Pub. L. 89-794, tit. VIII, sec. 801

Sec. 801. The Act is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new title: “TITLE VIII—VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE TO AMERICA “statement of purpose “Sec. 801. It is the purpose of this title to enable and encourage volunteers to participate in a personal way in the war on poverty, by living and working among deprived people of all ages in urban areas, 80 Stat. 1473rural communities, on Indian reservations, in migrant worker camps, and Job Corps camps and centers; to stimulate, develop and coordinate programs of volunteer training and service; and, through such programs, to encourage individuals from all walks of life to make a commitment to combating poverty in their home communities, both as volunteers and as members of the helping professions. “authority to establish vista program “Sec. 802. (a) The Director is authorized to recruit, select, train, and— “(1) upon request of State or local agencies or private nonprofit organizations, refer volunteers to perform duties in furtherance of programs combating poverty at a State or local level; and “(2) in cooperation with other Federal, State, or local agencies involved, assign volunteers to work (A) in meeting the health, education, welfare, or related needs of Indians living on reservations, of migratory workers and their families, or of residents of the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; (B) in the care and rehabilitation of the mentally ill or mentally retarded under treatment at nonprofit mental health or mental retardation facilities assisted in their construction or operation by Federal funds; and (C) in connection with programs or activities authorized, supported, or of a character eligible for assistance under this Act. “(b) The referral or assignment of volunteers under this section shall be on such terms and conditions (including restrictions on political activities that appropriately recognize the special status of volunteers living among the persons or groups served by programs to which they have been assigned) as the Director may determine; but volunteers shall not be so referred or assigned to duties or work in any State, nor shall programs under section 805 be conducted in any State without the consent of the Governor. “volunteer support “Sec. 803. The Director is authorized to provide to all volunteers during training pursuant to section 802(a) and to volunteers assigned pursuant to section 802(a)(2) such stipend, not to exceed $50 per month (or, in the case of volunteer leaders designated in accordance with standards prescribed by the Director, not to exceed $75 per month), such living, travel, and leave allowances, and such housing, transportation (including travel to and from the place of training), supplies, equipment, subsistence, clothing, and health and dental care as the Director may deem necessary or appropriate for their needs. “application of provisions of federal law “Sec. 804. (a) Each volunteer under section 802 shall take and subscribe to an oath or affirmation in the form prescribed by section 104(d) of this Act, and the provisions of section 1001 of title 18, United States Code, shall be applicable with respect to such oath or 80 Stat. 1474affirmation; but except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, such volunteers shall not be deemed to be Federal employees and shall not be subject to the provisions of laws relating to Federal employment, including those relating to hours of work, rates of compensation, and Federal employee benefits. “(b) All volunteers during training pursuant to section 802(a) and such volunteers as are assigned pursuant to section 802(a) (2) shall be deemed Federal employees to the same extent as enrollees of the Job Corps under section 106 (b), (c), and (d) of this Act except that for purposes of the computation described in paragraph (2) (B) of section 106(c) the monthly pay of a volunteer shall be deemed to be that received under the entrance salary for GS–7 of the General Schedule of section 5332, title 5, United States Code. “(c) For the purposes of subchapter III, chapter 73 of title V of the United States Code, a volunteer under this title shall be deemed to be a person employed in the executive branch of the Federal Government. “special programs and projects “Sec. 805. The Director is authorized to conduct, or to make grants, contracts, or other arrangements with appropriate public or private nonprofit organizations for the conduct of, special programs in furtherance of the purposes of this title. Such programs shall be designed to encourage more effective or better coordinated use of volunteer services, including services of low-income persons, or to make opportunities for volunteer experience available, under proper supervision and for appropriate periods, to qualified persons who are unable to make long-term commitments or who are engaged in or preparing to enter work where such experience may be of special value and in the public interest. Individuals who serve or receive training in such programs shall not, by virtue of such service or training, be deemed to be Federal employees and shall not be subject to the provisions of laws relating to Federal employment, including those related to hours of work, rates of compensation, and Federal employee benefits; except that such individuals who receive their principal support or compensation with respect to such service or training directly from the Director or his agent for payment shall be deemed Federal employees to the same extent as volunteers assigned pursuant to section 802(a) (2) of this Act. Not to exceed 15 per centum of the sums appropriated or allocated from any appropriation to carry out this title for any fiscal year may be used for programs under this section. “duration of program “Sec. 806. The Director shall carry out the programs provided for in this title during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1967, and the three succeeding fiscal years. For each such fiscal year only such sums may be appropriated as the Congress may authorize by law.”