---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 12613"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "12613"
heading: "National service program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/12613"
units:
  - "Chapter 129 — National and Community Service"
  - "Subchapter I — National and Community Service State Grant Program"
  - "Division E — National Civilian Community Corps"
---

# §12613. National service program

- (a) **In general—** Under the national service [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) component of the National Civilian Community [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) [Program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) authorized by [section 12612(a) of this title](/usc/42/12612.md?p=a), eligible young people shall work in teams on National Civilian Community [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2).
- (b) **Eligible participants—** A person shall be eligible for selection for the national service [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) if the person—
  - (1) is, or will be, at least 18 years of age on or before December 31 of the calendar year in which the individual enrolls in the [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8), but is not more than 24 years of age as of the date the individual begins participating in the [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8); and
  - (2) is a high school graduate or has not received a high school diploma or its equivalent.
- (c) **Diverse backgrounds of participants—** In selecting persons for the national service [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8), the [Director](/usc/42/12626.md?p=6) shall endeavor to ensure that participants are from economically, geographically, and ethnically diverse backgrounds. The [Director](/usc/42/12626.md?p=6) shall take appropriate steps, including through outreach and recruitment activities, to increase the percentage of participants in the [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) who are disadvantaged youth to 50 percent of all participants by year 2012. The [Director](/usc/42/12626.md?p=6) shall report to the authorizing committees biennially on such steps, any challenges faced, and the annual participation rates of disadvantaged youth in the [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8).
- (d) **Period of participation—** Persons desiring to participate in the national service [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) shall enter into an agreement with the [Director](/usc/42/12626.md?p=6) to participate in the [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) for a period of not less than nine months and not more than one year, as specified by the [Director](/usc/42/12626.md?p=6), and may renew the agreement for not more than one additional such period.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–610, title I, § 153, formerly § 195B, as added Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title X, § 1092(a)(1), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2523; renumbered § 153 and amended Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 104(b), (e)(2)(A), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 840, 846; Pub. L. 111–13, title I, § 1503, Apr. 21, 2009, 123 Stat. 1521.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 12653b of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 103–82, § 104(b).

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 12613, Pub. L. 101–610, title I, § 162, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3158, related to training program in skills to be employed in Peace Corps or VISTA, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–82, § 104(a).

### Amendments

2009—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1503(1), substituted “National Civilian Community Corps Program” for “Civilian Community Corps Demonstration Program” and “on National Civilian Community Corps” for “on Civilian Community Corps”.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1503(2), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “is at least 16 and not more than 24 years of age; and”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1503(3), substituted “backgrounds” for “backrounds” in heading and inserted at end “The Director shall take appropriate steps, including through outreach and recruitment activities, to increase the percentage of participants in the program who are disadvantaged youth to 50 percent of all participants by year 2012. The Director shall report to the authorizing committees biennially on such steps, any challenges faced, and the annual participation rates of disadvantaged youth in the program.”

Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 111–13, § 1503(4), (5), redesignated subsec. (e) as (d) and struck out former subsec. (d). Text of former subsec. (d) read as follows: “To the extent practicable, at least 50 percent of the participants in the national service program shall be economically disadvantaged youths.”

1993—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–82, § 104(e)(2)(A), substituted “section 12612(a)” for “section 12653a(a)”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2009 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 111–13 effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of Pub. L. 111–13, set out as a note under section 4950 of this title.

### Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–82 effective Oct. 1, 1993, see section 123 of Pub. L. 103–82, set out as a note under section 1701 of Title 16, Conservation.