Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 24 of Title 2.2 an article numbered 25, consisting of sections numbered 2.2-2478 through 2.2-2482, as follows:

§2.2-2478. Advisory Board on Service and Volunteerism; purpose.

A. The Advisory Board on Service and Volunteerism (the Board) is established as an advisory board, within the meaning of §2.2-2100, in the executive branch of state government to advise the Governor and Cabinet Secretaries on matters related to promotion and development of national service in the Commonwealth and to meet the provisions of the federal National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993.

§2.2-2479. Membership; terms; quorum; meetings.

The Board shall consist of no more than 20 nonlegislative citizen members, to be appointed by the Governor from the Commonwealth at large. Nonlegislative citizen members appointed to the Board shall be selected for their knowledge of, background in, or experience with the community and volunteer services sector and in accordance with guidelines provided in the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993. The Governor may appoint additional persons at his discretion, as nonvoting members.

B. After the initial staggering of terms, nonlegislative citizen members shall be appointed for terms of four years. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be for the unexpired terms. No nonlegislative citizen member shall be eligible to serve more than two successive four-year terms; however, after the expiration of the remainder of a term to which a member was appointed to fill a vacancy, two additional terms may be served by such member if appointed thereto.

C. The voting members of the Board shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman annually from among its membership. A majority of the members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. The Board shall meet at least quarterly, but not more than six times per year. The meetings of the Board shall be held at the call of the chairman or whenever the majority of the members so request.

§2.2-2480. Compensation; expenses.

Members shall receive no compensation for their services. However, all members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in §§2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. Funding for the reimbursement of expenses of the members shall be provided by the Department of Social Services in accordance with federal law.

§2.2-2481. Powers and duties of the Board.

The Board shall have the power and duty to:

1. Advise the Governor, the Secretaries of Health and Human Resources, Education, and Natural Resources, the Assistant to the Governor for Commonwealth Preparedness, the State Board of Social Services, and other appropriate officials on national and community service programs in Virginia in order to (i) fulfill the responsibilities and duties prescribed by the federal Corporation for National and Community Service and (ii) develop, implement, and evaluate the Virginia State Service Plan, which outlines strategies for supporting and expanding national and community service throughout the Commonwealth.

2. Promote the use of AmeriCorps programs to meet Virginia's most pressing human, educational, environmental, and public safety needs.

3. Collaborate with the Department of Social Services and other public and private entities to recognize and call attention to the significant community service contributions of Virginia citizens and organizations.

4. Assist the Department of Social Services to promote the involvement of faith-based organizations in community and national service efforts.

5. Submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly for publication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports. The chairman of the Board shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Board no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted for publication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

§2.2-2482. Staffing.

The Department of Social Services and any other executive branch agencies as the Governor may designate shall serve as staff to the Board. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall assist the Board upon request.

2. That the initial appointments of the nonlegislative citizen members to the Advisory Board on Service and Volunteerism shall be staggered as follows: seven nonlegislative citizen members appointed for initial terms of one year, six nonlegislative citizen members appointed for initial terms of two years, and seven nonlegislative citizen members appointed for initial terms of three years.