Title: Care Corps Demonstration Act of 2017
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Care Corps Demonstration Act of 2017
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to implement a local care corps program through which eligible volunteers perform care services for individuals with a disability or individuals who have difficulty with self-care or living independently.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3493 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3493

 To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants for local 
 care corps programs through which qualified volunteers provide care, 
 companionship, and other services to seniors and individuals in need, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 27, 2017

    Ms. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico (for herself, Ms. Ros-
  Lehtinen, Ms. Moore, Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York, Ms. Shea-
Porter, Mr. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, Mr. Gallego, Mrs. Dingell, Ms. 
  Roybal-Allard, Ms. Norton, and Mr. Evans) introduced the following 
    bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants for local 
 care corps programs through which qualified volunteers provide care, 
 companionship, and other services to seniors and individuals in need, 
                        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 ``Care Corps Demonstration Act of 
2017''.

SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR LOCAL CARE CORPS PROGRAMS.

    Part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
254b et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating the second subpart XI (relating to a 
        community-based collaborative care network program) as subpart 
        XII;
            (2) by redesignating the second section 340H (42 U.S.C. 
        256i) as section 340I; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:

               ``Subpart XIII--Local Care Corps Programs

``SEC. 340J. GRANTS FOR LOCAL CARE CORPS PROGRAMS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary may award grants to eligible 
entities described in subsection (b) to establish and implement a local 
care corps program through which eligible volunteers described in 
subsection (c) perform approved care services described in subsection 
(d).
    ``(b) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
this section, an entity shall be a public or private nonprofit entity 
that is--
            ``(1) part of an aging network, as defined in section 
        102(5) of the Older Americans Act of 1965;
            ``(2) a time-banking or volunteer organizing agency that 
        has expertise in delivering home- and community-based long-term 
        services and supports to older adults and people with 
        disabilities;
            ``(3) a State, county, or local government; or
            ``(4) any other entity that has expertise in delivering 
        home- and community-based long-term services and supports to 
        older adults and people with disabilities, as determined to be 
        appropriate by the Secretary.
    ``(c) Eligible Volunteers.--
            ``(1) Eligibility criteria.--To be eligible to serve as a 
        volunteer in a local care corps program funded through a grant 
        under this section, an individual shall--
                    ``(A) be at least 18 years of age on or before 
                December 31 of the calendar year in which the 
                individual begins participation in the program;
                    ``(B) agree to participate in the program for a 
                period of not more than 24 months, consisting of not 
                more than 2 terms of up to 12 months;
                    ``(C) submit an application to the grantee at such 
                time, in such manner, and containing such information 
                as the grantee may require;
                    ``(D) pass a criminal background check as described 
                in paragraph (2); and
                    ``(E) agree to comply with such terms and 
                conditions as the grantee may require.
            ``(2) Criminal background check.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Before selecting any individual 
                to serve as a volunteer in a local care corps program 
                funded through a grant under this section, the grantee 
                shall request a criminal background check of such 
                individual on a nationwide basis.
                    ``(B) Volunteer prohibitions.--An individual shall 
                be ineligible to be a volunteer in such program if--
                            ``(i) the individual refuses to consent to 
                        the criminal background check; or
                            ``(ii) the criminal background check does 
                        not demonstrate to the grantee's satisfaction 
                        that the individual is fit for service in such 
                        program.
    ``(d) Approved Care Services.--
            ``(1) In general.--In carrying out a local care corps 
        program funded through a grant under this section, the grantee 
        shall assign volunteers only for providing services--
                    ``(A) that are approved care services described in 
                paragraph (2); and
                    ``(B) within one or more populations that--
                            ``(i) have a shortage of such approved care 
                        services; or
                            ``(ii) consist primarily of low-income or 
                        minority individuals.
            ``(2) Approved care services.--Approved care services are 
        services provided directly to individuals in need (as defined 
        in paragraph (5)) 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 maintenance of 
                the highest level of independent living for each 
                individual in need;
                    ``(C) are supported by appropriate orientation, 
                training, and supervision; and
                    ``(D) are provided in support of, or in 
                coordination with, a caregiver, if applicable.
            ``(3) Prohibited services.--In performing duties as part of 
        a local care corps program funded through a grant under this 
        section, no volunteer shall provide--
                    ``(A) professional medical services;
                    ``(B) administrative support services of the 
                program;
                    ``(C) care in an institutional setting;
                    ``(D) care prohibited under State law;
                    ``(E) financial services; or
                    ``(F) any other services determined by the 
                Secretary to be inconsistent with the purposes of local 
                care corps programs funded under this section.
            ``(4) Guidance regarding scope of services.--The Secretary 
        shall issue guidance describing the scope of services that may 
        be provided by volunteers as part of a local care corps program 
        funded through a grant under this section. 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.
            ``(5) Individual in need.--In this paragraph, the term 
        `individual in need' means an individual who--
                    ``(A) is at least 65 years of age or has a 
                disability as defined in section 3 of the Americans 
                With Disabilities Act of 1990;
                    ``(B) has difficulty with self-care or living 
                independently; and
                    ``(C) meets such other criteria as the grantee 
                determines to be appropriate.
    ``(e) Training and Standards of Conduct.--
            ``(1) Pre-assignment training program.--As a condition on 
        receipt of a grant for a local care corps program under this 
        section, an eligible entity shall agree to develop a training 
        program that provides volunteers in such program with 
        instruction in the skills necessary to carry out an assignment 
        in the program. Such training shall include--
                    ``(A) at least 40 hours of instruction for each 
                volunteer for each term (of 12 months or less) to be 
                served in such program;
                    ``(B) additional training for volunteers whose 
                assignment requires further instruction; and
                    ``(C) any other training the grantee determines to 
                be appropriate.
            ``(2) Standards of conduct.--As a condition on receipt of a 
        grant for a local care corps program under this section, an 
        eligible entity shall agree to establish and enforce standards 
        to promote proper conduct and discipline within such program.
    ``(f) Authorized Benefits for Volunteers.--As a condition on 
receipt of a grant for a local care corps program under this section, 
an eligible entity shall agree to the following:
            ``(1) In general.--The eligible entity will provide for 
        volunteers participating in the program to receive allowances, 
        health insurance, and post-service educational awards, in 
        accordance with this subsection.
            ``(2) Allowances.--The eligible entity will provide for 
        each volunteer to receive such living, travel, and leave 
        allowances, and such housing, transportation, supplies, 
        equipment, and subsistence as the eligible entity determines to 
        be necessary for--
                    ``(A) the volunteer's maintenance; and
                    ``(B) to ensure the volunteer's health and capacity 
                to serve effectively.
            ``(3) Health insurance.--The eligible entity will provide 
        for each volunteer to receive health insurance coverage meeting 
        the requirements of section 5000A(f) of the Internal Revenue 
        Code of 1986.
            ``(4) Post-service educational award.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The eligible entity will 
                establish an educational award for volunteers.
                    ``(B) Amounts.--
                            ``(i) Number of awards.--A volunteer may 
                        receive up to 2 educational awards under this 
                        subsection, one for each term of service as a 
                        volunteer.
                            ``(ii) Amount for full term of service.--In 
                        the case of a volunteer who completes a term of 
                        full-time service in the program for a period 
                        of 12 months, as determined by the eligible 
                        entity, such volunteer shall receive an 
                        educational award having a value of $6,000 for 
                        the award year.
                            ``(iii) Incentive to pursue a health care 
                        profession.--In the case of a volunteer who 
                        commits to using an educational award (or 
                        awards, if applicable) under this subsection 
                        for completion of a degree, a certificate, or 
                        training in a health care profession, or in a 
                        social services profession related to the 
                        delivery of long-term services and supports to 
                        older adults and people with disabilities or to 
                        their caregivers, the value of such awards 
                        shall be $10,000 for the award year.
                            ``(iv) Amount for other periods of 
                        service.--
                                    ``(I) First 12 months.--In the case 
                                of a volunteer who completes less than 
                                a 12-month term of full-time service in 
                                the program, as determined by the 
                                eligible entity, such volunteer may 
                                receive a portion of the educational 
                                award described in clause (ii) or (iii) 
                                (as applicable) that corresponds to the 
                                quantity of service actually completed 
                                by the volunteer.
                                    ``(II) Second 12 months.--In the 
                                case of a volunteer who completes more 
                                than 12 months of full-time service in 
                                the program, and less than 24 months of 
                                such service, as determined by the 
                                eligible entity, such volunteer may 
                                receive, for the portion of service 
                                exceeding 12 months, a portion of the 
                                educational award described in clause 
                                (ii) or (iii) (as applicable) that 
                                corresponds to the quantity of service 
                                actually completed by the volunteer.
                    ``(C) Uses of award.--An educational award under 
                this subsection shall be used to pay--
                            ``(i) costs of attendance at an institution 
                        of higher education; or
                            ``(ii) government or commercial loans 
                        received by an individual for the cost of 
                        attendance at an institution of higher 
                        education.
                    ``(D) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
                            ``(i) The term `cost of attendance' has the 
                        meaning given such term by section 472 of the 
                        Higher Education Act of 1965.
                            ``(ii) The term `institution of higher 
                        education' has the meaning given such term 
                        under subsection (a) or (b) of section 101 of 
                        the Higher Education Act of 1965.
    ``(g) Application Process.--To seek a grant under this section, an 
eligible entity shall--
            ``(1) submit an application to the Secretary at such time, 
        in such manner, and containing such information and assurances 
        as the Secretary may require; and
            ``(2) include in such application a description of the 
        scope of the services proposed to be provided through the 
        entity's local care corps program.
    ``(h) Reporting Requirements.--
            ``(1) Reports to secretary.--As a condition of receipt of a 
        grant under this section for a local care corps program, an 
        eligible entity shall agree to submit annual reports to the 
        Secretary including--
                    ``(A) a description of the population served by the 
                eligible entity through the grant during the preceding 
                fiscal year, including--
                            ``(i) an estimate of the number of 
                        individuals served, disaggregated by race, 
                        ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status, and 
                        disability status; and
                            ``(ii) identification of the type of 
                        settings in which the services were provided;
                    ``(B) an evaluation of program operations; and
                    ``(C) recommendations, if any, for improving 
                programs funded under this section.
            ``(2) Report to congress.--Not later than the end of fiscal 
        year 2021, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress 
        on local care corps programs funded under this section, 
        including--
                    ``(A) summaries of the information submitted to the 
                Secretary pursuant to paragraph (1); and
                    ``(B) recommendations, if any, for improving 
                programs funded under this section.
    ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2018 through 2022, to remain available until expended.''.
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