1.Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act An overview FRANK R. TRINITY General CounselMay 2009

2. Major Themes

Bi-partisan support

Expand opportunities for Americans to serve

Break down silos

Reduce unnecessary burdens

Demonstrate outcomes

Innovation in the nonprofit sector

3. A few caveats . . .

Authorization Appropriations

Effective Date:October 1, 2009

4. Learn & Serve America

Current Law

• School-based

• Community-based

• Higher Education

Serve America Act

• School-based (formula only)

• Higher Education

• Part III -- Innovative Service-Learning Programs

5. LSA School-Based

Share of LSA funds is reduced from 63.75% to 60%, formula allocation only

Minimum SEA allotment of $75k, if total LSA appropriation is at least $50M

Increase in matching fund requirements, and waiver necessary for Title I and IDEA

More flexibility for capacity-building

Admin cap increases from 5% to 6%

6. LSA Higher Ed

Grantees must meet Federal Work Study minimum of 7% of FWS funds expended on community service (unless waived)

Campuses of Service

7. Innovative Service-Learning Programs

New authority (15% of LSA funds)

• community-based programs

• summer of service program

• semester of service

• youth engagement zones

• longitudinal study

8. AmeriCorps

Sets AmeriCorps on a path to 250,000 members by 2017

Bill ties to availability of appropriations and quality service positions

Includes all AmeriCorps positions

Includes goal of 50% full-time

9. AmeriCorps State/National

Current law

• 1% each for Indian tribes and U.S. territories

• State formula 1/3

• National Direct (appropriations cap, $55M)

• State competitive at least 1/3

Serve America Act

• Merges N. Direct and State competitive

• at 62.7%(State input on ND projects)

• State formula 35.3%

10. AmeriCorps (2)

Minimum State formula grant $600K (or .5% of total formula allocation, whichever is greater)

Cost per member (grant costs only) at $18K for each grantee, with waiver authority up to $19.5K

11. AmeriCorps (3)

5 new Service Corps within subtitle C

Codifies prohibition on grants to Federal agencies (but authorizes inter-agency agreements, including cost-shares)

Authorizes fixed amount grants

12. AmeriCorps (4)

Requires tutors to have HS diploma

CNCS to make effort to allocate at least 10% of grants to organizations involving significant number of individuals 55+

13. State Commissions

Admin grants increased from current range ($125K - $750K) to $250K - $1M

Lower match for hardship or new Commn

14. Participants with Disabilities

Increases funds for outreach and placement

Expands to all national service grant programs

15. National Service Trust

Ties education award to maximum Pell grant ($5350 in 2009, increases annually)

Replaces two-term cap with aggregate of two full-time education awards

Expands uses of education award

55+ may transfer to child or grandchild

16. AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps

Makes permanent

Authorizes non-residential activities

Emphasis on disaster relief

17. Disaster relief

90-day AmeriCorps term extensions

More organizations eligible for FEMA mission assignments through CNCS

National Service Reserve Corps for alums and veterans

Priority for communities recovering from major disasters

18. Subtitle H

Social Innovation Fund

Volunteer Generation Fund

Call to Service Campaign

9/11 Day of Service

Fellowship programs

Silver Scholars

Nonprofit Capacity Building grants

19. VISTA

Eliminates Governor 45-day review

Increases post-service cash stipend from range of $100-$125 to $125-$150 (leader stipend from $200 to $250)

Drops separate VISTA recruitment office in favor of CNCS-wide outreach

20. Senior Corps (1)

Lowers age from 60 to 55 in FGP and SCP

Eligibility for stipended FGP/SCP positions expanded to 200% of poverty line (from 125%)

Increases Federal share of stipend to $3.00

Expands scope of FGP children

For RSVP, institutes competition beginning fiscal year 2013.

21. Senior Corps (2)

Directs 25% share of Programs of National Significance to organizations new to CNCS

22. Administrative Provisions

Authorizes Corporation to reserve up to 1% of program funds for evaluation

Civic Health Assessment

Increases focus on performance measures via evaluation and corrective actions

23. Administrative Provisions (2)

Children-serving programs must consult with parents in design

Technical assistance:one funding source

Strategic Advisor for Native-American Affairs

24. Administrative Provisions (3)

Allows Corporation to consolidate applications and reports

Requires FBI criminal history check for stipended participants and grantee staff.Disqualifies sex offenders and murderers.Attorney General study.

25. Administrative Provisions (4)

No match requirements for programs in severely economically distressed areas

Grant selection criteria to include involvement of volunteers

Promotes citizenship

26. Administrative Provisions (5)

Authorizes CEO to assign programmatic functions to State Commissions

Electronic verification of AmeriCorps member eligibility

Prohibits assistance for sole purpose of referring to Federally assisted programs

27. Administrative Provisions (6)

Repeals Title III,non-competitivePoints of Light Foundation

28. CNCS Governance

Uniform five-year term for Board of Directors

Adds authority for Board to review annual budget and review CEO performance

CFO changed from PAS to CEO appointee

29. CNCS Website

Additional resources are posted at:

http:// www.nationalservice.gov/about/serveamerica/index.asp