16 U.S.C. § 18G
Section 18g · Creation of program
This is the Volunteers in the Parks Act of 1969
Amended 2 times on record
Applied in 2 court decisions — leading case 819 F. Supp. 1 - Cook v. Babbitt (1993)
Most recently applied in Wildearth Guardians v. National Park Service (March 2011)
The Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter referred to as the Secretary) is authorized to recruit, train, and accept without regard to the civil service classification laws, rules, or regulations the services of individuals without compensation as volunteers for or in aid of interpretive functions, or other visitor services or activities in and related to areas administered by the Secretary through the National Park Service. In accepting such services of individuals or volunteers, the Secretary shall not permit the use of volunteers in hazardous duty or law enforcement work or in policymaking processes, or to displace any employee: Provided, That the services of individuals whom the Secretary determines are skilled in performing hazardous activities may be accepted.
Editorial notes U.S. Code · Office of the Law Revision Counsel
References in Text
The civil service classification laws, referred to in text, are set forth in chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Amendments
1984—Pub. L. 98–540 restricted the activities of volunteers except in the case of skilled individuals.
Short Title
Section 5 of Pub. L. 91–357, July 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 472, provided that: “This Act [enacting this subchapter] may be cited as the ‘Volunteers in the Parks Act of 1969’.”