WHEREAS, the
National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (the Act) has been
enacted to help States meet the human, educational, environmental
and public safety needs of communities; and
WHEREAS, the
Corporation on National and Community Service (Corporation) was
established pursuant to the Act to engage Americans of diverse backgrounds,
age groups and educational levels in service to the community and
provide educational awards and/or living stipends to individuals
who make a substantial sacrifice to community service; and
WHEREAS, there
are thousands of New Jerseyans who donate thousands of hours as
volunteers and perform community service, which promotes good citizenship
and responsibility to the community; and
WHEREAS, these
New Jersey volunteers may, through the structures and funding provided
under the Act, better serve the needs of their community; and
WHEREAS, the
State of New Jersey has received approval from the Corporation to
establish a State commission as the entity which will be responsible
for selecting AmeriCorps National Service Programs and to apply
to receive funds for community-based Learn and Serve America programs;
and
WHEREAS, the
State Commission, together with the Corporation, will assist programs
in recruiting participants, disseminating information about service
opportunities, and providing technical assistance to communities
organizing service programs; and
WHEREAS, the
government of the State of New Jersey is in a position to promote
volunteerism and community service by bringing together the State's
leading volunteers and community service activists to provide leadership,
guidance, and oversight of the State Commission; and
WHEREAS, it
is the role of the State under the Act, to provide funding through
the resources appropriated thereunder for the most innovative, constructive,
and effective service programs in the State in order to build on
existing infrastructures and carry out the statutory mandates necessary
to receive funding from the Corporation; and
WHEREAS, selection,
coordination, and oversight of Statewide efforts to enhance volunteerism
and service to the community, as called for by the Act, can best
be achieved by the creation of a New Jersey State commission;
NOW, THEREFORE,
I, CHRISTINE TODD WHITMAN, Governor of the State of New Jersey,
by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER AND DIRECT:
1. There
is hereby established the New Jersey Commission on National Service
(Commission) to be located within the Department of Education.
The Commission shall:
a. Develop
a three-year comprehensive State Plan which can be updated annually,
and is developed through an open and inclusive process that
ensures outreach to diverse community-based agencies.
b. Develop
a strategy for private sector development to aid the State in
implementing national service throughout the State.
c. Assist
and coordinate with the State Department of Education in completing
Learn and Serve America and AmeriCorps applications for grant
funding.
d. Provide
funding, through the resources appropriated under the Act for
programs that are within the guidelines established by the New
Jersey State Plan.
e. Monitor
grant programs through on-site visits, and review of quarterly
and annual programmatic reports so that the goals of the program
and the Trust Act are fulfilled.
f. Directly
oversee grant programs that are funded by the Corporation and
help them develop projects, training methods, and curriculum
materials.
g. Establish
a process for recruitment and placement for National Service
participants and disseminate information about service programs.
h. Advise
the Corporation, based upon State priorities, on which programs
should receive funding under the Domestic Volunteer Service
Act of 1973.
i. Make
recommendations to the Corporation regarding funding for VISTA
and Older American Volunteer programs within the State.
j. Coordinate
and assist volunteer programs by working with other State governmental
agencies.
k. Coordinate
with State agencies such as the Governor's Office of Volunteerism,
the Governor's Advisory Council on Community Service, the Academy
for Community Service and Service Learning, and other agencies
that have not been previously represented.
l. Provide
technical assistance to enable applicants to plan and implement
service programs.
m. Assist
in the provision of health care and child care benefits as required
in the AmeriCorps program.
n. Perform
any other duties as required by federal law.
2. The New
Jersey Commission on National Service shall be comprised of not
fewer than fifteen nor more than twenty-five voting members, appointed
by the Governor, and shall reflect the diversity of the State
of New Jersey.
a. The
members shall include:
1. An
individual with expertise in educational, training and developmental
needs of youth, particularly disadvantaged youth;
2. An
individual with expertise in promoting the involvement of
older adults in service and volunteerism as defined by the
Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973;
3. A
representative of community-based agencies or organizations
within the State;
4. The
Commissioner of Education or his designee;
5. A
representative of local governments in the State;
6. A
representative of local labor organizations in the State;
7. A
representative of business;
8. Youth
Service Program participants, including in-school, college-based,
and out-of-school participants; and
9. A
National Service participant.
b. The
balance of the twenty-five voting members shall be representative
of the following:
1. Local
education agencies;
2. Out
of school and "at risk" youth;
3. Local
higher education community;
4. Native
American tribes;
5. Programs
receiving assistance under the Domestic Volunteer Service
Act;
6. A
local expert in the delivery of human service programs;
7. A
local expert in the delivery of public safety services;
8. A
local expert in the delivery of environmental services and/or
programs;
9. The
chairperson of the Governor's Advisory Council on Community
Service and Volunteerism;
10.
A member of the Governor's Youth Advisory Council; and
11.
Two members of the Legislature, no more than one of whom shall
be of the same political party.
c. The
voting members shall include youth representing the wide array
of service programs throughout New Jersey and other private
citizens and organizational representatives.
d. In
addition to the twenty-five voting members, representatives
engaged in or planning to implement service or service learning
programs from the Governor's Office of Volunteerism, Department
of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Community
Affairs, Department of Corrections, Department of Environmental
Protection and Energy, Department of Health, Department of Human
Services, Department of Labor, Department of Law and Public
Safety, Department of Transportation, Education Service Office
of the New Jersey Army National Guard shall serve as ex-officio,
non-voting members of the Commission.
e. Representatives
shall be sought from the State Employment and Training Commission
and the State Human Services Advisory Committee, and the Center
for Non-Profits, in order to serve as ex-officio members.
f. A representative
of the Corporation will sit on the State Commission as an ex-officio
member and act as liaison between the Commission and the Corporation.
3. The selection
process shall adhere to the following guidelines:
a. The
process through which applicants to the State Commission are
reviewed shall ensure diversity with respect to race, ethnicity,
age, gender, disability characteristics, and political affiliation
to the maximum extent practicable.
b. The
Governor's Appointments Office will assist in ensuring bipartisan
representation, as no more than fifty percent of the voting
members, plus one additional member, shall be from the same
political party.
4. Members
of the Commission shall:
a. Serve
three-year terms, except for the terms of the members first
appointed, who shall serve as follows: one-third shall serve
for a term of one year, one-third shall serve for a term of
two years and one-third for a term of three years.
b. Elect
their own chair.
c. Not
participate in grant decisions if they are, or were at any time
in the previous year, an officer, director, trustee, full-time
employee, or volunteer with a National service program.
d. Serve
without compensation, except that members may receive per diem
and travel expenses.
5. This
Order shall take effect immediately.
GIVEN,
under my hand and seal
this 13th day of June in the Year
of Our Lord, One Thousand Nine
Hundred and Ninety Four, and of
the Independence of the United States,
the Two Hundred and Eighteenth.
Christine
Todd Whitman
GOVERNOR
Attest:
Peter Verniero
Chief Counsel to the Governor
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