CHAPTER 313
FORMERLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 365
AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 86, TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE, RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DIVISION OF VOLUNTEER SERVICES.
WHEREAS, citizen volunteers and private sector leadership and social responsibility have always been an integral and a vital part of our nation's and our States' social welfare; and
WHEREAS, the pervasive and stubborn problems of our total society—of people and communities—demand, more than ever before, an increasing involvement by individuals and all sectors of society, including the corporate sector, if just solutions to these problems are ever to be reached; and
WHEREAS, individual citizens and organizations promoting volunteerism in Delaware have recommended that an organizational structure be established at the State level to encourage and enable individuals from all walks of life and from all age groups and private sector leadership to perform constructive volunteer services; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Community Affairs also needs such an organizational mechanism to provide better direction to and increase coordination between its existing volunteer programs, including VISTA, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, the Foster Grandparent Program and its new volunteer training, technical assistance and clearinghouse program.
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend §8603(2), Chapter 86, Title 29 of the Delaware Code, by adding a new subparagraph g. to read as follows:
"g. A Director of the Division of Volunteer Services who shall be known as the Director of Volunteer Services and who shall be a person qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of this office;"
Section 2. Amend §8616, Chapter 86, Title 29 of the Delaware Code, by adding a new Subparagraph (8) to read as follows:
"(8) Director of Volunteer Services;".
Section 3. Amend Chapter 86, Title 29 of the Delaware Code, by adding §§8633 and 8634 to read as follows:
"§8633. Division of Volunteer Services
(a) The Division of Volunteer Services is established having powers. duties, and functions as follows, which shall be performed by the Director, or his duly authorized designee, with the approval of the Secretary:
(1) Encourage and enable persons from all walks of life and from all age groups to perform constructive volunteer services;
(2) Establish methods for supporting and promoting private sector leadership and responsibility for meeting public needs;
(3) Promote communication and collaboration between public and private volunteer programs in the State and between the State and the private sector's initiatives in meeting human needs;
(4) Develop, implement and maintain a Volunteer Clearing house to disseminate information on volunteer opportunities in the State;
(5) Develop strategies for more effective contributions of time, talent and resources for community projects by businesses, foundations, religious and civic groups, and others;
(6) Collect, maintain and share information on private initiatives, community partnerships and creative solutions undertaken by businesses, foundations, voluntary organizations, religious institutions and other private sector groups in the State, in order to promote their broader use;
(7) Provide, or arrange for the provision of. training and technical assistance to public and private organizations and engaged in volunteer recruitment and programming;
(8) Develop, implement and maintain a State plan for public recognition and support of individual volunteer efforts and successful or promising private sector initiatives and public/private partnerships which address community needs;
(9) Identify obstacles to private sector initiatives and citizen participation, develop resources and systems which not only eliminate such obstacles, but which also provide new incentives to encourage citizens and the private sector to volunteer and/or undertake new community service initiatives;
(10) Directly administer those statewide volunteer programs which are currently administered within the Department of Community Affairs, and any other such volunteer program which may subsequently be assigned to this Department by the Governor or the General Assembly;
(11) Serve as the State's liaison to the Federal ACTION agency and to other appropriate national and State organizations which relate to the Division's mission;
(12) Assume such other powers, duties, and functions as the Secretary may assign which are in keeping with the Division's mission and not otherwise inconsistent with the law.
§8634. Council on Volunteer Services
(a) The Council on Volunteer Services is established and shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Director of Volunteer Services and shall consider matters relating to volunteer services in this State and such other matters as may be referred to it by the Governor, Secretary of the Department of Community Affairs, or Director of Volunteer Services. The Council may study, research, plan and advise the Director, the Secretary and the Governor on matters it deems appropriate to enable the Division to function in the best possible manner.
(b) The Council on Volunteer Services shall be composed of seventeen (17) members, to include:
(1) a representative from one or more of the volunteer programs directly administered by the Division;
(2) a representative from one or more of the major volunteer service organizations in the State;
(3) a representative from one or more of the major private voluntary organizations in the State;
(4) a representative of professional volunteer coordinators;
(5) a representative of a major Delaware foundation;
(6) a representative of the financial community;
(7) a representative of a small business;
(8) a representative of the Delaware Roudtable, Inc.;
(9) a representative of the Delaware Chamber of Commerce;
(10) a representative of one or more professional associations; and
(11) representative of other groups which the Governor may deem appropriate.
(c) Members of the Council shall be appointed by the Governor. The initial terms of the members shall be staggered. Seven members shall be appointed for an initial term of three years; seven members shall be appointed for an initial term of two years. and three members shall be appointed for an initial term of one year. Thereafter, all terms shall be for two years. Members shall be eligible for reappointment to no more than one additional consecutive term.
(d) Members of the Council shall serve without compensation, except that they may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incident to their duties as members
of the Council, to the extend funds are available therefor and in accordance with State law.
(e) A chairperson of the Council shall be chosen by the members of the Council from among its members and shall serve in that capacity for a term of one year and shall be eligible for re-election to not more than one additional consecutive term.
(f) Any vacancy among the members of the Council shall be filled by the Governor for the balance of the unexpired term. Absence by a council member from either three consecutive meetings or any four out of twelve consecutive meetings shall constitute an executed resignation from the Council by a member."
Approved July 2, 1984.