AN ACT
Relating to the center for volunteerism and citizen service; and amending RCW
43.150.010, 43.150.020, 43.150.030, 43.150.040, 43.150.050, 43.150.060, and
43.150.070.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE
OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec.
1. RCW
43.150.010 and 1982 1st ex.s. c 11 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
The legislature finds that:
(a)
Large numbers of Washington's citizens are actively engaged in carrying
forward the ethic of service and voluntary activities that benefit their
citizens, their communities, and the entire state;
(b) ((Volunteers,
working on their own and with agencies and organizations, are involved in the
development and enhancement of all areas of community service and activity;
(c)
The)) This contribution ((thus made)) continues
to provide((s)) the equivalent of hundreds of millions of dollars in
services that might otherwise create a need for additional tax collections;
(((d)
The state itself, through the programs and services of its agencies as well as
through the provisions of law and rule-making, has a substantial impact on
volunteer efforts and programs;
(e)
Public and private agencies depend in large measure on the efforts of
volunteers for the accomplishment of their missions and actively seek to
increase these efforts;
(f)
Business, industry, and labor in Washington state are increasingly interested
in opportunities for community service;
(g)
Many needs remain which could and should be met by volunteers working on their
own and through local and state-wide organizations, both governmental and
private, nonprofit agencies;
(h)
Many Washington citizens have yet to become fully involved in the life of their
communities;
(i)
The opportunity exists to encourage greater and more effective involvement of
volunteers in the provision of needed community services; and
(j)
Planned and coordinated recognition, information, training, and technical
assistance for volunteer efforts through a state-wide center for voluntary
action have been proven to be effective means of multiplying the resources
volunteers bring to the needs of their communities.))
(c)
Many Washington citizens have yet to become fully involved in the life of their
communities; many societal needs exist that could and should be met by new
citizen service initiatives;
(d)
The state of Washington needs to continue to encourage and expand the ethic of
civic responsibility among its citizenry, through individuals working on their
own, and through local and state-wide organizations, both governmental and
private and nonprofit agencies;
(e)
This ethic of citizen service benefits those who serve and those who receive
services; in both cases there is the betterment of all Washington communities;
(f)
Public and private agencies depend in large measure on the efforts of
volunteers for the accomplishment of their missions and actively seek to
increase these efforts;
(g)
State agencies can and should extend their service delivery programs through
the increased use of and support for volunteers;
(h)
The national and community service act of 1990 provides an opportunity for
Washington to support citizen service and volunteer activities in Washington;
(i)
Business, industry, communities, schools, and labor in Washington state are
increasingly interested in opportunities for community service and in
developing the volunteer and service ethic;
(j)
While providing both tangible and intangible benefits, volunteers in turn need
respect and support for their efforts;
(k)
The state itself, through the programs and services of its agencies as well as
through the provisions of law and rulemaking, can and should provide a primary
role and focus for encouraging the ethic of citizen service and support for
volunteer efforts and programs;
(l)
Planned and coordinated recognition, information, training, and technical
assistance for volunteer and citizen service efforts through a state-wide
center for voluntary action have been proven to be effective means of
multiplying the resources volunteers bring to the needs of their communities;
and
(m)
It is important that Washington state position itself to raise volunteerism to
the highest attainable levels, and along with the private sector, become a
voice in the role citizen service will take in providing solutions to societal
needs.
(2)
Therefore, the legislature, in recognition of these findings, enacts the center
for ((Voluntary Action)) volunteerism and citizen service act to
ensure that the state of Washington actively promotes the ethic of service
and makes every appropriate effort to encourage effective involvement of
individuals in their communities and of volunteers who supplement the services
of private, nonprofit community agencies and organizations, agencies of local
government throughout the state, and the state government.
Sec.
2. RCW
43.150.020 and 1982 1st ex.s. c 11 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
This
chapter may be known and cited as the center for
((Voluntary Action)) volunteerism and citizen service act.
Sec.
3. RCW
43.150.030 and 1982 1st ex.s. c 11 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
Unless
the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1)
"Volunteer" means a person who is willing to work without expectation
of salary or financial reward and who chooses where he or she provides services
and the type of services he or she provides.
(2)
"Center" means the state center for ((voluntary action)) volunteerism
and citizen service.
(3)
"Council" means the Washington state council on ((voluntary action))
volunteerism and citizen service.
Sec.
4. RCW
43.150.040 and 1985 c 6 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
The
governor may establish a state-wide center for ((voluntary action)) volunteerism
and citizen service within the department of community development and
appoint ((a coordinator)) an executive administrator, who may
employ such staff as necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The
provisions of chapter 41.06 RCW do not apply to the ((coordinator)) executive
administrator and the staff.
Sec.
5. RCW
43.150.050 and 1988 c 206 s 301 are each amended to read as follows:
The
center, working in cooperation with individuals, local groups, and
organizations throughout the state, may undertake any program or activity for
which funds are available which furthers the goals of this chapter. These
programs and activities may include, but are not limited to:
(1)
Providing information about programs, activities, and resources of value to
volunteers and to organizations operating or planning volunteer or citizen
service programs;
(2)
Sponsoring recognition events for outstanding individuals and organizations;
(3)
Facilitating the involvement of business, industry, government, and labor in
community service and betterment;
(4)
Organizing, or assisting in the organization of, training workshops and
conferences;
(5)
Publishing schedules of significant events, lists of published materials,
accounts of successful programs and programming techniques, and other
information concerning the field of volunteerism and citizen service,
and distributing this information broadly;
(6)
Reviewing the laws and rules of the state of Washington, and proposed changes
therein, to determine their impact on the success of volunteer activities and
programs, and recommending such changes as seem appropriate to ensure the
achievement of the goals of this chapter;
(7) Seeking
funding sources for enhancing, promoting, and supporting the ethic of service
and facilitating or providing information to those organizations and agencies
which may benefit;
(8)
Providing information about agencies and individuals who are working to prevent
the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus, as defined in chapter 70.24
RCW, and to agencies and individuals who are working to provide health and
social services to persons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, as defined
in chapter 70.24 RCW.
Sec.
6. RCW
43.150.060 and 1987 c 505 s 39 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
There is created the Washington state council on ((voluntary action)) volunteerism
and citizen service to assist the governor and the center in the
accomplishment of its mission.
(2) ((Giving
due consideration to geographic representation,)) The governor shall
appoint the members of the council as provided in this section. In making
appointments to the council, the governor shall give due consideration to
geographic, age, and ethnic representation. The governor shall also consider
individuals involved in citizen service from private and public nonprofit
organizations, state and local government, labor organizations and the business
community, and educational institutions, as well as youth and low-income
individuals who are involved in citizen service.
(3)
The governor shall appoint a chair for the council.
(4)
The advisory council shall have an odd number of members, including its chair,
appointed or reappointed for three-year terms, with a total membership of no
less than fifteen and no more than ((twenty-one)) twenty-five.
(5)
Members of the council shall upon request be reimbursed for travel expenses as
provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
(6)
The council and its members shall:
(a)
Advise the governor as the governor may request and direct;
(b)
Propose, review, and evaluate activities and programs of the center and, to the
degree practical, advocate decentralization of the center's activities,
facilitate but not require or hinder existing local volunteer services, and not
advocate the replacement of needed paid staff with volunteers; ((and))
(c) Seek
additional funding sources, particularly federal grants if appropriate, that
will support, promote, and enhance the ethic of citizen service throughout the
state; and
(d)
Represent the governor and the center on such occasions and in such manner as
the governor may from time to time provide.
Sec.
7. RCW
43.150.070 and 1982 1st ex.s. c 11 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
The center may receive such gifts, grants, and endowments from private or
public sources as may be made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, for the
use and benefit of the purpose of the center and expend the same or any income
therefrom according to the terms of the gifts, grants, or endowments. The
center may charge reasonable fees, or other appropriate charges, for attendance
at workshops and conferences, for various publications and other materials
which it is authorized to prepare and distribute for the purpose of defraying
all or part of the costs of those activities and materials.
(2) A
fund known as the voluntary action center fund is created, which consists of
all gifts, grants, and endowments, fees, and other revenues received pursuant to
this chapter. The state treasurer is the custodian of the fund. Disbursements
from the fund shall be on authorization of the ((coordinator)) executive
administrator of the center or the ((coordinator's)) administrator's
designee, and may be made for the following purposes to enhance the
capabilities of the center's activities, such as: (a) Reimbursement of center
volunteers for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060; (b)
publication and distribution of materials involving volunteerism and citizen
service; (c) for other purposes designated in gifts, grants, or endowments
consistent with the purposes of this chapter. The fund is subject to the
allotment procedure provided under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is
required for disbursements.
