§5-26A-1. Findings, purposes and intent.

The Legislature hereby finds and declares:

(a) The National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, P. L. 103-82, was enacted to foster civic responsibility and to enable the citizens of the various states to participate in, for the benefit of their communities, various volunteer and other service programs including, but not limited to, community corps programs, youth corps programs, school and campus-based programs, professional corps programs, AmeriCorps programs, national senior service corps programs and VISTA programs.

(b) The National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, P. L. 103-82, created the corporation for national and community service for the purpose of assisting the various states in the creation and operation of a statewide commission that would have as its purpose the encouragement, coordination and assistance of the efforts of individuals or other entities from both the public and private sectors to create or participate in local community service programs.

(c) The corporation for national and community service assists a state's commission by and through a grant to the commission that is equal to a percentage of the commission's administrative costs.

(d) The deadline for the creation of a state commission was January 1, 1994, if the state commission was to receive an administrative grant in the corporation for national and community service's fiscal year beginning in the calendar year 1994.

(e) The West Virginia commission for national and community service was created by an executive order of the Governor of the State of West Virginia made on January 28, 1994, but the executive order contemplated the enactment of legislation continuing the state commission in the next session of the Legislature.

(f) The West Virginia commission for national and community service has striven to develop a coordinated, unified plan in response to the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, P. L. 103-82, and to meet the social, environmental, educational and public safety needs of the State of West Virginia by instilling in its citizens a greater sense of pride in, and responsibility for, their communities.

(g) The Legislature intends to continue the West Virginia commission for national and community service for the purpose of complying with the provisions of the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, P. L. 103-82, and for the purpose of meeting the social, environmental, educational and public safety needs of the State of West Virginia by and through promotion and coordination of community outreach initiatives.