Part C—Special Volunteer Programs
§4991. Congressional statement of purpose
This part provides for special emphasis and demonstration volunteer programs, together with appropriate powers and responsibilities designed to assist in the development and coordination of such programs. The purpose of this part is to strengthen and supplement efforts to meet a broad range of needs, particularly those related to poverty, by encouraging and enabling persons from all walks of life and from all age groups to perform meaningful and constructive volunteer service in agencies, institutions, and organizations where the application of human talent and dedication may help to meet such needs. It is the further purpose of this part to provide technical and financial assistance to encourage voluntary organizations and volunteer efforts at the national, State, and local level.
(Pub. L. 93–113, title I, §121, Oct. 1, 1973, 87 Stat. 400; Pub. L. 98–288, §11, May 21, 1984, 98 Stat. 191; Pub. L. 111–13, title II, §2131, Apr. 21, 2009, 123 Stat. 1584.)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2009—Pub. L. 111–13 substituted "organizations" for "situations" in second sentence.
1984—Pub. L. 98–288 struck out "human, social, and environmental" after "broad range of", and inserted at end "It is the further purpose of this part to provide technical and financial assistance to encourage voluntary organizations and volunteer efforts at the national, State, and local level."
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2009 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 111–13 effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of Pub. L. 111–13, set out as a note under section 4950 of this title.
§4992. Authority to establish and operate special volunteer and demonstration programs
(a) In general
The Director is authorized to conduct special volunteer programs for demonstration programs, or award grants to or enter into contracts with public or nonprofit organizations to carry out such programs. Such programs shall encourage wider volunteer participation on a full-time, part-time, or short-term basis to further the purpose of this part, and identify particular segments of the poverty community that could benefit from volunteer and other antipoverty efforts.
(b) Assignment and support of volunteers
The assignment of volunteers under this section, and the provision of support for such volunteers, including any subsistence allowances and stipends, shall be on such terms and conditions as the Director shall determine to be appropriate, but shall not exceed the level of support provided under section 4955 of this title. Projects using volunteers who do not receive stipends may also be supported under this section.
(c) Criteria and priorities
In carrying out this section and section 4993 of this title, the Director shall establish criteria and priorities for awarding grants and entering into contracts under this part in each fiscal year. No grant or contract exceeding $100,000 shall be made under this part unless the recipient of the grant or contractor has been selected by a competitive process that includes public announcement of the availability of funds for such grant or contract, general criteria for the selection of recipients or contractors, and a description of the application process and application review process.
(Pub. L. 93–113, title I, §122, Oct. 1, 1973, 87 Stat. 401; Pub. L. 94–293, §3(a), May 27, 1976, 90 Stat. 525; Pub. L. 96–143, §7(a)–(c), Dec. 13, 1979, 93 Stat. 1075, 1076; Pub. L. 98–288, §§12, 30(b)(2), May 21, 1984, 98 Stat. 192, 197; Pub. L. 99–551, §§6(a), 10(d), (i)(4), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3074, 3077, 3078; Pub. L. 101–204, title III, §301, Dec. 7, 1989, 103 Stat. 1813; Pub. L. 103–82, title III, §331, Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 903.)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1993—Pub. L. 103–82 amended section generally, substituting present provisions for provisions which related to: in subsec. (a), youthful offender incarceration alternatives, veterans educational opportunities, drug abusers counseling, assistance to victims of domestic violence, periods of service, and identification of segments of poverty community which could benefit from volunteer and other antipoverty efforts; in subsec. (b), assignment of volunteers, and terms and conditions; in subsec. (c), allowances, supports, services, and stipends for part-time and full-time volunteers; in subsec. (d), establishment of criteria for grants and contracts, competitive process, maximum amount, and multiple grants or contracts; and in subsec. (e), prohibition on use of funds for certain State offices.
1989—Subsec. (d)(3), (4). Pub. L. 101–204, §301(a), added par. (3) and redesignated former par. (3) as (4).
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 101–204, §301(b), added subsec. (e).
1986—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 99–551, §§6(a), 10(d), inserted "(including Indian reservations)" and substituted "offenders, a program" and "veterans, a program" for "offenders; a program" and "veterans; a program", respectively.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–551, §10(i)(4), substituted "the Director" for "he" before "shall prescribe".
1984—Subsec. (c)(2)(B). Pub. L. 98–288, §30(b)(2), substituted "4953(f)" for "4953(d)".
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98–288, §12, added subsec. (d).
1979—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–143, §7(a), (b), designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted "in urban and rural areas" after "volunteer programs" and ", a program of assistance to victims of domestic violence, a program to provide technical and management assistance to distressed communities, a program designed to provide personal and group financial counseling to low-income and fixed-income individuals (utilizing volunteers with specialized or technical expertise), and a Helping Hand program" after "drug abusers", inserted provisions authorizing the Director to provide for the recruitment, selection, and training of volunteers in carrying out programs authorized by this part, and added par. (2).
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 96–143, §7(c), inserted provisions permitting support payments to part-time volunteers enrolled for at least 20 hours of service per week for at least 26 consecutive weeks and provisions applying sections 4953(b), (d), 4954(d), and 4955(a) of this title to full-time full-year volunteers whose service is similar in character to that of VISTA volunteers.
1976—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–293 inserted provision authorizing the Director to undertake and support volunteer service programs, and recruit, etc., volunteers to carry out this part.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1993 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 103–82 effective Oct. 1, 1993, see section 392 of Pub. L. 103–82, set out as a note under section 4951 of this title.
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 99–551 effective Oct. 1, 1986, except as otherwise provided, see section 11 of Pub. L. 99–551, set out as an Effective Date note under section 4950 of this title.
Report on Programs, Activities, Grants, and Contracts Resulting From Amendment by Section 7 of Pub. L. 96–143
Pub. L. 96–143, §7(d), Dec. 13, 1979, 93 Stat. 1076, directed Director of ACTION Agency, not later than 18 months after funds were first made available to carry out activities under the amendments to this part made by section 7 of Pub. L. 96–143, to submit to appropriate committees of Congress a report on programs, activities, grants, and contracts so carried out.
Executive Documents
Executive Order No. 12034
Ex. Ord. No. 12034, Jan. 10, 1978, 43 F.R. 1917, which provided for appointment of ACTION Community Volunteers to the Civilian Career Service, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12608, Sept. 9, 1987, 52 F.R. 34617.
§4993. Technical and financial assistance
The Director may provide technical and financial assistance to Federal agencies, State and local governments and agencies, private nonprofit organizations, employers, and other private organizations that utilize or desire to utilize volunteers in carrying out the purpose of this part.
(Pub. L. 93–113, title I, §123, as added Pub. L. 94–293, §3(b)(1), May 27, 1976, 90 Stat. 525; amended Pub. L. 98–288, §13, May 21, 1984, 98 Stat. 192; Pub. L. 101–204, title VI, §602, Dec. 7, 1989, 103 Stat. 1820; Pub. L. 103–82, title III, §332, Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 903.)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1993—Pub. L. 103–82 amended section generally, substituting single sentence authorizing technical and financial assistance for former subsecs. (a) and (b) which contained similar general authority and provisions detailing use of the general authority.
1989—Pub. L. 101–204 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).
1984—Pub. L. 98–288 substituted "(2) technical assistance and training programs, including the creation or expansion of private capabilities where possible and the development of voluntary organizations, with particular emphasis on low-income, minority, and community-based groups, or (3)" for "or (2)".
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1993 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 103–82 effective Oct. 1, 1993, see section 392 of Pub. L. 103–82, set out as a note under section 4951 of this title.
Section, Pub. L. 93–113, title I, §124, as added Pub. L. 99–570, title IV, §4301(1), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–152; amended Pub. L. 100–690, title III, §3401(a)(1), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4252; Pub. L. 101–204, title III, §302, title VI, §603, Dec. 7, 1989, 103 Stat. 1813, 1820, related to drug abuse education and prevention services and activities.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of Repeal
Repeal effective Oct. 1, 1993, see section 392 of Pub. L. 103–82, set out as an Effective Date of 1993 Amendment note under section 4951 of this title.
Section, Pub. L. 93–113, title I, §124, formerly §125, as added Pub. L. 102–73, title VII, §701(a)(1), July 25, 1991, 105 Stat. 358; renumbered §124 and amended Pub. L. 103–82, title III, §333(2), title IV, §405(a)(5), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 903, 920, authorized the Director to award literacy challenge grants to eligible public agencies and private organizations.
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 124 of Pub. L. 93–113 was classified to section 4994 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–82.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of Repeal
Repeal effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of Pub. L. 111–13, set out as an Effective Date of 2009 Amendment note under section 4950 of this title.