AR SB87

Creates a Division of Community Service and Nonprofit Support within the Department of Human Services with a full-time Deputy Director responsible for coordinating division activities and employing necessary staff subject to General Assembly appropriation.

Establishes duties for the division including assessing community needs, recruiting and coordinating volunteers, assisting volunteer projects, raising awareness of volunteer efforts, and devising training programs for community organizations assisting welfare recipients.

Replaces the advisory council with a "Commission on National Service and Volunteerism" consisting of 15-25 voting members appointed by the Governor on a bipartisan basis with staggered terms of 1-5 years.

Requires the commission to include nine specific voting members representing youth education, older adults, community-based organizations, state education agency, local government, labor organizations, business and industry, youth volunteers (ages 16-25), and a National Service Program representative.

Commission shall be balanced by race, ethnicity, age, disability, and gender to the extent possible, with no more than 50% of voting members plus one from the same political party.