text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``National Care Corps Act of 2014''.
  
  SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
  
      For purposes of this Act, the following definitions shall apply:
              (1) Corps.--The term ``Corps'' means the National Care 
          Corps established under section 3 of this Act.
              (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
          the Corps appointed under section 3(b)(1) of this Act.
              (3) Local care corps program.--The term ``local Care Corps 
          program'' means a program funded with a grant awarded under 
          section 10(b) of this Act that hosts Corps members and arranges 
          for them to provide approved services to individuals in need.
              (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
          of Health and Human Services.
  
  SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL CARE CORPS.
  
      (a) In General.--There is established in the Department of Health 
  and Human Services a program to be known as the ``National Care Corps'' 
  through which Corps members provide approved services to individuals in 
  need via participation in local Care Corps programs.
      (b) Staff.--
              (1) Appointment of director.--The Secretary, acting through 
          the Administrator for Community Living, shall appoint a 
          Director of the Corps.
              (2) Duties of director.--The Director shall--
                      (A) design, develop, and administer Corps programs;
                      (B) manage the daily operations of the Corps; and
                      (C) report to the Administrator for Community 
                  Living.
              (3) Authority to employ staff.--The Director may employ 
          such staff as is necessary to carry out this Act.
  
  SEC. 4. SELECTION AND ELIGIBILITY OF MEMBERS.
  
      (a) In General.--
              (1) Selection.--The Director shall select eligible 
          individuals for membership in the Corps.
              (2) Nondiscrimination.--In selecting Corps members, the 
          Director shall comply with all applicable provisions of State 
          and Federal laws and regulations pertaining to 
          nondiscrimination and equal employment opportunity.
      (b) Eligible Individuals.--To be eligible for membership in the 
  Corps, an individual shall--
              (1) be at least 18 years of age on or before December 31 of 
          the calendar year in which the individual begins participation 
          in the Corps;
              (2) agree to participate in the Corps for a period of not 
          more than 24 months;
              (3) submit an application to the Director at such time, in 
          such manner, and containing such information as the Director 
          may require;
              (4) pass a criminal background check as described in 
          subsection (c); and
              (5) agree to comply with such terms and conditions as the 
          Director may require.
      (c) Criminal Background Check.--
              (1) In general.--Before selecting any individual for 
          membership in the Corps, the Director shall request a criminal 
          background check of such individual.
              (2) Membership prohibitions.--An individual shall be 
          ineligible to be a Corps member if--
                      (A) such individual refuses to consent to the 
                  criminal background check; or
                      (B) the criminal background check does not 
                  demonstrate to the Director's satisfaction that such 
                  individual is fit for Corps service.
  
  SEC. 5. AUTHORIZED BENEFITS FOR CORPS MEMBERS.
  
      (a) In General.--The Director shall provide for members of the 
  Corps to receive allowances, health insurance, and post-service 
  educational awards authorized by this section.
      (b) Allowances.--The Director shall provide each Corps member with 
  such living, travel, and leave allowances, and such housing 
  transportation, supplies, equipment, and subsistence as the Director 
  may determine to be necessary for the member's maintenance and to 
  ensure the member's health and capacity to serve effectively.
      (c) Health Insurance.--
              (1) In general.--The Director shall provide for each Corps 
          member to receive health insurance coverage.
              (2) Minimum essential coverage.--The health insurance 
          coverage described paragraph (1) shall meet the requirements of 
          section 5000A(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
      (d) Post-Service Educational Award.--
              (1) In general.--The Director shall establish an 
          educational award for Corps members.
              (2) Amounts.--
                      (A) Amount for full-time service.--In the case of a 
                  Corps member who completes a 12-month term of full-time 
                  service as determined by the Director, such member 
                  shall receive an educational award having a value equal 
                  to the maximum amount of a Federal Pell Grant under 
                  section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                  U.S.C. 1070a) that a student eligible for such grant 
                  may receive in the aggregate (without regard to whether 
                  the funds are provided through discretionary or 
                  mandatory appropriations) for the award year. A Corps 
                  member may receive up to 2 such awards.
                      (B) Amount for other periods of service.--In the 
                  case of a Corps member who completes less than a 12-
                  month term of full-time service as determined by the 
                  Director, such member may receive a portion of the 
                  educational award described in subparagraph (A) that 
                  corresponds to the quantity of service actually 
                  completed by the member.
              (3) Uses of award.--An educational award shall be used to 
          pay--
                      (A) costs of attendance at an institution of higher 
                  education; or
                      (B) government or commercial loans received by an 
                  individual for costs of attendance at an institution of 
                  higher education.
              (4) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
          following definitions shall apply:
                      (A) Cost of attendance.--The term ``cost of 
                  attendance'' has the meaning given such term by section 
                  472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                  1087ll).
                      (B) Institution of higher education.--The term 
                  ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning 
                  given such term by section 101(a) of the Higher 
                  Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
      (e) Regulations.--The Director shall issue any regulations that the 
  Director determines to be necessary to carry out this section.
  
  SEC. 6. ASSIGNMENT OF CORPS MEMBERS TO SENIORS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH 
                DISABILITIES.
  
      (a) Assignment of Corps Members.--
              (1) In general.--The Director shall assign each Corps 
          member to participate in a local Care Corps program.
              (2) Priority of assignment.--In assigning Corps members to 
          local Care Corps programs, the Director shall assign not less 
          than 20 percent of members to programs that serve geographic 
          areas in which the Director determines there is a shortage of 
          approved services available to individuals in need, with 
          consideration given to low-income and minority populations.
      (b) Services Provided by Corps Members.--
              (1) In general.--Corps members may only provide approved 
          services to individuals in need through participation in local 
          Care Corps programs.
              (2) Approved services.--Approved services are services 
          provided directly to individuals in need in home-based settings 
          that--
                      (A) result in person-to-person, supportive 
                  relationships with each individual served;
                      (B) support the achievement and maintenance of the 
                  highest level of independent living for each individual 
                  in need;
                      (C) are meaningful to the Corps member; and
                      (D) are supported by appropriate orientation, 
                  training, and supervision.
              (3) Prohibited services.--In performing duties as a Corps 
          member, no member shall provide--
                      (A) professional medical services;
                      (B) administrative support services to a local 
                  Corps program;
                      (C) care in an institutional setting;
                      (D) care prohibited under State law; or
                      (E) any other services determined by the director 
                  to be inconsistent with the purposes of the Corps.
              (4) Guidance regarding scope of services.--The Director may 
          issue guidance describing the scope of services that may be 
          provided by Corps members. In issuing such guidance, the 
          Director shall provide for a public notice and comment period 
          of not less than 30 days before issuing the guidance in final 
          form.
      (c) Individual in Need.--The term ``individual in need'' means an 
  individual who--
              (1) is at least 65 years of age or has a disability as 
          defined in section 3 of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 
          1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102);
              (2) has difficulty with self-care; and
              (3) meets such other criteria as the Director determines to 
          be appropriate.
  
  SEC. 7. TRAINING AND STANDARDS OF CONDUCT.
  
      (a) Pre-Assignment Training Program.--The Director shall develop a 
  training program that provides Corps members with instruction in the 
  skills necessary to carry out an assignment in a local Care Corps 
  program. Such training program shall include--
              (1) at least 20 hours of instruction for each Corps member; 
          and
              (2) any other requirements the Director determines to be 
          appropriate.
      (b) Standards of Conduct.--The Director shall establish and enforce 
  standards to promote proper conduct and discipline within the Corps.
  
  SEC. 8. STATUS OF CORPS MEMBERS UNDER FEDERAL LAW.
  
      (a) In General.--Except as otherwise provided in this section, 
  members of the Corps shall not, by reason of their status as members, 
  be treated as Federal employees or be subject to the provisions of law 
  relating to Federal employment.
      (b) Work-Related Injuries.--
              (1) In general.--For purposes of subchapter I of chapter 81 
          of title 5, United States Code, relating to the compensation of 
          Federal employees for work injuries, members of the Corps shall 
          be treated as employees of the United States within the meaning 
          of the term ``employee'', as defined in section 8101 of such 
          title.
              (2) Special rule.--In the application of the provisions of 
          subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, to a 
          member of the Corps, the member shall not be treated to be in 
          the performance of duty while absent from the member's assigned 
          post of duty unless the absence is authorized in accordance 
          with procedures prescribed by the Director.
      (c) Tort Claims Procedure.--A member of the Corps shall be treated 
  as an employee of the United States for purposes of chapter 171 of 
  title 28, United States Code, relating to tort claims liability and 
  procedure.
  
  SEC. 9. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
  
      The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the 
  Administrator for Community Living, shall transmit to Congress at least 
  once in each fiscal year a report on the Corps. At minimum, such report 
  shall include--
              (1) a description of the population served by the Corps 
          during the preceding fiscal year;
              (2) an evaluation of Corps operations; and
              (3) recommendations, if any, for improving Corps 
          operations.
  
  SEC. 10. LOCAL CARE CORPS PROGRAMS.
  
      (a) Functions of Local Care Corps Programs.--Local Care Corps 
  programs shall--
              (1) conduct in-person orientation and training for Corps 
          members;
              (2) develop and monitor member assignments, which shall 
          include selecting the individuals in need to be served by Corps 
          members, matching members to assignments, and supervising 
          members;
              (3) maintain records and prepare reports as required by the 
          Director; and
              (4) carry out any other activities determined to be 
          appropriate by the Director.
      (b) Grants for Local Care Corps Programs.--The Director may award 
  grants to qualified entities for the operation of local Care Corps 
  programs.
              (1) Qualified entity.--The term ``qualified entity'' means 
          a public or private nonprofit entity that is--
                      (A) part of an aging network, as defined by section 
                  102(5) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 
                  3002(5));
                      (B) a time-banking or volunteer organizing agency;
                      (C) a State, county, or local government; or
                      (D) any other entity determined to be appropriate 
                  by the Director.
              (2) Application process.--To be eligible for a grant under 
          this subsection, a qualified entity shall--
                      (A) submit an application to the Director at such 
                  time, in such manner, and containing such information 
                  as the Director may require; and
                      (B) abide by such terms and conditions as the 
                  Director determines to be appropriate.
  
  SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
  $350,000,000 for each of the fiscal years beginning after the date of 
  the enactment of this Act.
      (b) Continued Availability of Funds.--Amounts authorized to be 
  appropriated under subsection (a) for a fiscal year are authorized to 
  remain available for that fiscal year and the subsequent fiscal year.
target: National Care Corps Act of 2014 - Establishes in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the National Care Corps through which Corps Members provide certain services to individuals in need who are age 65 or older or have a disability and have difficulty with self-care.
feat_title: National Care Corps Act of 2014