(PennSERVE) within the Department of Labor and Industry.
Section 2202-B. Governor's Office of Citizen Service
(PennSERVE) Established.--(a) There is hereby established
within the department the Governor's Office of Citizen Service
(PennSERVE).
(b) The department shall provide staff, space, equipment and
supplies for the office to discharge its duties.
Section 2203-B. Responsibilities of Office.--(a) The
predominant, but not the sole responsibility of the office shall
be to coordinate the development and implementation of community
service programs within this Commonwealth.
(b) PennSERVE is established to make community service the
common expectation and experience of all Pennsylvanians with a
special concentration on Pennsylvania's young people.
(c) PennSERVE shall work to renew the ethic of civic
responsibility in Pennsylvania and to involve and enroll young
people in service opportunities that will benefit Pennsylvania
while offering our young people literacy skills and improved job
skills. PennSERVE shall build on the existing organizational
framework of State, local and community-based programs and
agencies to expand full-time and part-time service opportunities
for all citizens, but particularly youth.
(d) All Commonwealth departments, agencies, boards,
commissions and instrumentalities shall share information and
cooperate with the office to enable it to perform the functions
assigned to it in this article.
(e) The expenditure of money by PennSERVE for the
compensation of participants, other than PennSERVE employes, in
a community service program or in any other program established
by a community-based agency or by the Commonwealth or a
political subdivision is prohibited.
Section 2204-B. Commonwealth Departments and Agencies.--The
office shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) (i) To develop jointly with the Department of Education
and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency a plan
under which at least ten per centum (10%) of the funds available
under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (Public Law
89-329, 79 Stat. 1219) may be used to permit students to perform
community service. The office shall assist the Department of
Education and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance
Agency in preparing a public information program for students
receiving the funds to apprise them of the community service
option.
(ii) To develop jointly with the Department of Education and
the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency a plan to
encourage college and university students to participate in
thirty (30) hours of community service each year. The plan shall
include tuition reimbursement or academic course credit or
tuition reimbursement and academic course credit for students
who perform community service.
(2) To cooperate with the Department of Community Affairs to
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