§1115.  Commission duties and responsibilities

A.  The commission shall:

(1)  Administer the state's grant program in support of national service programs including selection, oversight, and evaluation of grant recipients.

(2)  Ensure that its funding decisions meet all federal and state statutory requirements.

(3)  Recommend innovative, creative, statewide service programs to increase civic participation and unite all citizens of this state in a common purpose; and stimulate increased community awareness of the beneficial impact of service programs in this state.

(4)  Provide a statewide volunteer recognition program to provide public recognition and support of broad service efforts and successful or promising private sector initiatives and public/private partnerships which address community needs.

(5)  Develop and implement a centralized organized system of obtaining information and technical support concerning community service, recruitment, service projects, training methods, materials, and activities throughout this state and share information and support upon request.

(6)  Promote strong interagency collaboration, utilizing local, state, and federal resources to reinforce, expand, and initiate quality service programs as an avenue for maximizing resources and provide that model on the state level.

(7)  Serve as the state's liaison and voice to appropriate national and state organizations which support its mission.

(8)  Prepare a national three-year service plan for this state which follows state and federal guidelines.

(9)  Assist in the preparation of the Louisiana Serve America grant applications to the Corporation for National and Community Service on behalf of the state.

(10)  Assist in the preparation of the Louisiana Serve America grant application of the Louisiana Department of Education.

(11)  Prepare the state's application for approval of service positions such as the National Service Educational Award.

(12)  Make technical assistance available to enable applicants for assistance to plan and implement service programs and to apply for assistance under the federal service laws such as the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993.

(13)  Assist in the provision of health care and child care benefits to participants in national service programs that receive assistance.

(14) Coordinate its functions, including recruitment, public awareness, and training activities, with any division of the federal Corporation State Office or the Corporation for National and Community Service.

(15)  Provide the governor, lieutenant governor, and the legislature with an annual report which describes its activities during the previous year.  These reports shall be due by December thirty-first  for the previous program year.

(16)  Repealed by Acts 2003, No. 219, §2.

B.  The commission may adopt rules and regulations to provide for its operation and to implement this Chapter in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act subject to the oversight of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Appropriations Committee.

Acts 1995, No. 742, §2, eff. June 27, 1995; Acts 2003, No. 219, §§1 and 2.