FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1389

                                  C 238 L 88

BYHouse Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Nutley, J. Williams, Leonard, Sanders, Wineberry, Heavey, Anderson, Jacobsen, Valle, Nelson, Todd, Lux, Unsoeld and Ferguson)

Creating the emergency food and shelter program revolving account.

House Committe on Housing

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) oversees and funds the Emergency Food and Shelter Program.  The funds for this program are allocated by a national board.  The national board is chaired by FEMA, and consists of representatives from United Way, The Salvation Army, the National Council of Churches, Catholic Charities, the Council of Jewish Federations, and the Red Cross. Local boards manage the program at the local level.

The intent of the program is to meet emergency needs by supplementing the existing food and shelter assistance that persons may currently be receiving, as well as by helping those who are receiving no assistance.  One form of assistance is a one-time payment of rent for poor persons facing eviction.

There is usually a delay between the approval of the grant and the disbursement of the funds.  This gap often exists from October, which is the beginning of the federal fiscal year, through February or March.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Community Development is to make loans to local governments or organizations that have been approved to receive a grant from FEMA through the emergency food and shelter program.  The recipient of the department's loan will repay the loan when the federal funds are received.

The loans are to be issued by the department to cover the gap and meet the emergency service needs from October through March. The recipient will not be required to pay interest on the loan.

The department is to make rules to implement and administer the program.  Two hundred fifty thousand dollars is provided to the department for loans,  and the department is allocated $10,000 to implement and administer the program.  These appropriations are from the general fund.  The loan repayments by the recipients will be deposited in the general fund by the department.

The program will expire on June 30, 1989.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 97   0

      Senate    46     0 (Senate amended)

      House 94   0 (House concurred)

EFFECTIVE:June 9, 1988