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Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§12613 National Service Program

Title 42 › CHAPTER 129 — NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE › SUBCHAPTER I — NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE STATE GRANT PROGRAM › § 12613

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Eligible young people must serve in teams on National Civilian Community Corps projects. To join, a person must be at least 18 by December 31 of the year they enroll and no older than 24 when they start. A person must either have finished high school or not have received a high school diploma or its equivalent. The program director must try to pick people from different economic, geographic, and ethnic backgrounds. The director must work to make disadvantaged youth 50% of participants by 2012 and must report every two years to the authorizing committees about actions taken, problems, and yearly rates. Participants sign up to serve at least nine months and up to one year, as set by the director, and may renew once.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §12613

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general
Under the national service program component of the National Civilian Community Corps Program authorized by section 12612(a) of this title, eligible young people shall work in teams on National Civilian Community Corps projects.
(b)Eligible participants
A person shall be eligible for selection for the national service program if the person—
(1)is, or will be, at least 18 years of age on or before December 31 of the calendar year in which the individual enrolls in the program, but is not more than 24 years of age as of the date the individual begins participating in the program; and
(2)is a high school graduate or has not received a high school diploma or its equivalent.
(c)Diverse backgrounds of participants
In selecting persons for the national service program, the Director shall endeavor to ensure that participants are from economically, geographically, and ethnically diverse backgrounds. The Director shall take appropriate steps, including through outreach and recruitment activities, to increase the percentage of participants in the program who are disadvantaged youth to 50 percent of all participants by year 2012. The Director shall report to the authorizing committees biennially on such steps, any challenges faced, and the annual participation rates of disadvantaged youth in the program.
(d)Period of participation
Persons desiring to participate in the national service program shall enter into an agreement with the Director to participate in the Corps for a period of not less than nine months and not more than one year, as specified by the Director, and may renew the agreement for not more than one additional such period.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 12653b of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 103–82, § 104(b).

Prior Provisions

A prior section 12613, Pub. L. 101–610, title I, § 162, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3158, related to training program in skills to be employed in Peace Corps or VISTA, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–82, § 104(a).

Amendments

2009—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1503(1), substituted “National Civilian Community Corps Program” for “Civilian Community Corps Demonstration Program” and “on National Civilian Community Corps” for “on Civilian Community Corps”. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1503(2), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “is at least 16 and not more than 24 years of age; and”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1503(3), substituted “backgrounds” for “backrounds” in heading and inserted at end “The Director shall take appropriate steps, including through outreach and recruitment activities, to increase the percentage of participants in the program who are disadvantaged youth to 50 percent of all participants by year 2012. The Director shall report to the authorizing committees biennially on such steps, any challenges faced, and the annual participation rates of disadvantaged youth in the program.” Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1503(4), (5), redesignated subsec. (e) as (d) and struck out former subsec. (d). Text of former subsec. (d) read as follows: “To the extent practicable, at least 50 percent of the participants in the national service program shall be economically disadvantaged youths.” 1993—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–82, § 104(e)(2)(A), substituted “section 12612(a)” for “section 12653a(a)”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2009 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 111–13 effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of Pub. L. 111–13, set out as a note under section 4950 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1993 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 103–82 effective Oct. 1, 1993, see section 123 of Pub. L. 103–82, set out as a note under section 1701 of Title 16, Conservation.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 12613

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110