Montana § 90-14-103 - Office Of Community Service

§ 90-14-103. Office Of Community Service

Office of community service. (1) There is an office of community service, which is headed by a director and established in the department of labor and industry. (2) The purpose of this office is to: (a) renew the ethic of civic responsibility in the state; (b) encourage the citizens of the state, regardless of age or income, to engage in full-time or part-time service to the state; (c) call young people to serve in projects that will benefit the state and improve their life chances through the acquisition of literacy, job skills, and interpersonal skills; (d) build on the existing organizational framework of state and local governmental entities to expand full-time and part-time service opportunities in a wide variety of programs for all citizens, particularly youth and older Montanans; (e) involve participants in activities that would not otherwise be performed by employed workers; and (f) establish programs to accomplish labor-intensive improvements to public or low-income properties or to provide services for the benefit of the state, its communities, and its people through service contracts that specify the work to be performed. (3) The director must be appointed by the governor, after consultation with the commission. The director serves at the pleasure of the governor. (4) The director, with the advice of the commission and in coordination with the department, shall: (a) assist the governor in the planning, coordination, operation, and evaluation of programs within state government or under grants, donations, bequests, or other resources received by and administered through state government for Montana community services; (b) integrate and develop state plans for all services provided under this part, including but not limited to the office of public instruction's service learning program, the Montana university system's innovative projects, the department of military affairs' service involvement, and other community and volunteer service programs; and (c) submit applications for federal grants and for funding from any other sources for the creation or operation of volunteer projects. The director shall ensure accountability for all resources received.