HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1904

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                Trade & Economic Development

Title:  An act relating to local community development.

Brief Description:  Creating the community partnership program.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Cantwell, Forner, Ferguson, Jacobsen, Zellinsky, Jones, Riley, Rasmussen and Paris.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Trade & Economic Development, March 5, 1991, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

TRADE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: That Substitute House Bill No. 1904 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Cantwell, Chair; Sheldon, Vice Chair; Forner, Ranking Minority Member; Betrozoff, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Ferguson; Kremen; Ludwig; Moyer; Rasmussen; Riley; and Roland.

Staff:  Charlie Gavigan  (786-7340).

Background:  Nonprofit community-based organizations are involved in the delivery of services to meet the social, housing, educational, health, training, and economic development needs of their local communities.  Some organizations focus on low income persons or persons with disabilities.  Others focus on the community generally.  Some community-based organizations facilitate partnerships between the public and private sectors to address community needs.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The community partnership program is created in the Department of Community Development.  A program director position is established to:  (1) solicit volunteer assistance; (2) work with other agencies that rely on community-based organizations for service delivery; (3) work with businesses interested in assisting community-based organizations; and (4) solicit resources from federal and private sources.

The program:  (1) acts as a clearinghouse, providing information and referral services to community-based organizations; (2) provides management training courses specifically designed for nonprofit managers, staff, and boards; (3) provides short-term direct assistance customized to met the management needs of individual organizations; (4) assists organizations in soliciting and managing volunteers; and (5) coordinates program activities with the state volunteer center and other state agencies, local service providers and other volunteer organizations.

Nonprofit community organizations may charge a fee for the services provided by the program.

The program is authorized to receive gifts, grants and endowments from any source. These funds will be deposited in the newly established community partnership program account. The director or the director's designee may authorize the disbursement of funds from the account.

The Community Partnership Advisory Committee is established.  Members of the committee are appointed by the governor.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The governor is given more flexibility regarding appointments to the Community Partnership Advisory Committee.  The appropriation is removed.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Appropriation:  Removed.

Testimony For:  Community-based organizations assist local communities in meeting their social and economic development needs.  Those organizations are generally small and largely volunteer and can be much more effective if technical and other assistance was provided.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Lieutenant Governor Joel Pritchard (supports); Sharon Foster, Council of Youth Agencies (supports); and Mike Dickerson, Washington Association for Community Economic Development (supports).