SENATE BILL REPORT

                           SHB 1969

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, APRIL 2, 1993

Brief Description:  Creating the "Washington serves" voluntary service program.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Trade, Economic Development & Housing (originally sponsored by Representatives Wang, Locke, Silver, Wineberry, Sommers, Forner, Kremen, Jones, Springer, Patterson, Ogden and J. Kohl)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & HOUSING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

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

     Signed by Senators Haugen, Chairman; Drew, Vice Chairman; Loveland, Oke, Owen, and Winsley.

Staff:  Katie Healy (786‑7784)

Hearing Dates: March 31, 1993; April 2, 1993

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Staff:  Mary Poole (786-7613)

Hearing Dates: April 5, 1993

BACKGROUND:

The Washington Services Corps Program, created in 1983, is administered by the Department of Employment Security (ESD).  The purpose of the program is to provide service opportunities and meaningful work experience to young adults between the ages of 18 and 25.

Budget constraints on communities and nonprofit organizations have led to a reduction of services at a time of increasing demand.  Use of volunteers on a fulltime basis and including people over the age of 25 would allow organizations to continue to deliver services while giving a volunteer a meaningful work experience.

SUMMARY:

The Washington Serves Program is created in ESD.  The program provides fulltime community service opportunities to people over the age of 21.  The program is coordinated with all other federal or state funded volunteer service programs to maximize benefits to the volunteers and the community.

ESD may recruit, train, place, and evaluate applicants wishing to participate in the program.  ESD is authorized to enter into agreements or contracts with governmental or private nonprofit organizations wanting a placement of a volunteer.

Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and a Washington resident, agree to serve for a period of one year (but may serve for a period of less than one year if ESD approves), and committed to providing fulltime service to the community.  Volunteers may reapply to serve for an additional period not to exceed two years. 

Program applicants may be placed with any public or private nonprofit organization, program, or project that qualifies under the program, working on projects that benefit the community or state at large.  Volunteers may be provided benefits for participation in the program, such as a monthly subsistence allowance as determined by ESD, post service stipend based on the number of months of service, and state medical aid coverage.

Volunteers cannot be used to displace or partially displace existing workers.  Volunteers placed in participating agencies are not eligible for unemployment compensation coverage.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

This new program is complimentary to the Washington Service Corps, and is focused on college students and retirees.  In the existing program, student loans cannot be deferred.  The age group of volunteers is older.  This program has aspects similar to VISTA.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Representative Wang, original sponsor; Bill Basl, Employment Security Department, Washington Service Corps