text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Caregiver Corps Act of 2014''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
  
      (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
              (1) As of 2013, more than 43,000,000 Americans are age 65 
          or older. More than 75 percent of such individuals live with 
          chronic conditions which require assistance that helps them to 
          live in a home- or community-based setting. In 2012, almost 
          38,000,000 Americans of all ages reported having one or more 
          disabilities.
              (2) As of 2012, there were over 800,000 home health aides 
          assisting older adults in their homes with activities of daily 
          living and some light housekeeping tasks such as changing 
          linens and preparing food. Direct care workers are critical as 
          families and friends strive to provide quality care for 
          individuals in the community.
              (3) Estimates suggest that there are 52,000,000 to 
          65,000,000 informal caregivers helping to provide care to 
          adults with disabilities and illnesses. These caregivers help 
          with a range of tasks but more time is spent on tasks such as 
          shopping, food preparation, housekeeping, and laundry, and less 
          time is spent on activities of daily living such as feeding, 
          dressing, grooming, walking, bathing, and assistance toileting.
              (4) Over 60 percent of all informal caregivers work either 
          full- or part-time. Even with the growing number of direct care 
          workers available, there is a shortage in the number of people 
          available to help support individuals who need extra assistance 
          to remain in the community.
              (5) Only 12 percent of informal caregivers report having 
          used a respite service. Respite is a means of giving the 
          caregiver a break from their caregiving duties. Respite comes 
          in many forms and may include having the individual attend an 
          adult day program outside the home or having a friendly visitor 
          serve as a companion and provide light assistance while the 
          caregiver takes a break.
              (6) Respite volunteer programs exist in many communities. 
          There is a range of ways that these programs offer incentives 
          to the volunteers. Some programs use a time-banking or service-
          exchange approach as an incentive to engage volunteers, while 
          other programs access funds from private and public sources to 
          offer modest stipends to volunteers.
      (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to establish a 
  Caregiver Corps program to foster the creation of community-based Corps 
  programs that provide for volunteer community service opportunities to 
  address the shortage of assistance available for older adults and 
  individuals with disabilities.
  
  SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF CAREGIVER CORPS PROGRAM.
  
      Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
  280g et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
  
  ``SEC. 399V-6. CAREGIVER CORPS.
  
      ``(a) Contract for Establishment of Caregiver Corps Program.--
              ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall enter into a 
          contract with a nonprofit entity for the development of an 
          online toolkit and guidance providing for the establishment and 
          implementation of Caregiver Corps (referred to in this section 
          as `Corps') volunteer programs in local communities.
              ``(2) Requirements.--The toolkit and guidance developed 
          under paragraph (1) shall be based on best practice methods 
          from existing private and public sector volunteer programs and 
          include--
                      ``(A) guidance on the recruitment, screening, and 
                  training of Corps volunteers;
                      ``(B) guidance on recommended processes for 
                  administering and evaluating the performance of local 
                  Corps programs;
                      ``(C) guidance on options for securing start-up and 
                  operational funding for local Corps programs;
                      ``(D) sources for obtaining ongoing technical 
                  assistance; and
                      ``(E) guidance on how communities can promote 
                  larger community involvement and cultivate partnerships 
                  and connections between local Corps programs.
              ``(3) Grants.--The Secretary may award grants to public and 
          private nonprofit entities for the operation of local Corps 
          programs under subsection (b) in accordance with this section.
      ``(b) Requirements of Caregiver Corps Programs.--
              ``(1) Local caregiver corps programs.--
                      ``(A) Eligibility.--To be eligible to be a local 
                  Corps program for purposes of this section, an entity 
                  shall be--
                              ``(i) an area agency on aging;
                              ``(ii) a time-banking or volunteer 
                          organizing agency;
                              ``(iii) a college or university;
                              ``(iv) a State, county, or local 
                          government; or
                              ``(v) any other entity determined to be 
                          appropriate by the Secretary.
                      ``(B) Duties and activities.--A local Corps program 
                  shall--
                              ``(i) conduct screening and criminal 
                          history background checks of Corps volunteers;
                              ``(ii) provide in-person orientation and 
                          training for Corps volunteers;
                              ``(iii) develop and monitor volunteer 
                          assignments, which shall include selecting the 
                          adults to be served by Corps volunteers, 
                          matching volunteers to assignments, and 
                          supervising the volunteers;
                              ``(iv) assist in the provision of 
                          appropriate volunteer recognition;
                              ``(v) maintain records and prepare reports 
                          as required by the Secretary; and
                              ``(vi) carry out any other activities 
                          determined appropriate by the Secretary.
              ``(2) Caregiver corps volunteers.--
                      ``(A) Eligibility.--
                              ``(i) In general.--To be eligible to serve 
                          as a volunteer for a local Corps program, an 
                          individual shall--
                                      ``(I) be at least 18 years of age 
                                  and willing to accept supervision as 
                                  required by the local Corps program;
                                      ``(II) consent to a criminal 
                                  background check; and
                                      ``(III) meet such other 
                                  requirements as the local Corps program 
                                  shall require.
                              ``(ii) Limitation.--Eligibility to be a 
                          volunteer for a local Corps program shall not 
                          be restricted on the basis of education, 
                          employment experience, citizenship, race, 
                          color, creed, belief, gender, sexual 
                          orientation, national origin, disability, or 
                          political affiliation.
                      ``(B) Terms of service.--
                              ``(i) In general.--An individual may serve 
                          as a full- or part-time volunteer for an 
                          initial period of not to exceed 2 years.
                              ``(ii) Limitation.--An individual who 
                          serves as a volunteer for a local Corps program 
                          shall not be considered to be an employee of 
                          the local Corps program for purposes of the 
                          application of any Federal or State employment-
                          related law.
                      ``(C) Functions.--
                              ``(i) In general.--A Corps volunteer 
                          shall--
                                      ``(I) provide assistance to an 
                                  older individual or an individual with 
                                  disabilities who needs additional 
                                  services to remain in the community;
                                      ``(II) provide assistance to give 
                                  an informal caregiver respite from his 
                                  or her caregiving duties;
                                      ``(III) serve as a companion to 
                                  older individuals and individuals with 
                                  disabilities;
                                      ``(IV) provide assistance for which 
                                  such volunteer is qualified, as 
                                  determined by the local Corps program; 
                                  and
                                      ``(V) not provide personal care or 
                                  administer prescription medications.
                              ``(ii) Individuals to be served.--To be 
                          eligible to obtain Corps volunteer services, an 
                          individual shall be an adult aged 65 or older, 
                          or an individual eligible for Social Security 
                          Disability Insurance, who is in need of 
                          assistance to achieve and maintain their 
                          highest level of independent living.
                              ``(iii) Required service to individuals.--
                          The activities of a Corps volunteer shall 
                          involve person-to-person relationships with the 
                          individuals being served and shall not include 
                          the provision of any service to the local Corps 
                          program involved.
              ``(3) Direct benefits.--A local Corps program--
                      ``(A) shall provide for appropriate recognition of 
                  Corps volunteers; and
                      ``(B) may, at the discretion of the local Corps 
                  program, provide compensation to a Corps volunteer, in 
                  the manner determined appropriate by the local Corps 
                  program, which may include stipends, tuition incentives 
                  or academic credit, or the banking of volunteer hours 
                  for use against future needs for assistance.
              ``(4) Reporting.--Not less than annually, a local Corps 
          program shall submit to the Secretary a report that contains, 
          with respect to the year for which the report is prepared--
                      ``(A) aggregate data on the number of Corps 
                  volunteers trained, the number of Corps volunteers 
                  providing service, the number of hours of service 
                  provided, and the number of individuals being served; 
                  and
                      ``(B) data to inform the Secretary and local 
                  communities of any system and consumer outcome impacts 
                  of the local Corps program.
      ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
  appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be 
  necessary.''.
target: Caregiver Corps Act of 2014 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to contract with a nonprofit to develop an online toolkit and guidance providing for the establishment and implementation of Caregiver Corps volunteer programs in which volunteers provide assistance to individuals who are in need of assistance to remain in the community and are either aged 65 or older, or eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance. Requires Caregiver Corps volunteers to provide assistance by giving an informal caregiver respite from caregiving duties, serving as a companion, or providing other assistance for which the volunteer is qualified. Prohibits volunteers from providing personal care or administering prescription medications. Allows the Secretary to award grants for the operation of local Corps programs. Requires local Corps programs to screen, train, and supervise volunteers. Directs local Corps programs to appropriately recognize volunteers. Allows programs to provide compensation to volunteers.
feat_title: Caregiver Corps Act of 2014