HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 2745

BYRepresentatives McLean, Morris, Ballard, H. Myers, Hankins, Silver and Pruitt

Pertaining to volunteer programs.

House Committe on State Government

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (8)

      Signed by Representatives Todd, Chair; Anderson, Vice Chair; McLean, Ranking Republican Member; R. Fisher, R. King, Morris, O'Brien and Silver.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (1)

      Signed by Representative Hankins.

House Staff:Barbara McLain (786-7135)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 13, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Voluntarism/Community Service in Washington.  A number of state programs in Washington encourage and facilitate voluntarism and community service.  The Center for Voluntary Action was created in the Department of Community Development in 1982.  Assisted by a council of 21 members, the center co-sponsors training workshops for volunteer managers across the state, provides technical assistance on organizing volunteers, maintains a resource library, puts out a newsletter, and coordinates the Governor's Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service to recognize volunteer efforts.

Another effort is the Washington Service Corps, operated under the Employment Security Department.  The corps places 18 - 25 year old youth in full-time community service positions where they develop both necessary work skills and a sense of commitment to the communities they serve.

Community Service in Other States.  Several states have become quite active in their promotion of community service, particularly by students and youth.  Maryland was the first state to require all school districts to offer opportunities for community service.  Students receive credit for service under programs coordinated by the Maryland Student Service Alliance.

Federal Community Service Initiatives.  In 1989 over 20 bills were introduced in Congress dealing with national or youth service. One of the most comprehensive was a bill by Senator Kennedy entitled "The National and Community Service Act of 1989."  The act would have provided grants for school and higher education-based community service, created a Youth Service Corps and a National Service Demonstration Program, and established a national coordinating body.

SUMMARY:

Center for Voluntary Action.  The center is to provide information and training to community leaders to identify community goals that might be achieved through volunteer activities.  The center is also to sponsor recognition events for outstanding communities.  At least one annual recognition event sponsored by the center will include achievement awards for communities with particularly effective and active volunteer programs.  Communities are to be grouped by population in competing for the recognition. Emblems suitable for display on highway signs will accompany the awards.

Office for Citizen Service.   An Office for Citizen Service is created in the Department of Community Development (DCD).

In carrying out its mission to provide leadership, coordination, and assistance in fostering citizen service, the office has the following responsibilities:

(1)  Serve as a liaison and a networking resource in order to link volunteers with service opportunities and coordinate collaborative efforts between schools, community organizations, institutions of higher education, and businesses;

(2)  Cooperate with the Center for Voluntary Action in providing an information clearinghouse, developing ways to recognize and reward service, and serving as a broker for information resources, training, and technical assistance;

(3)  Develop a strategic plan to foster citizen service;

(4)  Initiate the following kinds of pilot projects:  (a)  service opportunities for students enrolled in institutions of higher education, either on a credit or non-credit basis; (b) integration of service into school curricula as an experiential learning tool; and (c)  utilization of seniors in citizen service;

(5)  Seek funding from outside sources and administer grant programs for citizen service programs should funds become available;

(6)  Recommend to the governor and the Legislature policies that encourage citizen service, and report to the governor and the Legislature each biennium on the progress of the office.

The office is to be advised and assisted by the Serve Washington Council.  The council is composed of 18 members.  Four members represent the following agencies and are appointed by the head of the appropriate agency:  the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Employment Security Department, and the Department of Social and Health Services.  These four members are each to be assigned to assist in the work of the office for at least two-tenths time. The governor also appoints a representative of the governor's office, and the speaker of the House and president of the Senate jointly appoint a legislator to the council.

These six members then appoint the remaining 12 members of the council, with members to represent various interests and interest groups.  Members serve a two-year term and are eligible for reappointment.

The council submits three names for the director of DCD to select a director of the Office for Citizen Service.

Serve Washington Pilot Program.  The Serve Washington Pilot Program is created to provide funds for education and full-time service projects for youth in the state.  Applications may be made to the Office for Citizen Service, which will grant funds to at least one project in each of the following areas:

(1)  A project that is part of a major school restructuring program.  The project may be a school under the "Schools for the Twenty-first Century" program;

(2)  A higher education service project;

(3)  A full-time service program for out-of-school use; and

(4)  A project conducted in collaboration with an existing public or private nonprofit agency.

The office, in cooperation with the superintendent of public instruction, will identify objectives for projects and develop outcome indicators to be used to assess program effectiveness.  The office will evaluate projects receiving grants and report to the education committees of the Senate and House by January 1, 1992. The pilot program expires January 10, 1992.

If specific funding for the Office for Citizen Service and the Serve Washington Pilot program is not included in the supplemental budget, then the provisions creating them are null and void.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 25, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Alex McLean, prime sponsor.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Groups and individuals can be recognized for outstanding service through the Governor's Awards, but it can be difficult for communities to gain recognition.  The bill would allow outstanding communities to compete for and receive an award.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.