§ 11-13-108 - Service -- Compensation. - Arkansas Statutes

11-13-108. Service -- Compensation.

(a) (1) Corpsmembers of the Arkansas Conservation Corps shall be enrolled for a period of six (6) months.

(2) At the option of the Department of Labor, corpsmembers who have successfully completed their six-month term may be enrolled for a second six-month term.

(b) (1) (A) Corpsmembers shall be scheduled to work the standard work hours of the Department of Labor or of the state or local agency sponsoring the work experience project.

(B) In no instance shall corpsmembers be scheduled to work more than forty (40) hours per week.

(2) Corpsmembers shall be excused as necessary, as determined by the department, from scheduled work hours to participate in adult education, job training, corpsmember development, and placement services which the Department of Labor determines to be appropriate and in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

(3) Corpsmembers shall be compensated as set forth in subdivision (c)(1) of this section for participating in job training and placement services which the Department of Labor determines are in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

(c) (1) Corpsmembers shall receive an hourly wage no less than the state minimum wage as provided for by the Minimum Wage Act of the State of Arkansas, 11-4-201 et seq.

(2) Corpsmembers serving a second six-month term shall receive additional hourly compensation of at least ten percent (10%).

(3) Corpsmembers who complete six (6) months in the corps are entitled to a five hundred dollar ($500) bonus.

(4) Corpsmembers who complete twelve (12) months in the program are entitled to an additional five hundred dollar ($500) bonus at the end of their second six (6) months in the program.

(d) Corpsmembers shall not be entitled to any employee benefits provided to existing employees of the Department of Labor or other agencies except for paid state holidays and workers' compensation coverage which shall be provided through the funds appropriated to carry out this chapter, nor shall service as a corpsmember qualify an individual for benefits under the Arkansas Employment Security Law, 11-10-101 et seq.

(e) (1) The Department of Labor shall refer the names of corpsmembers who successfully complete their service in the corps to the Arkansas Employment Security Department for assistance in securing private-sector employment or for enrollment in additional job training programs.

(2) The Department of Labor may also provide the names of participants who successfully complete their service in the corps to private-sector employers requesting referrals, with the approval of the participant.