I, Tony Knowles, Governor of the State of Alaska, under the authority vested in me by art. III, sees. 1 and 24, of the Alaska Constitution, and AS 44.19.145(c) hereby establish the Alaska State Community Service Commission (commission).

The purpose of the commission is to engage Alaskans of all ages and backgrounds in community based service and volunteerism as a means of community and state problem solving, and to promote participation in the National AmeriCorps Program as required for the receipt of federal financial assistance under section 12638 of the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1990(42 U.S.C. 12501-- 12682).

AmeriCorps service and volunteer programs will benefit communities in four areas: education, public safety, human needs, and environmental needs.

A. The commission shall

1. prepare a national service plan for the state that

a. is developed through an open and public process (such as through regional forums, hearings, and other means) that provides for maximum participation and input from national service programs within the state and other interested members of the public;

b. covers a 3-year period;

c. 15 updated annually;

d. ensures outreach to diverse community-based agencies that serve under represented populations, by

(1) using established networks or registers, at the state level; or

(2) establishing such networks and registers; and

e. contains information the state commission considers appropriate or the Corporation for National Service (Corporation) may require;

2. prepare the applications of the state under 42 U.S.C. 12543 and 42 U.S.C. 12582 of the National and Community Service Trust Act 1990 (NCSTA) for assistance;

3. assist in the preparation of the application of the state educational agency for assistance under 42 U.S.C. 12525 (NCSTA);

4. prepare the application of the state under 42 U.S.C. 12582
(NCSTA) for the approval of service positions that include the national service educational award described in division D, National Service Trust and Provision of National Service Educational Awards (NCSTA);

5. make recommendations to the Corporation with respect to priorities for programs receiving assistance under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4950 -- 5091n);

6. make available technical assistance to enable applicants for assistance under 42 U.S.C. 12571 to plan and implement service programs and to apply for assistance under the national service laws using, if appropriate, information and materials available through a clearinghouse established under 42 U.S.C. 12653(a) (NCSTA);

7. assist in the provision of health care and child care benefits under 42 U.S.C. 12594 (NCSTA) to participants in national service programs that receive assistance under 42 U.S.C. 12571 (NCSTA);

8. develop a state system for the recruitment and placement of participants in programs that receive assistance under the national service laws and dissemination of information concerning national service programs that receive such assistance or approved national service positions;

9. administer the grant program in support of national service programs that is conducted by the state using assistance provided to the state under 42 U.S.C. 12571 (NCSTA), including selection, oversight, and evaluation of grant recipients; and

10. develop projects, training methods, curriculum materials, and other materials and activities related to national service programs that receive assistance directly from the corporation (to be made available in a case in which such program requests such a program, method, material, or activity) or from the state using assistance provided under 42 U.S.C. 12571, for use by programs that request such projects, methods, materials, and activities.

B. The commission may not directly carry out any national service program that receives assistance under 42 U.S.C. 12571(NCSTA).

C. Subject to requirements that the Corporation may prescribe, a state commission may delegate non-policy making duties to a state agency or public or private nonprofit organization.

D. In carrying out its duties under this Order, the commission should primarily use teleconferencing or other electronic means to the extent practicable in order to gain the widest public participation at minimum cost. Meetings of the commission shall be held in accordance with AS 44.62.310 (Open Meetings Law). A majority of the commission constitutes a quorum for the purposes of conducting business. A quorum must be present at commission meetings.

E. All commission members are appointed by the Governor and serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The commission may consist of 15 to 25 members. At no time shall the membership of the commission be less than 15. Membership includes the following:

1. REQUIRED MEMBERS. The commission shall include as voting members at least one of each of the following individuals:

a. an individual with expertise in the educational, training, and development needs of youth, particularly disadvantaged youth;

b. an individual with experience in promoting the involvement of older adults in service and volunteerism;

c. a representative of community-based agencies or community-based organizations within the state;

d. the head of the State of Alaska, Department of Education;

e. a representative of local governments in the state;

f. a representative of a local labor organization in the state;

g. a representative of business;

h. an individual between the ages of 16 and 25 who is a participant or supervisor in a program; and

1. a representative of a national service program described in 42 U.S.C. 12572(a) (NCSTA), such as a youth corps program described in 42 U.S.C. 12572(a)(2) (NCSTA).

2. SOURCES OF OTHER MEMBERS. The commission may include as voting members the following individuals:

a. members selected from among local educators;

b. members selected from among experts in the delivery of human, education, environmental, or public safety services to communities and persons;

c. representatives of Indian tribes;

d. members selected from among out-of-school youth or other at-risk youth; and

e. representatives of entities that receive assistance under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4950 -- 5091n).

3. CORPORATION REPRESENTATIVE. The representative of the Corporation designated under 42 U.S.C. 12651f(c) for the state shall be an ex officio nonvoting member of the commission, unless the state permits the representative to serve as a voting member of the commission.

4. EX OFFICIO STATE REPRESENTATIVES. The Governor may appoint, as ex officio, nonvoting members of the commission, representatives selected from among officers and employees of state agencies operating community service, youth service, education, social service, senior service, and job training programs.

5. LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF STATE EMPLOYEES AS MEMBERS. The number of voting members of a state commission selected under paragraph 1 or 2 who are officers or employees of the state may not exceed 25 percent (reduced to the nearest whole number) of the total membership of the state commission.

F. MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.

1. TERMS. Each member of the commission shall serve for a term of 3 years, except the initial terms of council members may be for less than three years to allow staggering of terms.

2. VACANCIES. If a vacancy occurs on the commission, a new member shall be appointed by the Governor and serve for the remainder of the term for which the predecessor of that member was appointed. The vacancy shall not affect the power of the remaining members to execute the duties of the commission.

3. COMPENSATION. A member of the commission shall not receive any additional compensation by reason of service on the commission, except that the state may authorize the reimbursement of travel expenses, including per diem, in the same manner as other employees serving intermittently in the service of the state.

4. CHAIRPERSON. The voting members of the commission shall elect one of the voting members to serve as chairperson of the commission.

5. LIMITATION OF MEMBER PARTICIPATION.

a. General Limitation. Except as provided in subparagraph b. below, a voting member of the commission shall not participate in the administration of the grant program (including any discussion or decision regarding the provision of assistance or approved national service positions, or the continuation, suspension, or termination of assistance or positions, to any program or entity) described in subsection A 9. above if

(1) a grant application relating to a grant program is pending before the commission (or another entity); and

(2) the application was submitted by a program or entity of which the member is, or in the one year period before the submission of the application was, an officer, director, trustee, full-time volunteer, or employee.

b. Exception. If as a result of the operation of subparagraph a., the number of voting members of the commission is insufficient to establish a quorum for the purpose of administering a grant program, voting members excluded from participation by subparagraph a. may participate in the administration of a grant program, notwithstanding the limitation in subparagraph a., to the extent permitted by regulations issued under 42 U.S.C. 12651d(b)(l 1) (NCSTA) by the Corporation for National Service; and

c. Rule of Construction. Subparagraph a. shall not be construed to limit the authority of any voting member of the commission to participate in

(1) discussion of and hearing and forums on,

(a) the general duties, policies, and operations of the commission; or

(b) the general administration of a grant program; or

(2) similar general matters relating to the commission.

G. The Department of Community and Regional Affairs, Division of Community and Rural Development will work with the commission to determine duties to be delegated to other state agencies. The commission will be housed in the State of Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs as provided by the Office of the Governor's direction on September14, 1993. The Department of Community and Regional Affairs is designated lead agency and will supply administrative support to the commission.

The commission's executive director will be selected and hired by the Department of Community and Regional Affairs with final approval from the Governor. The executive director will act as the liaison between the Governor, Department of Community and Regional Affairs, the Corporation and the commission. The executive director is also the identified private sector liaison and point of contact. Other staff will be selected and hired as needed by the executive director with final approval from the Department of Community and Regional Affairs.

This order takes effect immediately.

DATED this 29 day of March, 1996 at Juneau, Alaska.

S/S Tony Knowles     
Tony Knowles         
Governor