HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2374

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                       Human Services

Title:  An act relating to senior volunteers.

Brief Description:  Providing funding for senior volunteer programs.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Kremen, Chandler, McLean, Winsley, Basich, Wood, Rayburn, Vance, Mitchell, Betrozoff, Dellwo, Grant, Pruitt, Ebersole, Spanel, Zellinsky, Ballard, Tate, R. King, Peery, Jacobsen, Leonard, Cantwell, Jones, G. Fisher, R. Johnson, Riley, Wang, Moyer, Franklin, Morton, Edmondson, Paris, Roland, J. Kohl, Fuhrman, Ludwig, Bray, Brekke, May, H. Myers, Rasmussen, O'Brien and Sheldon.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, February 6, 1992, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Riley, Vice Chair; Winsley, Ranking Minority Member; Tate, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Anderson; Beck; Brekke; Hargrove; Hochstatter; R. King; and H. Myers.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background:  The number of senior citizens is expected to grow dramatically over the next 20 years.  Seniors who have spent a lifetime acquiring professional, occupational, and life skills, are a valuable resource for society. Current state programs for senior volunteers do not have a statutory framework for distributing funds to retired senior volunteer programs.

Summary of Bill:  The Department of Community Development will distribute appropriated funds to retired senior volunteer programs according to the following formula: 65 percent according to criteria determined by the department, up to 20 percent by competitive grant to establish new or expand existing programs, 10 percent for administration, and up to 5 percent for state-wide projects.  Priorities for funds include; education, tutoring, English as a second language, drug abuse prevention, housing and homelessness, and respite care.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  Retired senior volunteers provide many valuable services to their communities.  Retired senior volunteer programs should be increased and expanded.  The Department of Community Development should follow a funding formula when distributing funds to retired senior volunteer programs.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Arnold Livingston, Senior Citizens Lobby; Bob Williamson, Washington Association of Retired Senior Volunteer (RSVP) Directors; Pat Johnson, Grays Harbor RSVP Director; and Anne Yearsley, RSVP Volunteer.