HOUSE BILL REPORT

                      HB 2735

                     As Reported By House Committee on:

                              State Government

Title:  An act relating to the center for volunteerism and citizen service.

Brief Description:  Enhancing the duties of the center for voluntary action, which is renamed the center for volunteerism and citizen service act.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Ogden, Wood, Pruitt, Dellwo, Paris, Winsley, R. King, O'Brien, Ludwig, Jacobsen, Ferguson, Sheldon, Brekke and Anderson; by request of Department of Community Development.

Brief History:

   Reported by House Committee on:

State Government, February 5, 1992, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

STATE GOVERNMENT

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Anderson, Chair; Pruitt, Vice Chair; McLean, Ranking Minority Member; Bowman, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chandler; R. Fisher; Grant; Moyer; O'Brien; and Sheldon.

Staff:  Linda May (786-7135).

Background:  In 1982, the Legislature passed the Center for Voluntary Action Act.  In so doing, the Legislature expressed an intent to ensure that the state of Washington makes every appropriate effort to encourage citizens to be volunteers.  The Legislature gave the governor the authority to establish a statewide Center for Voluntary Action within the Department of Community Development.  The center's major task is to work in cooperation with individuals, local groups, and organizations throughout the state to further volunteer efforts.  The Legislature also created the Washington State Council on Voluntary Action to assist the governor and the center in furthering volunteer efforts.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The bill reworks the intent section prefacing the Legislature's enactment of the act.  The name of the center is changed to the Center for Volunteerism and Citizen Service.  The name of the council is changed to the Washington State Council on Volunteerism and Citizen Service.  The upper limit on council membership is increased from 21 to 25 members, and the governor is directed to consider a number of factors when making appointments to the council.  Both the center and the council are given the new duty of seeking additional funding sources to support, promote, and enhance the ethic of citizen service throughout the state.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute makes a spelling change from "voluntarism" to "volunteerism" and makes other technical corrections.  The substitute also rewords the section of the bill which refers to the factors the governor is to consider when making appointments to the council.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The profile of the typical volunteer has changed as times have changed; many are younger, or older, or are working people.  The federal government has recognized a new ethic of citizen service.  The new names for the center and the council and the expansion of the board will better represent the variety of people doing volunteer work today.  Also, the changes in the council and the new duties of the board and the council will help Washington compete for federal grants under the National and Community Service Act of 1990.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Representative Val Ogden, prime sponsor; Joby Winans, Department of Community Development; and Carol Marble, State Council on Voluntary Action (all in favor).