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)]
<DOC>
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.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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