Domestic Volunteer Service Act Amendments of 1979

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

25 January 1979

Last action

13 December 1979 · President

Status

Public Law 96-143.

Summary

Domestic Volunteer Service Act Amendments of 1979 - Amends the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 to require the Director of the ACTION Agency to terminate the assignment of a volunteer to a State program, upon the timely disapproval of such program by the Governor, supported by a statement of reasons. Revises the career provisions of low-income VISTA volunteers and the conditions under which volunteers may be advanced end-of-service stipends. Allows up to 15 percent of the first $4,600,000 appropriated for special service-learning programs to be used to enable students in secondary and post-secondary schools to participate in programs other than the University Year for ACTION program. Stipulates that the Director is authorized to make grants for special volunteer programs in urban and rural areas, and includes in such programs: (1) a program of assistance to victims of domestic violence; and (2) certain National Urban Neighborhood Priorities Programs. Authorizes the Director to provide financial support for short-term, part-time volunteers who are enrolled for 20 hours or more per week for 26 or more consecutive weeks. Allows full-time volunteers enrolled for a full year in special volunteer programs to be eligible to receive stipends and allowances, not to exceed those paid to VISTA volunteers. Authorizes the Director to make grants to and contract with public agencies and private nonprofit organizations for projects to carry out new Urban Neighborhood Volunteer Programs. Authorizes the Director, with the concurrence of the mayor or other chief elected governmental authority of an urban area, to designate and provide financial assistance to a lead agency for Urban Neighbors Programs to carry out community revitalization and person-to-person service activities in distressed urban neighborhoods. Requires the Director to develop and carry out National Urban Neighborhood Priorities Programs, including: (1) a program called "Helping Hand," involving services to reduce the necessity for institutionalization; (2) a financial counseling program to low- and fixed-income persons; and (3) other priority programs. Forbids the denial of any Government assistance to any volunteer who otherwise qualifies for such assistance by reason of the fact that such person refuses to seek or accept employment or training during the period of volunteer service in a Federal antipoverty program. Declares specified part-time antipoverty volunteers to be Federal employees for purposes of the Hatch Act, the Internal Revenue Code, title II of the Social Security Act, the Federal Tort Claims, and the Federal Employees Compensation Acts. Makes the Federal Tort Claims Act the sole available remedy of an individual making a medical malpractice claim as a result of actions by a health care volunteer. Makes the policies and remedies of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Rehabilitation Act, and Age Discrimination Act applicable to volunteers and applicants for volunteer services in any ACTION program. Requires the Director to take necessary action to reduce the paperwork required under the Act. Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1981 for National Volunteer Antipoverty Programs. Conditions the obligation or expenditure of such appropriations on: (1) the appropriation of at least $72,000,000 for National Older Americans Volunteer Programs; and (2) the obligation of at least $8,100,000 for the Helping Hand and financial counseling programs.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

25 January 1979
Introduced
Referred to Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources.
Source: IntroReferral
25 January 1979
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
26 April 1979
Reported
Reported to Senate from the Committee on Labor and Human Resources with amendment, S. Rept. 96-99.
Source: Committee
26 April 1979
Reported
Reported to Senate from the Committee on Labor and Human Resources with amendment, S. Rept. 96-99.
Source: Committee
20 June 1979
Floor
Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
Source: Floor
20 June 1979
Vote
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #140 (75-16).
Source: Floor
10 October 1979
ResolvingDifferences
Conference scheduled in House.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
10 October 1979
Passed
Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H. R. 2859.
Source: Floor
10 October 1979
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H. R. 2859.
Source: Floor
10 October 1979
Floor
Measure called up by special rule in House.
Source: Floor
29 October 1979
ResolvingDifferences
Conference scheduled in Senate.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
9 November 1979
ResolvingDifferences
Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-606.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
9 November 1979
ResolvingDifferences
Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-606.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
9 November 1979
ResolvingDifferences
Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 96-412.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
9 November 1979
Passed
Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
29 November 1979
Vote
House agreed to conference report, roll call #694 (214-152).
Source: ResolvingDifferences
29 November 1979
Vote
Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #694 (214-152).
Source: ResolvingDifferences
3 December 1979
Floor
Measure presented to President.
Source: Floor
3 December 1979
President
Measure presented to President.
Source: President
3 December 1979
President
Measure enrolled in Senate.
Source: President
3 December 1979
President
Measure enrolled in House.
Source: President
13 December 1979
President
Public Law 96-143.
Source: President
13 December 1979
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
13 December 1979
President
Signed by President.
Source: President

Votes

· Official source

Yes 0 · No 0 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 0

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

6 official files

Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 14 December 1979
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Conference report filed in Senate
summary · EN · 9 November 1979
Open at official source
Passed House amended
summary · EN · 10 October 1979
Open at official source
Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 20 June 1979
Open at official source
Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 26 April 1979
Open at official source
Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 25 January 1979
Open at official source

Related records

related to → Domestic Volunteer Service Act Amendments of 1979

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/96th-congress/senate-bill/239
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/96/s/239
us · 96-s-239 · source updated 2 September 2025