S. 4232

119 S4232 IS: AmeriCorps Service Modernization and Accountability Reform for Trust Act
 U.S. Senate
 2026-03-26
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 II
 119th CONGRESS  2d Session
 S. 4232
 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
 March 26, 2026
  Mr. Cassidy  (for himself and  Mr. Tuberville ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
 A BILL
To reauthorize the national service laws, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   AmeriCorps Service Modernization and Accountability Reform for Trust Act   or the   A SMART Act  .
2.
Table of contents
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
TITLE I—Program modernization
Subtitle A—Program flexibilities
Sec. 101. Expansion of national service positions with shorter periods of service.
Sec. 102. National Civilian Community Corps term extension authority.
Sec. 103. Increased age eligibility range for the National Civilian Community Corps.
Sec. 104. Timekeeping.
Sec. 105. Spending flexibility.
Sec. 106. Volunteer generation fund.
Sec. 107. State Commissions.
Subtitle B—Organizational modernization
Sec. 111. Requirements for Board of Directors appointees.
Sec. 112. Comprehensive service site resource.
Sec. 113. Evaluation transparency.
TITLE II—Member experience
Sec. 201. Educational awards.
Sec. 202. Workforce development.
Sec. 203. Increasing educational award limit.
Sec. 204. Alignment of benefits.
Sec. 205. Non-competitive hiring eligibility.
TITLE III—Miscellaneous provisions
Sec. 301. Clerical amendments.
Sec. 302. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 303. Effective date.
I
Program modernization
A
Program flexibilities
101.
Expansion of national service positions with shorter periods of service
(a)
Reduction in hours of full-Time service
Section 139(b) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12593(b) ) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1), by striking  An individual  and inserting  Except as provided in paragraph (3), an individual ; and
(2)
in paragraph (3)—
(A)
in the heading, by inserting
full- or   after
hours of  ;
(B)
by inserting  full- or  after  complete ; and
(C)
by inserting  or stipend  after  award .
(b)
Season of service
The National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq. ) is amended—
(1)
in section 153(d) ( 42 U.S.C. 12613(d) )—
(A)
by striking  nine months  and inserting  eight weeks ; and
(B)
by striking  such period  and inserting  year. A period of service performed by an individual in an originally-agreed to term of service and service performed in the term of any renewed agreement shall constitute a single term of service for purposes of section 146(b)(1), and the individual shall not be considered to have received more than the value of 1 national service educational award for service during those 2 terms for purposes of section 146(c). ; and
(2)
in section 156(a) ( 42 U.S.C. 12616(a) ), by striking  with between three and six weeks of .
102.
National Civilian Community Corps term extension authority
Section 139(b)(4)(A) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12593(b)(4)(A) ) is amended—
(1)
by striking  An individual  and inserting the following:
(i)
Disaster relief
An individual
 ;
(2)
by striking  or section 153(d) ; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:
(ii)
Other programs
An individual in an approved national service position in a program under section 152(a) may, upon the approval of the Director of the National Civilian Community Corps, continue in a term of service for up to 180 days beyond the period otherwise specified in section 153(d) or 90 days beyond the period otherwise specified in section 154(c).
 .
103.
Increased age eligibility range for the National Civilian Community Corps
Section 153(b)(1) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12613(b)(1) ) is amended by striking  24  and inserting  26 .
104.
Timekeeping
(a)
Application
Section 131(e) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12583(e) ) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and aligning the margins of those subparagraphs with the margins of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 131(d)(1) of that Act;
(2)
by striking  Except as  and inserting the following:
(1)
In general
Except as
 ;
(3)
in subsection (e)—
(A)
in paragraph (1), as so designated—
(i)
in subparagraph (A), by striking  and  at the end;
(ii)
in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and inserting  ; and ; and
(iii)
by adding at the end the following:
(C)
ensure that records supporting the provision of any living allowance or other benefit provided to any participant in a national service program described in subparagraph (A) or (B) accurately reflect the national service performed and meet the requirements of paragraph (2).
 ; and
(4)
by adding at the end the following:
(2)
Records
Such an applicant that receives assistance under section 121 shall, in maintaining the records described in paragraph (1)(C) with respect to a participant described in that paragraph—
(A)
ensure that each charge for such an allowance or benefit is accurate, allowable, properly allocated, and incorporated into the official records of the applicant;
(B)
reflect the total, actual national service program service activity by the participant and account separately for service activity under the grant for the recipient and other work activity for the recipient that is not for a national service program, in such a manner as to ensure that the participant is credited for national service time under the grant, only for service activity under the grant;
(C)
accurately support the distribution of such an allowance or benefit of the participant among specific activities or cost objectives if the participant provides service activity under the grant for the recipient and other work activity for the recipient that is not for a national service program; and
(D)
include the same information, according to the same standards, for—
(i)
funds provided through cost-sharing requirements and used to provide the allowance or benefit; and
(ii)
funds provided through a Federal award and so used.
 .
(b)
Certification
Section 146A of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12602a ) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
(2)
by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
(b)
Timekeeping
The entity shall submit records to the Corporation, upon the individual’s completion of the requirements for a term of service, that support such completion, that accurately reflect the national service performed, and that meet the requirements of section 131(e)(2). Such records shall be held by the Corporation to facilitate administration of the National Service Trust for a period of not less than 5 years beginning on the date of that submission.
 .
105.
Spending flexibility
(a)
Reinvestment of unobligated and expiring funds
Section 196 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12651g ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(d)
Reinvestment of unobligated and expiring funds
(1)
Establishment of fund
There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund to be known as the  Unobligated and Expiring Amounts Fund , referred to in this subsection as the  Fund .
(2)
Amounts in fund
(A)
In general
Subject to subparagraph (B), any amounts appropriated for expenses of the Corporation to carry out the national service laws that are unobligated and would otherwise expire on September 30 of a fiscal year shall, on such September 30 of that fiscal year, be transferred to the Fund and remain available until expended.
(B)
Inspector general opinion
The Corporation may only make a transfer under subparagraph (A) of amounts described in such subparagraph that are unobligated and would otherwise expire on—
(i)
September 30 of the first fiscal year in which the Inspector General of the Corporation has issued an opinion, without qualification, certifying the accuracy of the Corporation's financial statements issued through the integrated accounting and financial management system maintained under section 194(c)(2) with respect to the fiscal year preceding such fiscal year; or
(ii)
September 30 of each fiscal year thereafter.
(3)
Use of fund
The Corporation may use amounts available in the Fund to—
(A)
provide for additional awards and deposits of funds for positions under section 121 of this Act and sections 102, 201, 211, and 213 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 ( 42 U.S.C. 4952 , 5001, 5011, 5013); or
(B)
modernize technology used in the administration of the national service laws.
 .
(b)
Expenditure of investment income in the National Service Trust
(1)
In general
Section 145(c) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12601(c) ) is amended—
(A)
by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and indenting appropriately;
(B)
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated)—
(i)
by striking  to the extent provided for in advance by appropriation  and inserting  as described in paragraph (2) ; and
(ii)
by striking  Amounts  and inserting the following:
(1)
Use of amounts in trust
Amounts
 ; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(2)
Availability of amounts in trust
(A)
Appropriations
Amounts in the National Service Trust that are described in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) shall be available under paragraph (1) of this subsection to the extent provided for in advance by appropriation.
(B)
Other amounts
Amounts in the National Service Trust that are described in paragraph (2), (3), (4), or (5) of subsection (a) shall be available under paragraph (1) of this subsection without further appropriation and without fiscal year limitation.
 .
(2)
Conforming amendment
Section 149 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12606 ) is amended by striking subsection (d).
106.
Volunteer generation fund
Section 198P(f) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12653p(f) ) is amended by striking  exceed—  and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting  exceed 75 percent of such cost. .
107.
State Commissions
(a)
Exception for seniors programs
Section 178(h) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12638(h) ) is amended by striking the period and inserting the following: “, unless—
(1)
such State Commission applies to be a sponsor for a project authorized under title II of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 ( 42 U.S.C. 5000 et seq. ); or
 .
(b)
Natural disaster placement flexibility
That section 178(h) is further amended by adding at the end the following:
(2)
a natural disaster has been declared in such State, as determined by the Governor, in which case such State Commission may direct up to 25 percent of its allotted funds under section 129(e) that remain unobligated on the date of the declaration, for recruitment of participants for disaster response from the period beginning on the date of the declaration and ending on the last day of the full fiscal year following the date of that declaration.
 .
(c)
Prevention of duplicative subgrant recipient review
Section 185 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12644b ) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
(2)
by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
(b)
Rule of construction
Nothing in subsection (a), including the authority to make a modification under subsection (a), shall be construed to enable the Corporation to duplicate due diligence processes already applied by primary grant recipients to their subgrant recipients, to enable the Corporation to apply those processes to the subgrant recipients. Primary grant recipients shall maintain sole responsibility over compliance of subgrant recipients with Federal regulations under this Act relating to due diligence processes.
 .
B
Organizational modernization
111.
Requirements for Board of Directors appointees
(a)
In general
Section 192 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12651a ) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)(1)(A), by inserting  a financial expert with a background relating to financial controls, auditing, or private or public accounting, and including  after  including ;
(2)
in subsection (c), by inserting  from the date on which the member takes office  before the period; and
(3)
in subsection (d)—
(A)
by striking  Board, a  and inserting  Board (whether due to the expiration of the term of a member of the Board or prior to such expiration), a ; and
(B)
by striking  serve for  and all that follows through the period at the end of the first sentence and inserting  serve for a 5-year term described in subsection (c). .
(b)
Effective date
(1)
In general
The amendments made by paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (a) shall apply to members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service appointed under section 192 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12651a ) on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
(2)
Financial expert
The amendment made by subsection (a)(1) shall apply on the earlier of—
(A)
the first day, after the date of enactment of this Act, on which there is a vacancy in the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service; and
(B)
the day that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
112.
Comprehensive service site resource
(a)
In general
The Corporation shall require that a recipient of an award of financial assistance under the national service laws, that enters into an agreement (which may include making a subaward) with an organization to host participants under the national service laws, submit the information described in subsection (b) not later than 60 days after the award recipient enters into the agreement.
(b)
Information
The information described in this subsection is—
(1)
the name of the organization with which the recipient enters into the agreement;
(2)
all physical addresses for any site at which the recipient or the organization has agreed to host participants under the national service laws; and
(3)
the location of a website for the recipient and, if applicable, the organization.
(c)
Resource
The Corporation shall use the information for the creation of a comprehensive virtually accessible service site resource, to be updated on an annual basis.
(d)
Definition
In this section, the terms  Corporation  and  national service laws  have the meanings given the terms in section 101 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12511 ).
113.
Evaluation transparency
Section 179 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12639 ) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating subsection (n) as subsection (o); and
(2)
by inserting after subsection (m) the following:
(n)
Evaluation transparency
On the issuance of any Notice of Funding Opportunity for financial assistance under the national service laws, the Corporation shall make available to the public a rubric generalizing the criteria used for evaluation of the recipients.
 .
II
Member experience
201.
Educational awards
(a)
Removal of certain transfer restrictions
Section 148(f) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12604(f) ) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (2)(A)—
(A)
by striking  (A)(i) the  and inserting  (A) the ;
(B)
by striking  and  and inserting  or ; and
(C)
by striking clause (ii); and
(2)
in paragraph (8)(B)—
(A)
by striking  paragraphs  and inserting  paragraph ; and
(B)
by striking  and (4) .
(b)
Uniform segal AmeriCorps educational award transferability
Section 148(f)(2)(A) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12604(f)(2)(A) ), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by striking  a national service program that receives a grant under subtitle C  and inserting  an approved national service position .
(c)
Designations for limitation on receipt of national service educational awards
Section 146(c) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12602(c) ) is amended—
(1)
by striking  (c)
Limitation on Receipt of National Service Educational Awards .—An individual  and inserting the following:
(c)
Limitation on Receipt of National Service Educational Awards
(1)
In general
An individual
 ;
(2)
by striking  service. The value  and inserting the following: “service.
(2)
Summer of service awards
The value
 .
(d)
Holder verification of award eligibility for student loan repayment
Section 148(b) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12604(b) ) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1)—
(A)
in subparagraph (C), by striking  and  at the end;
(B)
by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E); and
(C)
by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
(D)
includes the most recent date that the eligible individual involved became eligible for an award described in this paragraph; and
 ;
(2)
by redesignating paragraphs (7) and (8) as paragraphs (8) and (9); and
(3)
by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
(7)
Recordkeeping by loan holder
On receipt of the application described in paragraph (1), the Corporation shall provide a record of such application to the holder. The holder shall maintain such record for a period of not less than 5 years, beginning on the date identified under paragraph (1)(D).
 .
(e)
Institutional certification of course completion
Section 148(c) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12406(c) ) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1)—
(A)
by inserting after  contains  the following:  the most recent date that the eligible individual became eligible for an award described in this paragraph and ;
(B)
by striking  may  after  as the Corporation  and inserting  shall ; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:  The Corporation, and the institution of higher education, shall each maintain a record of the application described in this paragraph for not less than 5 years, beginning on the most recent date described in this paragraph. ; and
(2)
in paragraph (5), in the first sentence—
(A)
by inserting  from  after  withdraw ; and
(B)
by inserting  any course during  after  complete .
(f)
Requirement for corporation verification of documentation
Section 148 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12604 ) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and
(2)
by inserting after subsection (g) the following:
(h)
Verification
Amounts in the Trust shall be available for uses described in this section (including uses described in paragraphs (1) through (6) of subsection (a)) only after the Corporation has reviewed and certified all required documentation described in this section for—
(1)
the eligibility of the eligible individual (including the recipient of an award transferred in accordance with subsection (g)), the holder (for use under subsection (b)), and the institution of higher education (for use under subsection (c)); and
(2)
any expenses incurred for purposes of carrying out the activities described paragraphs (1) through (6) of subsection (a).
 .
202.
Workforce development
(a)
Time period for use of award
Section 146(d) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12602(d) ) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1)—
(A)
by striking  7-year period  and inserting  5-year period ; and
(B)
by striking  10-year period  and inserting  5-year period ;
(2)
in paragraph (2), by striking  7-year period, or 10-year period, as appropriate  and inserting  5-year period ; and
(3)
in paragraph (3), by striking  seven-year period  and inserting  5-year period .
(b)
Use of educational award for nontraditional educational opportunities
(1)
In general
Section 148 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12604 ) is amended—
(A)
in subsection (a)—
(i)
in paragraph (4), by striking  and ;
(ii)
in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(iii)
by adding at the end the following:
(6)
to pay expenses related to enrolling in an eligible career pathway program in accordance with subsection (f); and
 ;
(B)
by redesignating subsections (f) (as amended by section 201), (g), (h), and (i) as subsections (g), (h), (i), and (j) respectively; and
(C)
by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
(f)
Use of educational award for expenses related to a nontraditional educational opportunity
(1)
In general
The Corporation shall by regulation provide for the payment of national service educational awards, summer of service educational awards, and silver scholar educational awards to permit eligible individuals (including recipients of awards transferred in accordance with section 148(g)) to participate in an eligible career pathway program.
(2)
Eligible career pathway program
The term  eligible career pathway program  means a program that—
(A)
meets the requirements of section 484(d)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1091(d)(2) );
(B)
is listed, with the provider of the program, on the list under section 122(d) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3152(d) );
(C)
is part of a career pathway, as defined in section 3 of that Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3102 ); and
(D)
is aligned with a program of study as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2302 ).
 .
(2)
Conforming amendments
The National and Community Service Act of 1990 is amended—
(A)
in section 146(d)(3) ( 42 U.S.C. 12602(d)(3) ), as amended by subsection (a)(3), by striking  148(f)(8)  and inserting  148(g)(8) ;
(B)
in section 146A(a) ( 42 U.S.C. 12602a ), by striking  148(f)(8)  and inserting  148(g)(8) ; and
(C)
in section 148(e) ( 42 U.S.C. 12604(e) ), by striking  subsection (b)(7)  and inserting  subsection (b)(8) .
203.
Increasing educational award limit
(a)
In general
Section 138 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12592 ) is amended by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
(c)
Additional terms
(1)
In general
Subject to paragraph (2), acceptance into a national service program to serve another term of service under section 139 shall only be available to individuals who perform satisfactorily in each prior term of such service.
(2)
Maximum terms
Subject to paragraph (3), an individual may not be selected to serve more than 4 terms of full-time service described under section 139(b)(1).
(3)
Waiver
The Corporation may waive the limit under paragraph (2) at the request of a State Commission.
 .
(b)
Educational award
Section 146(c)(1) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12602(c)(1) ), as designated by section 201(c), is further amended by striking  2 such awards  and inserting  4 national service educational awards .
204.
Alignment of benefits
(a)
In general
Title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 is amended—
(1)
in section 141 ( 42 U.S.C. 12595 )—
(A)
in the heading, by inserting
and stipends   after
awards  ;
(B)
in subsection (a), by striking  A participant  and inserting  Except as provided in subsection (c), a participant ; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(c)
Payment option
A participant in a national service program carried out using assistance provided to an applicant under section 121 may elect to receive a stipend described in section 149A in lieu of the national service educational award.
 ; and
(2)
in subtitle D ( 42 U.S.C. 12601 et seq. )—
(A)
in the subtitle heading, by inserting
or stipends   after
awards  ;
(B)
in section 145 ( 42 U.S.C. 12601 )—
(i)
in subsection (a)(1)(A), by striking  and silver scholar educational awards  and inserting  silver scholar educational awards, and stipends under section 149A ;
(ii)
in subsection (c)(1), as amended by section 105(b)—
(I)
in subparagraph (A), by striking  ; and  and inserting a semicolon;
(II)
by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); and
(III)
by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
(B)
stipends under section 149A; and
 ; and
(iii)
in subsection (d), by striking  or silver scholar awards  each place it appears and inserting  silver scholar educational awards, or stipends under section 149A ;
(C)
in section 146 ( 42 U.S.C. 12602 )—
(i)
in the heading, by inserting
or stipend   after
award  ;
(ii)
in subsection (a)—
(I)
in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking  or silver scholar educational award  and inserting  silver scholar educational award, or stipend under section 149A ; and
(II)
in paragraph (2)—
(aa)
in subparagraph (A), by striking  award,  and inserting  award or a stipend under section 149A(a)(1), ; and
(bb)
in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking  award  and inserting  award or stipend under section 149A(a)(1) as described in section 149A(a)(2) ; and
(iii)
in subsection (c)(1), as designated by section 201(c), by striking  and silver scholar educational awards  and inserting  , silver scholar educational awards, and stipends under section 149A ;
(D)
in section 147 ( 42 U.S.C. 12603 )—
(i)
in subsection (a), by striking  subsection (c),  and inserting  subsection (c) or section 149A(a)(1), ; and
(ii)
in subsection (c), by striking  If  and inserting  Except as provided in section 149A(a)(2) if ;
(E)
in section 148 ( 42 U.S.C. 12604 )—
(i)
in subsection (a), as amended by section 202(b), by adding at the end the following:
(7)
to provide stipends under section 149A in lieu of a national service educational award.
 ; and
(ii)
in subsection (h), as redesignated by section 202(b), by striking  or silver scholar educational award  and inserting  silver scholar educational award, or stipend under section 149A ;
(F)
in section 149(b)(2) ( 42 U.S.C. 12606(b)(2) )—
(i)
in subparagraph (A), by inserting  (or stipends under section 149A)  after  national service educational awards ; and
(ii)
in subparagraph (B), by inserting  (or stipends under section 149A)  after  national service educational awards ; and
(G)
by adding at the end the following:
149A.
Stipend
(a)
In general
(1)
Full-time
An individual described in section 146(a) who, except as provided in paragraph (2), successfully completes a required full-time term of national service under section 139(b)(1) may elect to receive a stipend of an amount described in subsection (b) in lieu of a national service educational award. The Corporation may not provide a stipend under this subsection to an individual who receives a national service educational award under this subtitle for the completion of such term of national service.
(2)
Partial completion of service
If an individual serving in an approved national service position is released in accordance with section 139(c)(1)(A) from completing the full-time term of service agreed to by the individual, the Corporation may provide the individual with a stipend under paragraph (1) in the amount described under subsection (b) that is applicable for the individual and that corresponds to the quantity of the term of service actually completed by the individual.
(b)
Amount
A stipend under subsection (a)(1) shall be set at a rate that is equivalent to the rate set for stipends provided to volunteers under section 105(a)(1)(B) of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 ( 42 U.S.C. 4955(a)(1)(B) ).
(c)
Terms
A stipend under subsection (a)(1) shall be provided in the same manner and in accordance with any regulations prescribed with respect to stipends provided to volunteers under section 105(a) of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 ( 42 U.S.C. 4955(a) ).
 .
(b)
Conforming amendments
The National and Community Service Act of 1990 is amended—
(1)
in section 112(a)(3)(B) ( 42 U.S.C. 12523(a)(3)(B) ), by inserting  or stipend  after  educational award ;
(2)
in section 118(i) ( 42 U.S.C. 12561(i) )—
(A)
in the heading, by inserting
or stipend   after
award  ; and
(B)
by inserting  or stipend  after  educational award ;
(3)
in section 121(c)(1) ( 42 U.S.C. 12571(c)(1) ), by inserting  or stipends  after  educational awards ;
(4)
in section 122(c)(1)(D)(iii) ( 42 U.S.C. 12572(c)(1)(D)(iii) ), by inserting  or stipend  after  educational award ;
(5)
in section 123 ( 42 U.S.C. 12573 )—
(A)
in the heading, by inserting
or stipends   after
awards  ; and
(B)
by inserting  or stipend  after  educational award ;
(6)
in section 129 ( 42 U.S.C. 12572 )—
(A)
in subsection (c), by inserting  or stipend  after  educational award ;
(B)
in subsection (h), by inserting  or stipends  after  educational awards  each place it appears; and
(C)
in subsection (i)(1), by inserting  or stipend  after  educational award ;
(7)
in section 130 ( 42 U.S.C. 12582 )—
(A)
in subsection (b)(11), by inserting  or stipend  after  educational award ; and
(B)
in subsection (e)(1), by inserting  or stipends  after  educational awards  each place it appears;
(8)
in section 133 ( 42 U.S.C. 12585 )—
(A)
in subsection(a)(2), by inserting  or stipend  after  educational award ; and
(B)
in subsection (d)(4)(A), by inserting  or stipends  after  educational awards ;
(9)
in section 138(f) ( 42 U.S.C. 12592(f) ), by inserting  or stipend  after  educational award ;
(10)
in section 139 ( 42 U.S.C. 12593 )—
(A)
in subsection (b)(4)(C), by inserting  or stipend under section 149A  before the period; and
(B)
in subsection (c)—
(i)
in paragraph (2)—
(I)
in subparagraph (A), by striking  award  and all that follows through  or  and inserting  award, as provided in section 147(c), or stipend, as provided in section 149A(a)(2), corresponding to the portion of the term of service actually completed; or ; and
(II)
in subparagraph (B), by inserting  or stipend  after  educational award ; and
(ii)
in paragraph (3), by inserting  or stipend  after  educational award ;
(11)
in section 158 ( 42 U.S.C. 12618 )—
(A)
in subsection (f), by inserting  or stipend  after  educational award ; and
(B)
in subsection (g), by inserting  or stipend  after  educational award ;
(12)
in section 180 ( 42 U.S.C. 12640 ), by inserting  and stipends  after  educational awards ;
(13)
in section 198B(h) ( 42 U.S.C. 12653b(h) )—
(A)
in the heading, by inserting
or stipends   after
awards  ;
(B)
by inserting  or a stipend under section 149A  after  such section ; and
(C)
in the second sentence, by inserting  or stipend  after  educational award ; and
(14)
in section 501(a) ( 42 U.S.C. 12681(a) )—
(A)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
by inserting  or stipends  after  educational awards ; and
(ii)
by striking  number of participants described in section 121(f)(1)  and inserting  relevant number of participants ; and
(B)
in paragraph (4)(B)—
(i)
by inserting  or stipends  after  educational awards ; and
(ii)
by striking  198B(b)(3)  and inserting  198B .
205.
Non-competitive hiring eligibility
(a)
National and Community Service Act of 1990
Title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12511 et seq. ) is amended by inserting after section 189D ( 42 U.S.C. 12645g ) the following:
189E.
Non-competitive hiring eligibility
(a)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Agency
The term  agency  means an agency, office, or other establishment in the executive branch of the Federal Government.
(2)
Competitive service
The term  competitive service  has the meaning given the term in section 2102 of title 5, United States Code.
(b)
In general
Notwithstanding any provision of  chapter 33  of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and under such regulations as the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe, the head of any agency may, in accordance with subsections (c) and (e), noncompetitively appoint any individual who is certified under subsection (d) to a position in the competitive service for which the individual is otherwise qualified.
(c)
Appointment in permanent position
Any person appointed to a permanent position under subsection (b) shall—
(1)
become a career-conditional employee, unless the employee has otherwise completed the service requirements for career tenure; and
(2)
acquire competitive status upon completion of any prescribed probationary period.
(d)
Certification of individual
(1)
In general
The Chief Executive Officer may certify an individual under this subsection if the individual successfully completed—
(A)
a term of national service as a member or team leader, as described in paragraph (1) or (4) of section 155(b), in the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps program component described in section 153;
(B)
a period of service of not less than one year as a volunteer or designated volunteer leader under part A of title I of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 ( 42 U.S.C. 4951 et seq. ); or
(C)
not less than 1,700 hours of service as described in section 139(b)(1) as a participant under section 137.
(2)
Reliance on other certifications
In making any certification under paragraph (1), the Chief Executive Officer may rely on a certification made by the entity that selected the individual for, and supervised the individual in, the service described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of such paragraph.
(3)
Erroneous or incorrect certification
If the Chief Executive Officer determines that a certification under paragraph (1) is erroneous or incorrect, the Corporation shall, after considering the full facts and circumstances surrounding the erroneous or incorrect certification, take action as permitted under law.
(e)
Period of appointment
The head of any agency may make an appointment of an individual under subsection (b)—
(1)
not later than 1 year after the date of completion by the individual of the service described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of subsection (d)(1); or
(2)
not later than 3 years after such date in the case of an individual who, following such service, was engaged—
(A)
in military service;
(B)
in the pursuit of studies at a recognized institution of higher education, as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1002 ); or
(C)
in other activities that, as determined by the head of such agency, warrant an extended time period before the appointment.
 .
(b)
Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973
Section 415 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 ( 42 U.S.C. 5055 ) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a), by striking  (d), ; and
(2)
by striking subsection (d).
III
Miscellaneous provisions
301.
Clerical amendments
The table of contents in section 1(b) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12501  note) is amended—
(1)
by striking the item relating to section 141 and inserting the following:
Sec. 141. National service educational awards and stipends.
  ;
(2)
by striking the item relating to subtitle D of title I and inserting the following:
Subtitle D—National Service Trust and Provision of Educational Awards or Stipends
  ;
(3)
by striking the item relating to section 141 and inserting the following:
Sec. 145. Individuals eligible to receive an educational award or stipend from the trust.
  ;
(4)
by inserting after the item relating to section 149 the following:
Sec. 149A. Stipend.
  ; and
(5)
by inserting after the item relating to section 189D the following:
Sec. 189E. Non-competitive hiring eligibility.
  .
302.
Authorization of appropriations
(a)
National and Community Service Act of 1990
Section 501 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12681 ) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
in paragraph (1)(A), by striking  title I—  and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting  title I such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. ; and
(B)
in paragraph (4)—
(i)
in subparagraph (E), by striking  section 198K  and all that follows and inserting  section 198K such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 3031. ; and
(ii)
in subparagraph (F), by striking  section 198P  and all that follows and inserting  section 198P such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 3031. ; and
(2)
by striking  2010 through 2014  each place it appears and inserting  2027 through 2031 .
(b)
Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973
Title V of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 ( 42 U.S.C. 5081 et seq. ) is amended—
(1)
in section 501(a) ( 42 U.S.C. 5081(a) )—
(A)
in paragraph (1), by striking  title I  and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting  title I such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. ; and
(B)
in paragraph (2), by striking  2010 through 2014  and inserting  2027 through 2031 ;
(2)
in section 502 ( 42 U.S.C. 5082 )—
(A)
in subsection (a), by striking  title II  and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting  title II such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. ;
(B)
in subsection (b), by striking  title II  and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting  title II such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. ;
(C)
in subsection (c), by striking  title II  and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting  title II such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. ; and
(D)
in subsection (d), by striking  2010 through 2014  and inserting  2027 through 2031 ; and
(3)
in section 504 ( 42 U.S.C. 5084 ), by striking  2010 through 2014  each place it appears and inserting  2027 through 2031 .
303.
Effective date
(a)
In general
This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall—
(1)
take effect on the day that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act; and
(2)
apply with respect to individuals who enroll on or after such day in a program under the national service laws and with respect to grants awarded under the national service laws on or after such day.
(b)
Definition of national service laws
For purposes of this section, the term  national service laws  has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12511 ).