Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 129— - NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE STATE GRANT PROGRAM › § 12655l
Each full-time youth corps member in a program that gets help under this law must get a yearly living allowance at least as large as the average annual subsistence allowance for VISTA volunteers (see section 4955). Payments made from federal money (including funds under section 12571) may cover no more than 85% of that VISTA average. No one may get more than 200% of that VISTA average in total. The Corporation can lower or skip the minimum if the program shows the rule hurts its goals and the allowance will still cover local basic costs like food, housing, and transportation. The minimum does not apply to programs that existed on September 21, 1993. Programs that existed on November 16, 1990 do not have to cut any higher stipends, salaries, or allowances if the extra amounts come from non‑federal money. Residential youth corps are treated like organized camps under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Agencies are encouraged to offer health insurance to participants without it. Agencies may deduct a reasonable share of room and board from the allowance and keep those deductions in rollover accounts to pay housing costs. Agencies must set deduction amounts based on actual costs and may provide housing, basic medical care, transport to worksites, disability accommodations, and other needed services and supplies. The Corporation can give supplies and help, including surplus federal goods and, when possible, arrange military logistical support like temporary tent centers. The Corporation and agencies must set and enforce health and safety standards that follow federal, state, and local rules.
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The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
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42 U.S.C. § 12655l
Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73