90-14-105. Duties and powers of state agencies. (1) The following state agencies are responsible for developing and implementing community service opportunities consistent with the mission and functions of each agency:

(a) The office of public instruction implements volunteer projects in elementary and secondary public, private, and home schools in Montana, including activities sponsored by schools or community-based agencies, to involve school-age youth, including dropouts and out-of-school youth, in service to the community, as well as for programs that involve adult volunteers in the schools. A school district is expected to be the first agency that informs students about the many opportunities to participate in broader community service under this part through federal service learning grants and any other revenue received for purposes consistent with this part.

(b) The Montana university system assists institutions of higher education in Montana, explores new ways to integrate service into the curriculum, supports model community service programs on campus, develops teacher and volunteer training programs, and involves students in community service. The community service may complement a student's course of study through the federal higher education innovative projects grants and any other revenue received for purposes consistent with this part.

(c) The departments of environmental quality, natural resources and conservation, transportation, and fish, wildlife, and parks are the agencies for community and volunteer projects in conservation and natural resource settings that are designed to support and enhance state parks, wildlife, watchable wildlife, productivity of state lands, streams and lakes, county and city parks, tribal parks, scenic beauty and access, trails and signs, visitor information centers and rest areas, fairgrounds, and any other projects related to conservation or the environment that involve teenagers, young adults, or special community service members, such as adults or senior citizens who provide special skills for a project. Other projects may include bicycle paths and pedestrian trails, landscaping and scenic enhancements, historical and cultural preservation, roadside and stream restoration and enhancement, erosion control, disability enhancement, and experimental and research projects.

(d) The department of military affairs may support community and volunteer projects that are designed to involve the national guard in leadership or support roles for service through the provision of organizational and leadership skills, equipment, volunteer crewleaders, and other support, as well as the command and coordination of activities that may be mobilized for emergency projects, such as fire suppression or search and rescue.

(e) The governor may designate other agencies, after consultation with the director and the commission, for community service projects that focus on improving the quality of life for all Montanans, particularly low-income persons, senior citizens, homebound persons, disabled persons, or institutionalized persons, through preparing and delivering meals, assisting with shopping or other tasks, repairing and painting or otherwise modifying homes of qualifying persons, providing transportation to and from health care and other appointments, providing respite care, cataloging library books, assisting rural health care providers, providing recreational aides, arranging for tutoring and literacy training, restoring historical photographs, and offering other human service support and community services.

(2) Each agency designated by the governor shall ensure that service opportunities that result in a public value are developed for everyone, regardless of race, creed, national origin, or geographical location, by providing leadership through its own network and by forming partnerships with other public or private, nonprofit entities.

(3) Each agency involved in community service shall coordinate and integrate its plans with and through the office of community service.

(4) Projects developed or approved under this part and funded by an agency must be limited to service projects that provide community service, conservation service, educational service, or other public service and that provide documented public value or benefit.

(5) The state agencies engaged in community service may:

(a) designate an agency volunteer coordinator to implement its responsibilities under this part;

(b) develop and approve work experience and volunteer projects that meet the requirements of this part;

(c) execute contracts or cooperative agreements that contain the terms and conditions necessary and desirable for the employment of volunteer crewleaders and other volunteers in approved work experience projects with federal, state, or local agencies, persons, firms, partnerships, associations, or corporations;

(d) execute contracts or cooperative agreements with federal, state, or local agencies, persons, firms, partnerships, associations, or corporations for the purpose of administering the requirements of this part;

(e) under the supervision of the office of community service, apply for and accept grants or contributions of services, funds, or lands from any public or private donors, including appropriations;

(f) develop procedures for participants to achieve incentive vouchers, education, credit toward education, skill training, scholarships, housing benefits, or other benefits upon completion of their term of service;

(g) purchase, rent, acquire, or obtain personal property, supplies, instruments, tools, or equipment necessary to complete work experience or volunteer projects;

(h) authorize use of volunteers for emergency projects, including but not limited to natural disasters, fire prevention and suppression, and rescue of lost or injured persons, and provide adequate training to volunteers prior to participation in an emergency project; and

(i) adopt rules and guidelines necessary to implement the provisions of this part and to effectively administer the program.

History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 534, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 150, L. 1999.