Collapse to view only § 1722. Definitions
- § 1721. Congressional findings and purpose
- § 1722. Definitions
- § 1723. Public Lands Corps program
- § 1724. Conservation centers and program support
- § 1725. Resource assistants
- § 1725a. Direct hire authority
- § 1725b. Forest Service hire authority
- § 1726. Compensation and terms of service
- § 1727. National service educational awards
- § 1727a. Reporting and data collection
- § 1727b. Indian Youth Service Corps
- § 1728. Nondisplacement
- § 1729. Funding
- § 1730. Authorization of appropriations
§ 1721. Congressional findings and purpose
(a) Findings
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Conserving or developing natural and cultural resources and enhancing and maintaining environmentally important lands and waters through the use of the Nation’s young men and women in a Public Lands Corps can benefit those men and women by providing them with education and work opportunities, furthering their understanding and appreciation of the natural and cultural resources, and providing a means to pay for higher education or to repay indebtedness they have incurred to obtain higher education while at the same time benefiting the Nation’s economy and its environment.
(2) Many facilities and natural resources located on eligible service lands are in disrepair or degraded and in need of labor intensive rehabilitation, restoration, and enhancement work which cannot be carried out by Federal agencies at existing personnel levels.
(3) Youth conservation corps have established a good record of restoring and maintaining these kinds of facilities and resources in a cost effective and efficient manner, especially when they have worked in partnership arrangements with government land management agencies.
(b) Purpose
It is the purpose of this subchapter to—
(1) perform, in a cost-effective manner, appropriate conservation projects on eligible service lands where such projects will not be performed by existing employees;
(2) assist governments and Indian tribes in performing research and public education tasks associated with natural and cultural resources on eligible service lands;
(3) expose young men and women to public service while furthering their understanding and appreciation of the Nation’s natural and cultural resources;
(4) expand educational opportunities by rewarding individuals who participate in national service with an increased ability to pursue higher education or job training; and
(5) stimulate interest among the Nation’s young men and women in conservation careers by exposing them to conservation professionals in land managing agencies.
(Pub. L. 91–378, title II, § 202, as added Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 105(6), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 848.)
§ 1722. DefinitionsFor purposes of this subchapter:
(1) Appropriate conservation project
(2) Corps and Public Lands Corps
(3) Eligible service lands
(4) Hawaiian home lands
(5) IndianThe term “Indian” means a person who—
(A) is a member of an Indian tribe; or
(B) is a “Native”, as defined in section 3(b) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602(b)).
(6) Indian landsThe term “Indian lands” means—
(A) any Indian reservation;
(B) any public domain Indian allotments;
(C) any former Indian reservation in the State of Oklahoma;
(D) any land held by incorporated Native groups, regional corporations, and village corporations under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.]; and
(E) any land held by dependent Indian communities within the borders of the United States whether within the original or subsequently acquired territory thereof, and whether within or without the limits of a State.
(7) Indian tribe
(8) Institution of higher education
(A) In general
(B) ExclusionThe term “institution of higher education” does not include—
(i) an institution described in section 1001(b) of title 20; or
(ii) an institution outside the United States, as described in section 1002(a)(1)(C) of title 20.
(9) Priority projectThe term “priority project” means an appropriate conservation project conducted on eligible service lands to further 1 or more of the purposes of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) and other conservation and restoration initiatives, as follows:
(A) To reduce wildfire risk to a community, municipal water supply, or other at-risk Federal land.
(B) To protect a watershed or address a threat to forest and rangeland health, including catastrophic wildfire.
(C) To address the impact of insect or disease infestations or other damaging agents on forest and rangeland health.
(D) To protect, restore, or enhance forest ecosystem components to—
(i) promote the recovery of threatened or endangered species;
(ii) improve biological diversity; or
(iii) enhance productivity and carbon sequestration.
(E) To protect, restore, or enhance marine, estuarine, riverine, and coastal habitat ecosystem components—
(i) to promote the recovery of threatened species, endangered species, and managed fisheries;
(ii) to restore fisheries, protected resources, and habitats impacted by oil and chemical spills and natural disasters; or
(iii) to enhance the resilience of coastal ecosystems, communities, and economies through habitat conservation.
(10) Public lands
(11) Qualified youth or conservation corpsThe term “qualified youth or conservation corps” means any program established by a State or local government, by the governing body of any Indian tribe, or by a nonprofit organization that—
(A) is capable of offering meaningful, full-time, productive work for individuals between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, or veterans age 35 or younger in a natural or cultural resource setting;
(B) gives participants a mix of work experience, basic and life skills, education, training, and support services; and
(C) provides participants with the opportunity to develop citizenship values and skills through service to their community and the United States.
(12) Resource assistant
(13) SecretaryThe term “Secretary” means—
(A) with respect to National Forest System land, the Secretary of Agriculture;
(B) with respect to Indian lands, Hawaiian home lands, or land administered by the Department of the Interior, the Secretary of the Interior; and
(C) with respect to the National Marine Sanctuary System, coral reefs, and other coastal, estuarine, and marine habitats, and other land and facilities administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Secretary of Commerce.
(14) State
(15) Veteran
(Pub. L. 91–378, title II, § 203, as added Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 105(6), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 849; amended Pub. L. 109–154, § 2(a), Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2890; Pub. L. 114–289, title III, § 302(1), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1487; Pub. L. 116–9, title IX, § 9003(a), Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 832.)
§ 1723. Public Lands Corps program
(a) Establishment of Public Lands Corps
(1) In general
(2) No effect on other agencies
(b) Participants
(c) Qualified youth or conservation corps
(1) In general
(2) Preference
(A) In general
(B) Priority projects
(d) Projects to be carried out
(1) In general
(2) Projects on Indian lands
(3) Disaster prevention or relief projects
(e) Preference for certain projects
In selecting appropriate conservation projects to be carried out under this subchapter, the Secretary shall give preference to those projects which—
(1) will provide long-term benefits to the public;
(2) will instill in the enrollee involved a work ethic and a sense of public service;
(3) will be labor intensive;
(4) can be planned and initiated promptly; and
(5) will provide academic, experiential, or environmental education opportunities.
(f) Consistency
(g) Effect
(Pub. L. 91–378, title II, § 204, as added Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 105(6), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 850; amended Pub. L. 109–154, § 2(b), (c), (g)(1), Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2891, 2893; Pub. L. 114–289, title III, § 302(2), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1487; Pub. L. 116–9, title IX, § 9003(b), Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 833.)
§ 1724. Conservation centers and program support
(a) Establishment and use
(1) In general
The Secretary may establish and use conservation centers owned and operated by the Secretary for—
(A) use by the Public Lands Corps; and
(B) the conduct of appropriate conservation projects under this subchapter.
(2) Assistance for conservation centers
(3) Standards for conservation centers
The Secretary shall—
(A) establish basic standards of health, nutrition, sanitation, and safety for all conservation centers established under paragraph (1); and
(B) ensure that the standards established under subparagraph (A) are enforced.
(4) Management
(b) Logistical support
(c) Use of military installations
(d) Assistance
(e) Transportation
(Pub. L. 91–378, title II, § 205, as added Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 105(6), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 851; amended Pub. L. 109–154, § 2(d), (g)(2), Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2891, 2893; Pub. L. 116–9, title IX, § 9003(c), Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 833.)
§ 1725. Resource assistants
(a) Authorization
(b) Use of existing nonprofit organizations
(Pub. L. 91–378, title II, § 206, as added Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 105(6), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 852; amended Pub. L. 109–154, § 2(g)(3), Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2893; Pub. L. 116–9, title IX, § 9003(d)(1), Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 833.)
§ 1725a. Direct hire authority
(1) During fiscal year 2012 and thereafter, the Secretary (as defined in section 1722 of this title) may appoint, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, other than sections 3303 and 3328 of such title, a qualified candidate described in paragraph (2) directly to a position for which the candidate meets Office of Personnel Management qualification standards.
(2) Paragraph (1) applies with respect to a former resource assistant (as defined in section 1722 of this title) who—
(A) completed a rigorous undergraduate or graduate summer internship with the Secretary (as so defined), such as the National Park Service Business Plan Internship;
(B) successfully fulfilled the requirements of the internship program; and
(C) subsequently earned an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
(3) The direct hire authority under this section may not be exercised with respect to a specific qualified candidate after the end of the two-year period beginning on the date on which the candidate completed the undergraduate or graduate degree, as the case may be.
(Pub. L. 112–74, div. E, title I, § 121(a), Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 1012; Pub. L. 116–9, title IX, § 9003(d)(2), Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 834.)
§ 1725b. Forest Service hire authority
(a) In general
(b) Qualifications
Subsection (a) applies to a former resource assistant (as defined in section 203 of the Public Land Corps Act 1
1 See References in Text note below.
(16 U.S.C. 1722)) who—(1) completed a rigorous internship with a land managing agency, such as the Forest Service Resource Assistant Program;
(2) successfully fulfilled the requirements of the internship program; and
(3) earned an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited institution of higher education (as defined in section 1001 of title 20).
(c) Limitation
(Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, § 12518, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 5001.)
§ 1726. Compensation and terms of service
(a) Living allowances
(b) Educational credit
(c) Terms of service
(1) In general
(2) Indian Youth Service Corps
(d) Hiring
(1) In general
The Secretary may—
(A) grant to a member of the Public Lands Corps credit for time served with the Public Lands Corps, which may be used toward future Federal hiring; and
(B) provide to a former member of the Public Lands Corps noncompetitive hiring status for a period of not more than 2 years after the date on which the member’s service with the Public Lands Corps is complete.
(2) Time-limited appointment
(e) Applicability to qualified youth or conservation corps
(Pub. L. 91–378, title II, § 207, as added Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 105(6), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 852; amended Pub. L. 109–154, § 2(e), Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2892; Pub. L. 114–289, title III, § 302(3), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1487; Pub. L. 116–9, title IX, § 9003(e), Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 834.)
§ 1727. National service educational awards
(a) Educational benefits and awards
(b) Forbearance in collection of Stafford loans
(Pub. L. 91–378, title II, § 208, as added Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 105(6), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 853.)
§ 1727a. Reporting and data collection
(a) Report
Not later than 2 years after March 12, 2019, and annually thereafter, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service, in coordination with the Secretaries, shall submit to Congress a report that includes data on the Corps, including—
(1) the number of participants enrolled in the Corps and the length of the term of service for each participant;
(2) the projects carried out by Corps participants, categorized by type of project and Federal agency;
(3) the total amount and sources of funding provided for the service of participants;
(4) the type of service performed by participants and the impact and accomplishments of the service; and
(5) any other similar data determined to be appropriate by the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service or the Secretaries.
(b) Data
(c) Data collection
(d) Coordination
(1) In general
The Secretaries shall, to the maximum extent practicable, coordinate with each other to carry out activities authorized under this subchapter, including—
(A) the data collection and reporting requirements of this section; and
(B) implementing and issuing guidance on eligibility for noncompetitive hiring status under section 1726(d) of this title.
(2) Designation of coordinators
(Pub. L. 91–378, title II, § 209, as added Pub. L. 116–9, title IX, § 9003(f)(2), Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 835.)
§ 1727b. Indian Youth Service Corps
(a) In general
There is established within the Public Lands Corps a program to be known as the “Indian Youth Service Corps” that—
(1) enrolls participants between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, and veterans age 35 or younger, a majority of whom are Indians;
(2) is established pursuant to an agreement between an Indian tribe and a qualified youth or conservation corps for the benefit of the members of the Indian tribe; and
(3) carries out appropriate conservation projects on eligible service land.
(b) Authorization of cooperative agreements
(c) Guidelines
(Pub. L. 91–378, title II, § 210, as added Pub. L. 116–9, title IX, § 9003(g), Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 835.)
§ 1728. Nondisplacement
The nondisplacement requirements of section 12637 of title 42 shall be applicable to all activities carried out by the Public Lands Corps, to all activities carried out under this subchapter by a qualified youth or conservation corps, and to the selection and service of resource assistants.
(Pub. L. 91–378, title II, § 211, formerly § 209, as added Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 105(6), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 853; renumbered § 211, Pub. L. 116–9, title IX, § 9003(f)(1), Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 835.)
§ 1729. Funding
(a) Cost sharing
(1) Projects by qualified youth or conservation corps
(2) Public Lands Corps projects
(b) Funds available under National and Community Service Act
(c) Other funds
(Pub. L. 91–378, title II, § 212, formerly § 210, as added Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 105(6), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 853; amended Pub. L. 109–154, § 2(f)(1), (g)(4), Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2892, 2893; renumbered § 212 and amended Pub. L. 116–9, title IX, § 9003(f)(1), (3), Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 835.)
§ 1730. Authorization of appropriations
(a) In general
(b) Disaster relief or prevention projects
(c) Availability of funds
(Pub. L. 91–378, title II, § 213, formerly § 211, as added Pub. L. 109–154, § 2(f)(2), Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2892; renumbered § 213, Pub. L. 116–9, title IX, § 9003(f)(1), Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 835.)