Sec. 4. Restore Employment in Natural and Environmental Work Conservation Corps
551 words·~3 min read·
/bill/117/hr/3220/ih/section-4A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
There is established in the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture the Restore Employment in Natural and Environmental Work Conservation Corps program under which Participants shall carry out— eligible projects administered by the Secretaries under this section; and eligible projects administered by Program partners under subsection
(a)or
(b)of section 5. The Corps shall consist of— eligible participants who are enrolled in the Corps by the Secretaries; and eligible participants who are enrolled in the Corps by Program partners. In enrolling eligible participants in the Corps under paragraph (1), the Secretaries and Program partners shall ensure that Participants reflect the demographics of the area in which the Participants are carrying out an eligible project. The Secretaries and Program partners shall provide Participants— meaningful, full-time, productive work in a natural or cultural resource setting; a mix of work experience, basic and life skills, education, training, and support services; and the opportunity to develop an ethic of citizenship, community service, and environmental stewardship through service to the community and the United States. Participants shall serve for a term of at least 12 weeks, but not more than 1 year. Participants shall be compensated at a wage rate that is appropriate for the type of work performed by the Participant, but not less than $15 per hour (to be increased each year based on increases in the Consumer Price Index for the year). If a Participant completes at least 1 year of service in the Corps, the Participant shall be eligible for— an educational credit that may be applied toward a program of postsecondary education at an institution of higher education that agrees to award the credit for participation in the Corps; and not more than $5,500 in tuition assistance to the Participant for purposes of continuing education. The Secretaries and Program partners shall— ensure that 20 to 50 percent of the term of a Participant in the Corps is dedicated to education, training, and workforce readiness activities; and provide curricula to Participants that improve the future job prospects of Participants, including through making available to Participants registered apprenticeships and other professional licenses or certifications. A Program partner that enrolls Participants that are opportunity youth— shall provide to the opportunity youth— supervision and training; adult mentoring; and education, which may include— basic instruction and remedial education; language instruction for individuals with limited English proficiency; secondary education services and activities, including dropout prevention and tutoring; and other activities that are delivered in conjunction with project-based service-learning to the maximum extent practicable; and may provide to the opportunity youth— services to assist in the preparation for, and access to, postsecondary education opportunities, including— counseling; and assistance with applying for student financial aid; employability training, which may include— development of basic skills, such as— arriving on time to work; being prepared to work; following directions; working independently; working with others; working safely; and demonstrating a commitment to produce high-quality work; career counseling and job search assistance; and pathways to family sustaining jobs; and supportive services, which may include— health care, including mental health care, such as drug and alcohol abuse counseling; child care; and transportation. The Secretaries shall provide each Participant with a certificate of completion bearing the signature of the Secretaries on the completion of a term of service in the Corps.