S-0192.1
SENATE BILL 5265
State of Washington | 66th Legislature | 2019 Regular Session |
BySenators Zeiger, Hunt, Bailey, and Hawkins
AN ACT Relating to encouraging the role of volunteerism within state government; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that volunteers play an important role in enriching our communities. This is true not only for society at large, but also within state government specifically. Volunteering not only produces positive results for the recipients of the efforts, but for the volunteers themselves, who are rewarded with new life experiences and a greater connection to their community.
The legislature further finds while many individuals from the baby boomer generation are leaving the workforce, many are still seeking way ways to contribute and make a difference in their communities, and volunteering provides one such pathway.
Therefore, the legislature intends that a thorough review be conducted that examines the existing role of volunteering within state government and considers ways to increase and expand volunteer opportunities.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The joint legislative audit and review committee must conduct a review of volunteer opportunities within state government. The review must include:
(a) An inventory of existing state government volunteer programs. Agencies and programs that must be examined include, but are not limited to, the Washington state parks and recreation commission, the department of fish and wildlife, the Washington military department, state mental hospital programs, state developmental disability programs, and state litter clean-up programs;
(b) The costs and benefits of volunteer programs;
(c) The need for additional volunteers in existing programs;
(d) Additional agencies that could accommodate volunteers in the future; and
(e) Recommendations to encourage more volunteerism within state government.
(2) By December 31, 2019, the joint legislative audit and review committee must submit a report that presents information and findings from the review conducted under this section to the appropriate committees of the senate and house of representatives.
(3) This section expires December 31, 2019.
--- END ---