SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5581

            AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, MARCH 7, 1991

Brief Description:  Creating the community partnership program.

SPONSORS:Senators Anderson, Murray, Pelz, McCaslin, McMullen, Moore, Craswell, Bailey, L. Smith and A. Smith.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Matson, Chairman; Anderson, Vice Chairman; McCaslin, McDonald, McMullen, Moore, and Skratek.

Staff:  Traci Anderson (786‑7452)

Hearing Dates:February 18, 1991; February 19, 1991

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5581 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Bluechel, Cantu, Hayner, Johnson, Matson, Metcalf, Newhouse, Saling, L. Smith, and West. 

Staff:  Mary Poole (786-7715)

Hearing Dates:March 6, 1991; March 7, 1991

BACKGROUND:

Nonprofit community-based organizations are increasingly involved in the delivery of services that meet the social, educational, health, training and community development needs of their local communities.  In addition, there has been tremendous growth in the formation of partnerships between these organizations and private sector and public sector agencies.  The "Partners In Public Education" (PIPE) program in Seattle couples businesses and public agencies with local schools to provide tutoring and other services.  The Portland Investment, created by the Portland Leaders Roundtable, brings together public agencies and private companies like U.S. Bancorp to work collaboratively on youth unemployment issues.

It has been reported that new community organizations are often in need of short term assistance to help them build their capacity to efficiently and effectively provide services to the community.  This assistance can help organizations to expand the vision of their boards, improve the expertise of their staff, and widen their resource base.  State agencies working with community organizations are currently able to offer this type of assistance on a limited basis.

SUMMARY:

The community partnership program is established within the Department of Community Development.  The program director has the following responsibilities:  solicit volunteer assistance; work with other agencies which rely on community-based organizations for service delivery; work with businesses interested in working with community-based organizations; and solicit resources from federal and private sources.

The program offers the following services to community-based organizations:  acts as a clearinghouse, providing information and referral services to community-based organizations; provides management training courses specifically designed for nonprofit managers, staff and boards; provides short-term direct assistance customized to meet the management needs of individual organizations; assists organizations in soliciting and managing volunteers; and coordinates program activities with the state volunteer center, other state agencies, local service providers and other volunteer organizations.

Nonprofit community organizations may be charged a fee for the services provided by the program.  Fees may be based on a sliding fee scale.

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 include: the Lieutenant Governor, the managing director of the program, two representatives from nonprofit organizations, and two representatives from local government agencies. 

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The appropriation of $500,000 is removed and the standard null and void clause is added, making the bill contingent on funding in the budget.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR (Commerce & Labor):

Nonprofit community-based organizations are meeting critical social, educational, and community development needs all over the state of Washington.  These organizations are doing a fine job, but more assistance is needed from the private sector, particularly small business, and state and federal agencies.  These organizations need more than just monetary assistance.  Many of the organizations are in need of technical assistance which will help them increase their expertise in managing and training staff and volunteers, developing sound financial management policies, developing grant proposals, and so forth.  When the private sector feels that the dollars spent by community organizations are being spent well, they will be more willing to give money and other support to such organizations.

TESTIMONY AGAINST (Commerce & Labor):  None

TESTIFIED (Commerce & Labor):  PRO:  Joel Pritchard, Lieutenant Governor; Chuck Clarke, Director, Department of Community Development; Mike Ryherd, Human Resource Roundtable; Michael Dickerson, Executive Director, WACED; Paula Gooding, Metro-Center YMCA; Renee Bellinger, Private Industry Council; Sharon Foster, YMCA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts; Michael Doctor, Rehabilitation Services

TESTIMONY FOR (Ways & Means):

Many locally based organizations are in need of technical assistance and training which will help them raise money and train and retrain volunteers.

TESTIMONY AGAINST (Ways & Means):  None

TESTIFIED (Ways & Means):  Senator Anderson, prime sponsor (pro)