Encore Service Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3480
Sponsor: Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT]
Introduced: 2008-09-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Age and employment
Authorization
Child welfare
Compensatory education
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Corporation for National and Community Service
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Families
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Government corporations
Governmental investigations
Higher education
Labor and Employment
Mentoring
National service
Nonprofit organizations
Older workers
Poverty
Salaries
Scholarships
Secondary education
Volunteer workers

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-11
text: 
Encore Service Act of 2008 - Amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to make eligible for assistance under the National Service Trust program Encore Service programs that engage individuals age 50 or older in national service addressing specific community needs.
 
Gives Encore Service participants age 50 or older five options for their term of service, ranging from full-time to minimum time.
 
Makes such participants eligible for national service educational awards, which they may transfer to others for use within 20 years.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that, by 2018, 25% of National Service Trust program participants should be age 50 or older. Requires the Corporation for National and Community Service to identify and address the barriers to program participation by such individuals.
 
Establishes Encore Fellowship programs providing Encore Fellowships to professionals age 50 or older who serve as full-time volunteers for nine months to one year with public or nonprofit organizations that address unmet human, educational, environmental, or public safety needs. Makes such Fellows ineligible for national service educational awards. 
 
Creates Silver Scholarship programs providing Silver Scholarships to individuals who, over a one-year period, complete: (1) at least 500 hours of volunteer service after attaining age 55; or (2) between 250 and 500 hours of such service and present compelling personal experiences. Allows such individuals to transfer their scholarships to others for use within 20 years.
 
Directs the Corporation to specify the services that qualify volunteers for scholarships, including: (1) tutoring or mentoring in educational settings; and (2) assisting persons with special needs. 
 
Amends the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 to allow anyone age 55 or older (currently, 60 or older) whose income does not exceed 200% (currently, 125%) of the poverty level to volunteer under the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs that provide supportive services to persons with exceptional needs.
 
Reauthorizes appropriations for the National Senior Volunteer Corps, including the Retired and Senior Volunteer, Foster Grandparent, and Senior Companion programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-09-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8415-8416)
action_date: 2008-09-11
text: Introduced in Senate