For the purposes of this unit, the term:
(1) "District" means the District of Columbia.
(2) "Eligible person" means an individual who is 60 years of age or older or is mentally or physically ill, infirm, or has a disability.
(3) "Service credit" means the unit of exchange upon which the volunteer service credit program operates.
(4) "Sponsor" means a nonprofit organization or a consortium of nonprofit organizations that receives and dispenses service credits on behalf of eligible persons and is designated by the Mayor to perform the administrative tasks necessary to implement this unit.
(5) "Targeted service" means a task for which service credits may be earned when performed by a volunteer for an eligible person.
(6) "Volunteer" means an individual who earns service credits by:
(A) Providing targeted services to an eligible person not related to him or her by blood, marriage, guardianship, or adoption;
(B) Providing services under a demonstration project;
(C) Participating in pre-service or in-service training under the volunteer service credit program or a demonstration project; or
(D) Performing administrative tasks in direct support of the volunteer service credit program or a demonstration project.
(Sept. 13, 1986, D.C. Law 6-143, § 2, 33 DCR 4372; Apr. 24, 2007, D.C. Law 16-305, § 23, 53 DCR 6198.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-2241.
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 16-305, in par. (2), substituted "infirm, or has a disability" for "disabled, or infirm".
Legislative History of Laws
Law 6-143, the "Volunteer Service Credit Program Act of 1986," was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 6-282, which was referred to the Committee on Human Services. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on June 10, 1986 and June 24, 1986, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on July 8, 1986, it was assigned Act No. 6-185 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 16-305, the "People First Respectful Language Modernization Act of 2006", was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 16-664, which was referred to Committee on the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on June 20, 2006, and July 11, 2006, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on July 17, 2006, it was assigned Act No. 16-437 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 16-305 became effective on April 24, 2007.
Delegation of Authority
Delegation of authority pursuant to Law 6-143, see Mayor's Order 87-140, June 16, 1987.
(a) Within 8 months after September 13, 1986, the Mayor shall establish a 3- year pilot volunteer service credit program ("program") through which individuals may volunteer targeted services and in return earn service credits that may be subsequently exchanged for targeted services. To implement the program, the Mayor may award grants and contracts to approved sponsors. The Mayor shall widely publicize a description of the program and a contact telephone number and address for those who may wish to participate.
(b)(1) The Mayor shall ensure that the District government or a sponsor maintains a computerized, District-wide register containing:
(A) The names of participating volunteers, services for which they are available, and any other personal information relevant to the program;
(B) An accounting system with the capacity to make available to the Mayor, each sponsor, and each volunteer a monthly balance of service credits earned and used; and
(C) Any other data that may be needed to monitor and administer the program and any demonstration projects undertaken pursuant to § 7-531.07.
(2) The register required by this subsection shall be used solely to match volunteers with eligible persons and to accomplish other tasks consistent with the purposes of this unit.
(Sept. 13, 1986, D.C. Law 6-143, § 3, 33 DCR 4372.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-2242.
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 6-143, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 7-531.01.
Targeted services shall consist of those tasks that the Mayor has determined will foster the independence, self-sufficiency, and noninstitutionalized living of eligible persons and shall fall within the following categories:
(1) Those tasks, such as respite care, personal grooming, and meal preparation, that, when performed in the home, address the personal care needs of an eligible person;
(2) Those tasks, such as light housekeeping, heavy cleaning, and minor repairs, that, when performed in or around the home, address the environmental needs of an eligible person;
(3) Those tasks, such as exercise and recreational therapy, that address the physical or rehabilitative needs of an eligible person; and
(4) Those tasks, such as transportation and escort, that address the ability of an eligible person to function outside the home.
(Sept. 13, 1986, D.C. Law 6-143, § 4, 33 DCR 4372.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-2243.
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 6-143, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 7-531.01.
(a) To initiate the program, the Mayor shall establish a pool of service credits to be awarded to eligible persons who are in need of targeted services. The Mayor may award credits to eligible persons directly from this pool or may distribute all or part of these credits to sponsors who shall in turn be authorized to award them. The awarding of credits to eligible persons shall be commensurate with the availability of volunteers.
(b) In addition to the pool of service credits established under subsection (a) of this section, a sponsor may, with the prior written approval of the Mayor, establish its own pool of service credits to be awarded to eligible persons. In order to receive this approval, a sponsor shall satisfy the Mayor that it has resources and contingency plans sufficient to meet the obligations imposed by § 7-531.05.
(c)(1) Volunteers who provide targeted services shall earn 1 service credit for each hour of targeted services provided.
(2) If authorized by the Mayor, volunteers may also earn service credits for the completion of pre-service and in-service training and for the performance of administrative tasks in direct support of the program. Service credits earned in this manner shall be computed at a rate of 1 credit for every 2 hours of training or administrative service.
(d)(1) A volunteer who has service credits may transfer all or part of those credits, either directly or through a sponsor, to an eligible person. Credits thus transferred may not be retransferred.
(2) A volunteer who has service credits may transfer all or part of those credits to the Mayor or a sponsor for the purpose of replenishing a pool of service credits established under subsection (a) or (b) of this section.
(e) Except as otherwise provided by § 7-531.05 or the rules issued by the Mayor under § 7-531.10, an eligible person may at any time exchange service credits that he or she has earned, received by transfer, or been awarded for an equal number of hours of any targeted service. The Mayor or a sponsor shall determine whether a requested service is a targeted service and whether the requestor is an eligible person.
(Sept. 13, 1986, D.C. Law 6-143, § 5, 33 DCR 4372.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-2244.
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 6-143, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 7-531.01.
(a) To ensure that outstanding service credits are promptly honored when exchanged for targeted services, the Mayor and each sponsor shall develop contingency plans and engage in diligent volunteer recruitment. Except as otherwise provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the Mayor shall guarantee all outstanding credits from the pool of service credits established under § 7-531.04(a), and a sponsor shall guarantee all outstanding credits from any pool of service credits it has established under § 7-531.04(b). Under these guarantees the Mayor or a sponsor shall ensure the provision of a targeted service, even if a volunteer is unavailable, within 10 days after an eligible person with service credits requests that service.
(b) If the program expires or is terminated, the Mayor shall promptly give written notice to all sponsors and persons known to have outstanding credits from the pool of service credits established under § 7-531.04(a). Each sponsor shall promptly give written notice of the expiration or termination to all persons known to have outstanding credits from any pool of service credits it has established under § 7-531.04(b). The guarantees required by subsection (a) of this section shall cover all requests for targeted services made within 6 months after written notice is given under this subsection.
(c) Service credit guarantees established by this section shall not apply to those requested services that are required by District law to be performed by licensed individuals.
(Sept. 13, 1986, D.C. Law 6-143, § 6, 33 DCR 4372.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-2245.
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 6-143, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 7-531.01.
Each sponsor shall have an advisory committee composed of persons skilled in the provision of targeted services and persons who represent or advocate the interests of eligible persons. An advisory committee shall monitor the sponsor's compliance with program requirements, make recommendations to the sponsor on program implementation, and carry out any other program-related tasks that the Mayor deems appropriate.
(Sept. 13, 1986, D.C. Law 6-143, § 7, 33 DCR 4372.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-2246.
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 6-143, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 7-531.01.
In addition to the volunteer service credit program, the Mayor may establish service credit demonstration projects, such as an intergenerational service program involving recipients who would not otherwise qualify as "eligible persons" under § 7-531.01(2). Services provided through these demonstration projects shall earn service credits but shall not be covered by the provisions of § 7-531.05.
(Sept. 13, 1986, D.C. Law 6-143, § 8, 33 DCR 4372.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-2247.
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 6-143, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 7-531.01.
Volunteers shall not, by virtue of their participation in the program or a demonstration project, be entitled to monetary compensation or considered for any purpose to be employees or agents of either the District or a sponsor. Sponsors may reimburse volunteers for necessary expenses incident to their provision of targeted or demonstration project services, attendance at pre-service or in-service training, or performance of administrative tasks in direct support of the program or demonstration project.
(Sept. 13, 1986, D.C. Law 6-143, § 9, 33 DCR 4372.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-2248.
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 6-143, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 7-531.01.
With respect to their participation in the program or a demonstration project, the District government and its agencies, officials, and employees and sponsors and their advisory committees, officials, and employees shall be immune from civil or criminal liability if they have acted in good faith. This immunity shall not apply to volunteers.
(Sept. 13, 1986, D.C. Law 6-143, § 10, 33 DCR 4372.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-2249.
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 6-143, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 7-531.01.
The Mayor shall, within 8 months after September 13, 1986, and pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, issue all rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this unit. These rules may include, but shall not necessarily be limited to, standards and procedures with respect to the following:
(1) Volunteer qualifications, screening, pre-service and in-service training, monitoring, and termination;
(2) Minimum liability and accident insurance for volunteers;
(3) Sponsor qualifications;
(4) The awarding of service credits;
(5) Minimum hours that a volunteer must be available;
(6) Weekly and annual limits on the number of service credits a volunteer may earn;
(7) The delayed vesting of or ability to use service credits earned for pre-service training or the performance of administrative tasks;
(8) Mayoral and sponsor notification of service credit transfers;
(9) Contingency planning and volunteer reserves;
(10) Program evaluation and the responsibilities of sponsor advisory committees; and
(11) Demonstration projects.
(Sept. 13, 1986, D.C. Law 6-143, § 11, 33 DCR 4372.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-2250.
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 6-143, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 7-531.01.
The Mayor shall prepare and submit to the Council annual reports on the volunteer service credit program and any demonstration projects established under § 7-531.07. These reports shall at a minimum include:
(1) A description of the participating population, including the number or persons served and the services provided;
(2) The number of service credits outstanding at the conclusion of the reporting period;
(3) Program costs, including the cost to the District government of honoring service credits when volunteers have been unavailable;
(4) A description of any positive or negative effects on other volunteer activities;
(5) A program evaluation, including an assessment of the quality of services provided, participant satisfaction, and the need to increase or decrease the categories of targeted services or the hours of service availability; and
(6) Recommendations regarding continuation of the program or amendments to this unit.
(Sept. 13, 1986, D.C. Law 6-143, § 12, 33 DCR 4372.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-2251.
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 6-143, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 7-531.01.
