Section 5505 - Work experience projects(a) Purpose.--(1) The secretary shall ensure that each work experience project established pursuant to the authority granted in section 4 shall provide corpsmember development and training and provide corpsmembers with work experience related to the conservation, improvement or development of natural resources or the enhancement, preservation and maintenance of public lands, water or facilities.(2) Projects developed may include fee-for-service projects with other Federal agencies, State agencies and local agencies and community-based nonprofit agencies which are qualified under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 ( Public Law 99-514, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3) ). Fees for service will be retained by the department for use in the corps program. Fee-for-service projects may not be entered into with for-profit agencies nor may any fee-for-service project displace any other workers.(3) The secretary may also develop State and local human service projects which combine both conservation work and human services, especially those projects and activities which promote the social well-being or economic self-sufficiency of the elderly, persons with physical or developmental disabilities, children or other persons with low incomes. The secretary shall give preference to those human service projects that involve intergenerational activities between corpsmembers and older persons in projects that are in other ways consistent with this act.(4) The secretary is also authorized to develop and carry out signature projects involving more than one crew and designed to have a high impact. These projects shall be short-term and may involve working with community-based, nonprofit organizations which are qualified under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.(5) Corpsmember development and training may be provided directly by the agency administering the work experience project or by other agencies as provided in subsection (d).(b) Project criteria.--Work experience projects shall be undertaken in urban, suburban and rural areas and shall be selected on the basis of the environmental and natural resource benefits each offers, the opportunities for public use each offers, the educational opportunities and the on-the-job training value of each, the future public value of the completed project, the estimated additional revenue to be generated for the Commonwealth or its subdivisions from the completion of each project and the savings in other public expenditures that are provided by virtue of the project.(c) Use of lands; exceptions.--All work experience projects developed or approved and funded by the department shall be limited to public lands and facilities except where a property involving other lands will provide documented public value or benefit. Reimbursement must be provided to the department for that portion of the total costs which does not provide a public benefit. The reimbursement will be retained by the department for use in the corps program. In the case of emergencies and natural disasters, projects may take place on land or at facilities not owned by the department, other State agencies or local agencies without regard to public benefit and private reimbursement.(d) Coordinated services.--Whenever available and appropriate, corpsmember development and training provided through other Federal, State and local funded programs such as the Job Training Partnership Act Program, the Community Services Block Grant and the Job Centers shall be coordinated with projects developed under this act to assist eligible participants. Whenever possible, eligible participants without a high school diploma shall receive coordinated services that provide an opportunity to obtain an equivalent high school diploma. Within four weeks of enrollment in the corps, each corpsmember shall be referred to the Office of Employment Security for ability assessments, the results of which shall be provided to the department.(e) Standards.--Work sites of work experience projects shall conform to appropriate health and safety standards.(f) Projects not permitted.--Work experience shall not include the removal or cleaning up of any toxic waste or other hazardous substance.1984, July 2, P.L. 561, No. 112, § 5, imd. effective. Amended 1989, July 1, P.L. 119, No. 25, § 3, imd. effective; 1993, July 2, P.L. 350, No. 49, § 3, imd. effective; 1997, June 25, P.L. 339, No. 38, § 1, imd. effective.