HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1545

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to funding for domestic violence shelters.

Brief Description:  Regulating funding for domestic violence shelters.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by  Representatives Sheahan, Costa, Tokuda, Cooper, Blalock, Keiser, Kenney, Conway, Lantz, Cole, Wolfe, O'Brien, Mason, Wood and Scott).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Law & Justice:  2/27/97, 3/5/97 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/12/97, 97‑0.

Passed Legislature.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Sheahan, Chairman; McDonald, Vice Chairman; Sterk, Vice Chairman; Costa, Ranking Minority Member; Constantine, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Carrell; Cody; Kenney; Lambert; Lantz; Radcliff; Sherstad and Skinner.

Staff:  Bill Perry (786-7123).

Background:  The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) administers funding for domestic violence shelters.  The grant money that the DSHS provides for these shelters may come from a variety of sources, including appropriated state money and federal money.  One of the grant requirements for the DSHS administered funding is a 50 percent local match.

The 50 percent local match may be from either a public or private source and may consist of money or in-kind contributions.

Summary of Bill:  The 50 percent local match requirement for domestic violence shelter grants is eliminated.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The original purpose for the match requirement was to generate local support.  That support has been demonstrated.  Now the requirement is actually jeopardizing some funding.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Mary Pontarolo, Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (pro).