Section 5. Section 7 of the act, amended July 1, 1989 (P.L.119, No.25), is amended to read:
Section 7. Compensation.
(a) Term of [employment] enrollment.--Corpsmembers shall be [employed] enrolled for a period of six months. At the option of the department, corpsmembers who have successfully completed their six-month [enrollment] term may be [employed] enrolled for a second six-month term. The department shall refer the names of corpsmembers who successfully complete their [employment] service in the corps to the [Office of Employment Security] Job Centers for assistance in securing private sector employment or for enrollment in additional job training programs. The department may also provide the names of participants who successfully complete their [employment] service in the corps to private sector employers requesting referrals, with the approval of the participant.
(b) Minimum wage.--Corpsmembers shall receive an hourly wage no less than the State minimum wage as provided for by the act of January 17, 1968 (P.L.11, No.5), known as The Minimum Wage Act of 1968. [Corpsmen] Corpsmembers serving a second six-month term shall receive additional hourly compensation of at least [5%] 10%.
(c) Benefits.--Corpsmembers shall not be entitled to any employee benefits provided to existing employees of the department or other agencies except for paid Commonwealth holidays and workmen's compensation coverage which shall be provided through the funds appropriated to carry out this act, nor shall service as a corpsmember qualify an individual for benefits under the act of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1), known as the Unemployment Compensation Law. Corpsmembers who complete six months in the corps will be entitled to a $500 bonus. Corpsmembers who complete 12 months in the program will be entitled to an additional $500 bonus at the end of their second six months in the program.
(d) Work hours.--Corpsmembers shall be scheduled to work the standard work hours of the department or of the State or local agency sponsoring the work experience project. In no instance shall corpsmembers be scheduled to work more than 40 hours per week. Corpsmembers may request and shall be excused as necessary for a maximum of 260 hours per six-month term of enrollment from scheduled work hours to participate in adult education, job training and placement services which the department determines to be appropriate and are in accordance with the provisions of this act. Corpsmembers shall be compensated as set forth in subsection (b) for participating in job training and placement services which the department determines are in accordance with the provisions of this act.