HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 6181

             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):  Senators Newhouse, Rasmussen, Anderson, Nelson, McDonald, Talmadge, Wojahn, Hayner, Thorsness, Sellar, Murray, Snyder, M. Kreidler, Patterson, Johnson, Craswell, Amondson, Bauer, McMullen, Oke, L. Smith and Erwin.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, February 26, 1992, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Riley, Vice Chair; Winsley, Ranking Minority Member; Tate, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Beck; 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:  This bill takes effect July 1, 1992, except for section 3, relating to prompt implementation, which takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  A funding allocation formula for retired senior volunteer programs will help the Department of Community Development support existing and create new programs.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Arnold Livingston, Senior Citizens Lobby; and Dan Casey, Retired Senior Volunteer Program.