SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    HB 2374

            AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES,

                               FEBRUARY 24, 1992

Brief Description:  Providing funding for senior volunteer programs.

SPONSORS: 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

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

      Signed by Senators Roach, Chairman; L. Smith, Vice Chairman; Craswell, Stratton, and Talmadge.

Staff:  Richard Rodger (786‑7461)

Hearing Dates: February 24, 1992

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:

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 statewide projects.  Priorities for funds include education, tutoring, English as a second language, drug abuse prevention, housing and homelessness, and respite care.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

Effective Date:  Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on July 1, 1992.  Section 3 contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

TESTIMONY FOR:

Retired senior volunteer programs provide a valuable service to our communities.  The present funding results in a seven-fold savings to the state.  The Department of Community Development provides excellent technical assistance to these volunteer programs.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Representative Pete Kremen, prime sponsor; Chris Sullivan, Manager, Retired Senior Volunteer Program