WHEREAS, there is a compelling need for more civic participation to solve community and state problems and to address many unmet social, environmental, educational and public safety needs; and

    WHEREAS, promoting the capability of Idaho's people, communities, and enterprises to work together is vital to the long-term prosperity of this state; and

    WHEREAS, building and encouraging community collaborations and service is an integral part of the state's future well-being, and requires cooperative efforts by the public and private sectors; and

    WHEREAS, the development of a National Service Program in Idaho requires an administrative vehicle conforming with federal guidelines as set forth in the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993;

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Governor of the State of Idaho, by the authority vested in me under the Constitution and laws of this state do hereby order as follows:

1. The Idaho Commission for National and Community Service ("Commission") is hereby established to advise and assist in the development and implementation of a comprehensive, statewide plan for promoting volunteer involvement and citizen participation in Idaho, as well as to serve as the state's liaison to national, state and community organizations which support the intent of the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 ("the Act").

2. The Commission will be composed of no fewer than 15 and no more than 25 voting members to be appointed by the Governor in compliance with federal guidelines as described in the Act of 1993 and as detailed below:

a) The Commission's membership will include a representative of a community-based agency or organization in the state; the head of the State education agency or his or her designee; a representative of local government in the State; a representative of local labor organizations in the State; a representative of business; an individual between the ages of sixteen (16) and twenty-five (25), inclusive, who is a participant or supervisor of a service program for school-age youth or of a campus-based or national service program; a representative of a national service program; an individual with expertise in the educational, training, and development needs of youth, particularly disadvantaged youth; and an individual with experience in promoting the involvement of older adults (age 55 and older) in service and volunteerism. The Corporation for National and Community Service ("Corporation") will designate one of its employees to serve as an ex officio member on the Commission. Other members may include: educators, including representatives from institutions of higher education and local education agencies; experts in the delivery of human, educational, environmental, or public safety services; representatives of Indian tribes; out-of-school youth or at-risk youth; and representatives of programs that are administered or receive assistance under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act.
b) Not more than twenty-five (25) percent of the Commission members may be employees of state government, though the Governor may appoint additional state agency representatives to sit on the Commission as non-voting ex officio members. Members may not vote on issues affecting organizations for which they have served as a staff person or as a volunteer at any time during the preceding twelve (12) months.
c) Not more than fifty (50) percent of the Commission plus one member may be from the same political party. To the maximum extent practicable, membership of the state Commission shall be diverse with respect to race, ethnicity, age, gender and disability characteristics. Members will serve for a term of three years. One-third of the appointments to the first Commission will serve terms of one year; and one-third will serve terms of two years; one-third will serve terms of three years. Vacancies among the members shall be filled by an appointment by the Governor to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
d) The Commission will elect from among its members a chairperson.
e) The Governor will appoint one individual who is not a member of the Commission to serve at his pleasure as administrator of the Commission.

3. The Commission will have the following duties and responsibilities:

a) To develop a three-year comprehensive national and community service plan and establishment of state priorities;
b) To administer a competitive process to select national service programs to be included in any application to the Corporation for National and Community Service for funding;
c) To prepare an application to the Corporation to receive funding and/or educational awards for the programs designated in the Act;
d) To assist the State education agency in preparing the application for subtitle B school-based service learning programs;
e) To administer the grants awarded pursuant to the Act and to oversee and monitor the performance and progress of funded programs;
f) To implement, in conjunction with the Corporation, comprehensive, non-duplicative evaluation and monitoring systems;
g) To assist in the development of programs pursuant to the Act;
h) To develop mechanisms for recruitment and placement of people interested in participating in national service programs;
i) To assist in the provision of health and child care benefits to eligible program participants as specified by regulations pertaining to this Act;
j) To make recommendations to the Corporation with respect to priorities within the State for programs receiving assistance pursuant to the Act;
k) To coordinate with other state agencies that administer Federal financial assistance programs under the Community Service Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9901 et seq.) or other appropriate Federal financial assistance programs;
l) To coordinate its functions with any division of the Corporation, that carries out volunteer service programs in the state; and
m) To provide technical assistance to agencies, corporations and other organizations seeking to develop, strengthen or expand their ability to meet critical needs of the community through service; and
n) To coordinate Idaho's Promise activities to ensure that Idaho's young people have access to the five fundamental resources identified by Ret. General Colin Powell and America's Promise: The Alliance for Youth. The resources include: a healthy start; safe places to go with structured activities, especially during non-school hours; ongoing relationships with caring adults, including parents and mentors; marketable skills through effective education and; opportunities to give back to the community through service; and
o) Other activities as necessary to further the development and implementation of programs which enhance national and community service.

4. The Idaho Department of Correction shall serve as the host agency for administration of the Commission, and, as is deemed appropriate by the Governor, additional support may be requested from the Departments of Employment, Education, Commerce, Health and Welfare, the Division of Vocational Education and the Office of the State Board of Education.

5. The Commission and its activities shall be funded from federal, state and other revenues appropriated to the Idaho Commission on National and Community Service. The Commission is authorized to accept funds and in-kind services from other state and private entities.

6. The Commission shall meet at least quarterly. Failure to attend at least seventy-five (75) percent of the meetings in any calendar year shall result in removal from the Commission. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of voting members.  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at the Capitol in Boise on this twenty-eighth day of June in the year of our Lord two-thousand and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred twenty-fourth and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred tenth.

PETE T. CENARRUSA
SECRETARY OF STATE