HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 5581

             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):  Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Anderson, Murray, Pelz, McCaslin, McMullen, Moore, Craswell, Bailey, L. Smith and A. Smith).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Trade & Economic Development, April 4, 1991, DPA.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

TRADE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.  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 community 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 Amended 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 meet 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.

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

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.  However, the bill is null and void if not funded in the budget.

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 is provided.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Lieutenant Governor Joel Pritchard (supports); Ron Gibbs, Director, United Way, Washington State (supports); and Joby Winans, Department of Community Development (neutral).