        a 21CSC organization shall provide each Corpsmember with--
                    ``(A) in-demand skills development, certification 
                and credentials, and education to prepare the 
                Corpsmember for success in transitioning to the 21st 
                century workforce;
                    ``(B) community skill development to help the 
                Corpsmember--
                            ``(i) acquire an ethic of service to others 
                        and the United States; and
                            ``(ii) become a more effective natural 
                        resource and community steward; and
                    ``(C) a greater understanding of the natural, 
                cultural, or historic resources or treasures of the 
                United States.
    ``(e) Corpsmember Compensation and Employment Standards.--
            ``(1) Corpsmember compensation standard.--
                    ``(A) Specific wage rates.--A form of compensation 
                provided under subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of 
                subsection (d)(3) shall be considered to be established 
                at a specific wage rate, in the same manner as the 
                compensation provided for a living allowance under 
                section 140 of the National and Community Service Act 
                of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12594).
                    ``(B) Compensation for certain corpsmembers.--The 
                compensation provided under subsection (d)(3) to a 
                Corpsmember who is not a participant in a 21CSC project 
                supported by the Corporation for National and Community 
                Service shall not be subject to any provision of 
                (including a regulation under) the National and 
                Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq.) 
                relating to a wage rate, but shall be considered to be 
                established at a specific wage rate, in the manner 
                described in subparagraph (A).
                    ``(C) Rule of construction.--Nothing in 
                subparagraph (A) applies a specific wage rate for a 
                living allowance that is established under section 140 
                of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 
                U.S.C. 12594) to the compensation of a Corpsmember 
                under subsection (d)(3).
            ``(2) Corpsmember employment standard.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraphs (B) and (C), in parity with section 
                101(30) of the National and Community Service Act of 
                1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511(30)), a Corpsmember shall be 
                considered to be a participant (as defined in section 
                101 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 
                (42 U.S.C. 12511)), not an employee, of the 21CSC 
                organization for which the Corpsmember serves.
                    ``(B) Federal employment provisions.--
                Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), Federal employment 
                provisions shall apply to a Corpsmember to the extent 
                that those provisions apply to a participant or crew 
                leader under section 199M(b) of the National and 
                Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12655n(b)).
                    ``(C) Child labor provisions.--Notwithstanding 
                subparagraph (A)--
                            ``(i) the child labor provisions under 
                        section 12 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 
                        1938 (29 U.S.C. 212) (including any order or 
                        regulation issued under the authority of such 
                        section or section 3(l) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 
                        203(l))) shall apply to a Corpsmember and the 
                        21CSC organization for which the Corpsmember 
                        serves in the same manner as such provisions 
                        apply to an employee and an employer under such 
                        Act; and
                            ``(ii) a violation of a section specified 
                        in clause (i) by a 21CSC organization shall be 
                        enforced by the Secretary of Labor in the same 
                        manner, and subject to the same penalties under 
                        the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 
                        201 et seq.), as a violation by an employer of 
                        section 12 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 212).
            ``(3) Civil service.--An individual may be enrolled as a 
        Corpsmember without regard to the civil service and 
        classification laws, rules, or regulations.''.

SEC. 5. 21ST CENTURY CONSERVATION SERVICE CORPS CONSERVATION CENTERS 
              AND PROGRAM SUPPORT.

    Section 205 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1724) 
is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``Secretary'' each place it appears 
                and inserting ``head of a participating entity''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``Public Lands Corps'' and inserting ``21CSC''; 
                        and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
                        ``conservation projects'' and inserting ``21CSC 
                        projects'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in the heading, by inserting ``, Temporary 
                Housing, and Transportation'' after ``Logistical 
                Support'';
                    (B) in the first sentence--
                            (i) by striking ``The Secretary'' and 
                        inserting the following:
            ``(1) Logistical support.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The head of a participating 
                entity''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``the Corps'' and 
                        inserting ``the 21CSC'';
                    (C) in the second sentence, by striking 
                ``Logistical support'' and inserting the following:
                    ``(B) Inclusions.--Logistical support provided 
                under subparagraph (A)''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Temporary housing.--The head of a participating 
        entity may make arrangements with another Federal agency or a 
        State, local government, or private organization to provide 
        temporary housing for Corpsmembers as needed and available.
            ``(3) Transportation.--The head of a participating entity 
        may provide transportation to and from 21CSC project sites for 
        Corpsmembers that reside in their own homes.'';
            (3) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting 
                ``The head of a participating entity''; and
                    (B) by striking ``the Corps for training or housing 
                Corps participants'' and inserting ``the 21CSC for 
                training or housing Corpsmembers''; and
            (4) in subsection (d), by striking ``The Secretary'' and 
        inserting ``The head of a participating entity''.

SEC. 6. RESOURCE ASSISTANTS.

    Section 206 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1725) 
is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the fourth sentence, by striking ``The 
                Secretary'' and inserting the following:
                    ``(D) Preference.--The head of a participating 
                entity'';
                    (B) in the third sentence, by striking ``The 
                Secretary'' and inserting the following:
                    ``(C) Selection.--The head of a participating 
                entity'';
                    (C) in the second sentence, by striking ``To be 
                eligible'' and inserting the following:
                    ``(B) Eligibility.--To be eligible''; and
                    (D) by striking the first sentence and inserting 
                the following:
                    ``(A) In general.--The head of a participating 
                entity may provide individual placements of resource 
                assistants to carry out research or resource protection 
                activities on behalf of the participating entity.''; 
                and
            (2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Use of 21CSC Organizations.--
            ``(1) In general.--If the head of a participating entity 
        determines that a 21CSC organization can provide appropriate 
        recruitment and placement services to fulfill the requirements 
        of this section, the head of the participating entity may 
        implement this section through a 21CSC organization.
            ``(2) Contribution to expenses.--A 21CSC organization 
        providing recruitment and placement services under paragraph 
        (1) shall contribute to the expenses of providing and 
        supporting resource assistants, through 1 or more private 
        sources of funding, at a level equal to 25 percent of the total 
        costs of each participant in the resource assistant program 
        that has been recruited and placed through the 21CSC 
        organization.
            ``(3) Annual report.--A 21CSC organization providing 
        recruitment and placement services under paragraph (1) shall 
        submit to the head of the applicable participating entity an 
        annual report that evaluates the scope, size, and quality of 
        the resource assistant program carried out by the 21CSC 
        organization, including a description of the value of the work 
        contributed by resource assistants to the mission of the 
        participating entity.''.

SEC. 7. ELIGIBILITY FOR NONCOMPETITIVE HIRING STATUS.

    Section 207 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1726) 
is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 207. ELIGIBILITY FOR NONCOMPETITIVE HIRING STATUS.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the terms `land management agency' and `time-limited 
        appointment' have the meanings given those terms in section 
        9601 of title 5, United States Code; and
            ``(2) the term `qualified Corpsmember' means a Corpsmember 
        who is certified by a corresponding participating entity as 
        having successfully completed 640 hours of service with a 21CSC 
        organization.
    ``(b) Hiring.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2) and subsection 
        (c), a qualified Corpsmember shall be eligible for appointment 
        in the competitive service in the same manner as a Peace Corps 
        volunteer as prescribed in Executive Order 11103 (22 U.S.C. 
        2504 note; relating to Providing for the Appointment of Former 
        Peace Corps Volunteers to the Civilian Career Services), as 
        amended by Executive Order 12107 (44 Fed. Reg. 1055; relating 
        to the Civil Service Commission and Labor-Management in the 
        Federal Service).
            ``(2) Period.--A qualified Corpsmember shall be eligible 
        for an appointment under paragraph (1) during the 2-year period 
        beginning on the date on which the Corpsmember completes the 
        640 hours of service required under subsection (a)(2).
            ``(3) Time-limited appointment.--For purposes of section 
        9602 of title 5, United States Code, a qualified Corpsmember 
        hired by a participating entity that is a land management 
        agency for a time-limited appointment shall be considered to be 
        appointed initially under open, competitive examination.
    ``(c) Service Hours.--
            ``(1) In general.--The 640 hours of service required under 
        subsection (a)(2) may include service on 1 or more projects 
        carried out by a Corpsmember with 1 or more participating 
        entities during 1 or more terms of service in a 21CSC 
        organization.
            ``(2) Competitive service.--To be eligible for 
        noncompetitive hiring status under subsection (b), a 
        Corpsmember shall perform the 640 hours of service required 
        under subsection (a)(2)--
                    ``(A) carrying out a project on public or tribal 
                land or water; or
                    ``(B) in service with, or on a project supported in 
                whole or in part by, a participating entity.
            ``(3) Priorities.--The head of each participating entity is 
        encouraged, to the maximum extent practicable, to identify a 
        sufficient number of 21CSC projects on public or tribal land or 
        water that are aligned with the priorities of the participating 
        entity so as to facilitate the attainment of the 640 hours of 
        service by Corpsmembers required under subsection (a)(2).
            ``(4) Tracking hours.--Participating entities shall 
        coordinate with 21CSC organizations to identify the most 
        effective and efficient method for tracking and certifying the 
        640 hours of service required under subsection (a)(2).
    ``(d) Guidance.--The head of each participating entity, and any 
subdivision of a participating entity, shall coordinate with the head 
of each other participating entity, and subdivision of each other 
participating entity, to implement and issue guidance on eligibility 
for noncompetitive hiring status under subsection (b) in a uniform 
manner to--
            ``(1) improve the efficiency and use of noncompetitive 
        hiring authority; and
            ``(2) minimize inconsistency.''.

SEC. 8. NATIONAL SERVICE EDUCATIONAL AWARDS.

    Section 208 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1727) 
is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), in the first sentence--
                    (A) by striking ``participant in the Public Lands 
                Corps'' and inserting ``Corpsmember''; and
                    (B) by striking ``the participant'' and inserting 
                ``the Corpsmember''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``either participants in the 
                Corps'' and inserting ``Corpsmembers''; and
                    (B) by striking ``such a participant'' and 
                inserting ``a Corpsmember''.

SEC. 9. NONDISPLACEMENT.

    Section 209 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1728) 
is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Public Lands Corps'' and inserting 
        ``21CSC''; and
            (2) by striking ``qualified youth or conservation corps'' 
        and inserting ``Corpsmember or a 21CSC organization''.

SEC. 10. FUNDING.

    Section 210 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1729) 
is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (a) through (c) as 
        subsections (d) through (f), respectively;
            (2) by inserting before subsection (d) the following:
    ``(a) Investments.--
            ``(1) In general.--In addition to using the funds described 
        in subsections (b) and (c) to fund 21CSC projects, each 21CSC 
        organization shall leverage those funds by soliciting cash or 
        in-kind contributions from public or private sources.
            ``(2) Methods.--A 21CSC organization may leverage funds by 
        soliciting contributions using innovative strategies, such as 
        crowd-funding.
    ``(b) Existing Resources.--To fund a 21CSC project, the head of 
each participating entity shall be limited to using existing funds 
appropriated or allocated to the participating entity, as of the period 
of implementation of the 21CSC project, under any law or authority 
other than this title.
    ``(c) Set Cost Share.--A 21CSC organization carrying out a 21CSC 
project shall provide a cost share of not less than 10 percent of the 
total cost of the 21CSC project, which may include cash or in-kind 
contributions from a State, local, or private source.'';
            (3) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
                        ``qualified youth or conservation corps'' and 
                        inserting ``Corpsmembers or 21csc 
                        organizations''; and
                            (ii) by striking the first and second 
                        sentences; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
                        ``Public lands corps'' and inserting ``21csc'';
                            (ii) in the first sentence--
                                    (I) by striking ``The Secretary is 
                                authorized to'' and inserting ``The 
                                head of a participating entity may'';
                                    (II) by striking ``Public Lands 
                                Corps'' and inserting ``21CSC''; and
                                    (III) by striking ``the Corps'' and 
                                inserting ``the 21CSC''; and
                            (iii) in the second sentence, by striking 
                        ``the Corps'' and ``the 21CSC'';
            (4) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated), by striking 
        ``In order'' and all that follows through ``the Secretary'' and 
        inserting ``To carry out the 21CSC or to support resource 
        assistants and Corpsmembers or 21CSC organizations under this 
        title, the head of a participating entity''; and
            (5) in subsection (f) (as so redesignated)--
                    (A) by striking ``section 211'' and inserting 
                ``section 213''; and
                    (B) by striking ``Public Lands Corps'' and 
                inserting ``21CSC''.

SEC. 11. INDIAN YOUTH 21ST CENTURY CONSERVATION SERVICE CORPS; RULE OF 
              CONSTRUCTION.

    The Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 211 as section 213; and
            (2) by inserting after section 210 the following:

``SEC. 211. INDIAN YOUTH 21ST CENTURY CONSERVATION SERVICE CORPS.

    ``(a) Authorization of Cooperative Agreements.--The head of a 
participating entity may offer to enter into a cooperative agreement 
with a tribal agency or a 21CSC organization to establish and 
administer the Indian Youth 21st Century Conservation Service Corps, 
which shall carry out 1 or more 21CSC projects on tribal land or water.
    ``(b) Guidelines.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps Act of 2017, 
the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with Indian tribes, 
shall issue guidelines for the management of the Indian Youth 21st 
Century Conservation Service Corps, in accordance with this Act and any 
other applicable Federal laws.

``SEC. 212. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    ``Except as provided in section 204(d)(2)(A)(i), the requirements 
and authorities provided under this title with respect to Corpsmembers, 
21CSC organizations, and participating entities with respect to a 21CSC 
project shall be in addition to any requirement or authority provided 
under other Federal law with respect to Corpsmembers, 21CSC 
organizations, and participating entities with respect to the 21CSC 
project.''.

SEC. 12. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY.

    Section 121(a) of the Department of the Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012 (16 U.S.C. 1725a(a)), is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``Secretary of the Interior'' and 
                inserting ``head of a participating entity (as defined 
                in section 203 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 
                (16 U.S.C. 1722)) (referred to in this subsection as a 
                `participating entity')''; and
                    (B) by striking ``in paragraph (1) directly to a 
                position with a land managing agency of the Department 
                of the Interior'' and inserting ``in paragraph (2) 
                directly to a position with a participating entity''; 
                and
            (2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``land managing 
        agency, such as the National Park Service Business Plan 
        Internship'' and inserting ``participating entity''.
                                 <all>