1. (a) Participants shall be assigned to useful part-time community service assignments as soon as possible after the orientation and any preassignment training in accordance with the individual employment plan.
2. (b) Though no longer a requirement, it is a best practice that hours spent training at the community service assignment by participants shall not exceed one thousand three hundred (1,300) hours per any twelve-month program year.
3. (c) Participants’ community service employment shall be during normal work hours unless otherwise agreed upon by the participant.
4. (d) Participants shall be assigned to community service assignments in or near the communities where they reside.

5. (e) Participants shall be placed at community service assignments that contribute to the general welfare of the community, such as:

   1. (1) Social health;
   2. (2) Welfare;
   3. (3) Library;
   4. (4) Education;
   5. (5) Conservation;
   6. (6) Maintenance or restoration of natural resources;
   7. (7) Economic development; and
   8. (8) Any other services essential and necessary to the community.

6. (f)

   1. (1) A participant’s community service assignment may be limited in duration at any one (1) host agency depending upon a participant’s individual employment plan.
   2. (2) Based upon a participant’s assessment and individual employment plan, once a participant has completed all training and on-the-job work experience at one (1) host agency, they can be transferred to another host agency for further training and work experience.
7. (g) Participants placed in community service assignments funded under Title V are not considered federal or state employees.

8. (h) Wages and fringe benefits.

   1. (1) The wages paid participants upon assignment to a host agency, which include orientation, any preassignment training, and time spent doing community service assignment, shall be either the federal or state minimum wage, whichever is higher.

   2. (2)

      1. (A) Participant benefits shall be administered by the subgrantee uniformly to all enrollees including those in temporary positions.
      2. (B) The subgrantee shall ensure that enrollees receive all benefits required by law:

9. (i) Workers’ compensation coverage as covered by state law;

   1. (ii) Unemployment insurance, where required;

      1. (iii) Physical exams;

         1. (iv) If a participant’s host agency is closed due to a designated federal holiday on a day the participant would normally be on-site, the participant may take leave without pay or the participant’s assignment schedule may be adjusted by the host agency supervisor so the participant will be able to perform duties and accrue the number of hours authorized for the pay period;
         2. (v)
10. (a) (a) If a participant is off on necessary sick leave on a day the participant would normally be on-site, the participant may take leave without pay.

11. (b) (b) Thirty (30) days of leave without pay is the maximum allowable time a participant may be absent during a year; and

    1. (vi) No grant funds may be used to pay:
12. (a) (a) Pension benefits;

13. (b) (b) Annual leave; and

    1. (c) (c) Accumulated sick leave or bonuses.
    2. (3) The subgrantee makes all required payments for payroll and workers’ compensation premiums on a timely basis.

    3. (4) The subgrantee ensures that host agencies do not pay workers’ compensation for participants.

       1. (i)
    4. (1) Supportive services shall be provided to participants to assist in successful participation in community service employment and to assist in the transition to unsubsidized employment, and for up to six (6) months in unsubsidized employment.
    5. (2) To the extent feasible, the subgrantee should provide for supportive services from other sources or referrals.

    6. (3) Supportive services provided to subgrantees may include but are not limited to the following:

       1. (A) Items such as badges, uniforms, and back supports; and
       2. (B) Counseling, both job-related and personal.

    7. (4) Supportive service referrals may include but are not limited to the following:

       1. (A) Dental services;
       2. (B) Housing assistance;
       3. (C) Food assistance;
       4. (D) Transportation assistance;
       5. (E) Clothing assistance;
       6. (F) Assistive devices; and
       7. (G) Health services.

14. (j) Documentation. The subgrantee maintains:

    1. (1) Documentation of waivers of physical examinations by the participant;
    2. (2) Documentation of the provision of complaint procedures to participants;
    3. (3) Documentation of eligibility determinations and re-determinations;
    4. (4) Documentation of terminations and the reasons for such terminations; and
    5. (5) Records of grievances and outcomes.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: “6-1-97”