H. B. 2200
(By Delegates Gallagher, Rutledge, Williams, Compton
Prezioso, Ashcraft and Burk
[Introduced February 19, 1993; referred to the
Committee on Education then Finance.]
A BILL to amend chapter eighteen-c of the code of West Virginia,
one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding
thereto a new article, designated article five, relating to
creation of a "Future Corps" scholarship program for public
and community service.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That chapter eighteen-c of the code of West Virginia, one
thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by
adding thereto a new article, designated article five, to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 5. "FUTURE CORPS" SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC AND
COMMUNITY WORKERS.
§18C-5-1. Establishment; purpose.
The board of trustees and the board of directors shall
establish a program entitled the "Future Corps," designed to help
individuals earn the means for a college education through public
service positions meeting human service and local needs.
The purpose of this program shall be to provide public service to the community at large and to provide, as well,
benefits to participating individuals including incentives to
finish high school in order to qualify for Future Corps service;
achievement of educational goals without onerous debt burdens; an
alternative to military service; and the development of an
interest in public service careers.
§18C-5-2. Administration generally; director.
The board of trustees and board of directors shall develop
and monitor the Future Corps mission, solicit foundation and
other private sector contributions, develop policy and monitor
expenditures.
The boards shall appoint a state director whose primary
responsibilities shall include: Development and implementation
of a state program that is regionally based; development of
selection criteria for potential project sponsors and a process
to inform sponsors of their duties; supervising the internship
and educational development components of the program; review
and evaluation of sponsor performance; coordinating contracts
for insurance benefits; operating statewide recruitment and
promotions; and development of linkages with public and private
educational and employment organizations, and with community
service opportunities offered by public schools and post-
secondary institutions.
The state director shall coordinate recruitment and
placement of Future Corps workers. State employment offices,
private industry councils, high school counselors, post-secondaryeducation placement offices, and related career and jobs centers
shall receive Future Corps materials and be requested to take
part in recruitment efforts. A rigorous screening procedure
shall be implemented and in addition the board of directors and
board of trustees shall adjust the selection of interns by
cultural and racial background, family income level and
geographic residence to maximize diversity of membership. The
state director shall each year submit a plan to the board of
directors and board of trustees to recruit minority, low-income
and other individuals who could not otherwise afford a college
education.
§18C-5-3. Sponsors; service categories.
Sponsors may apply to Future Corps for placements. A
sponsor must demonstrate that it does not practice
discrimination, that a Future Corps intern will help them meet
important human services or environmental needs which are unable
to be met by existing personnel and that existing personnel will
not be displaced. Service interns shall be placed individually
with approved sponsors. Sponsors will be responsible for the
cost of one half of the Future Corps intern's stipend at the
state minimum wage.
An activity may be designated as a service category and
receive Future Corps workers if the board and the director
determine that the activity is of substantial social benefit in
meeting unmet human, social or environmental needs. The service
categories referred to in this section include: Service instate, local and regional government agencies; service in nursing
homes, hospices, senior centers and hospitals; local libraries,
parks, recreational facilities, day care centers and schools;
service in law enforcement agencies and penal and probation
systems; service in private nonprofit organizations whose
principal purpose is social service; service in the
rehabilitation or improvement of public facilities; neighborhood
improvements; literacy training; repairs to low-income housing;
energy conservation; and conservation, maintenance, or
restoration of natural resources on publicly held lands; and any
other service that the boards determine to be appropriate for
purposes of this article.
The service categories referred to in this subsection may
not include an position in: A business organized for profit;
labor union; partisan political organization; or organization
engaged in religious activities, unless such position does not
involve any religious function.
§18C-5-4. Tuition voucher, etc.
Any person who serves in a Future Corps project under this
article shall be not less than seventeen years of age. Any
person who does not hold a high school diploma or its equivalent
may not be accepted in Future Corps unless such person works out
a plan acceptable to the state director for achieving a high
school equivalency. Continued enrollment in Future Corps is
conditional upon successful completion of the plan. All Future
Corps interns shall commit themselves to at least one year and nomore than two years of service. During their service, interns
shall receive a weekly stipend equivalent to payment at the state
minimum wage. In addition, those interns who complete one year
of service in Future Corps shall earn a tuition voucher in an
amount equivalent to the cost of two years of tuition, room,
board and fees at any of the public institutions of higher
education under the governing authority of the board of trustees
and board of directors. Future Corps interns who complete two
years of service shall earn a tuition voucher in an amount
equivalent to the cost of four years of tuition, room, board and
fees. If an intern so chooses, the voucher shall be issued for
use at any accredited private institution of higher education.
Any person serving in a Future Corps project may arrange to
receive academic credit at any accredited institution of higher
education in recognition of learning and skills for service
satisfactorily completed. All Future Corps members shall be
covered by workers' compensation and health insurance during
their terms of service.
§18C-5-5. Reports to director.
Sponsors receiving grants under section three shall provide
oversight of Future Corps workers in accordance with procedures
established by the board. Each sponsor receiving a grant under
section three shall prepare and submit reports as determined by
the director.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create a "Future
Corps" Scholarship Program for public and community workers, also
providing college tuition waivers for participants.
This article is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.