SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 1545

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

         Human Services & Corrections, March 26, 1997

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

Brief Description:  Regulating funding for domestic violence shelters.

Sponsors:  Representatives Sheahan, Costa, Tokuda, Cooper, Blalock, Keiser, Kenney, Conway, Lantz, Cole, Wolfe, O'Brien, Mason, Wood and Scott.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  3/26/97 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Long, Chair; Zarelli, Vice Chair; Franklin, Hargrove and Kohl.

Staff:  Kyle Thiessen (786-7754)

Background:  The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) administers funding for domestic violence shelters.  The grant money that 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 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 50 percent match requirement was imposed originally to encourage local involvement.  Now these programs are established with good local involvement.  However, the match requirement is difficult to meet because federal and state funding has increased.  Similar match requirements have been removed recently for other programs.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Sharon Case, WA State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (pro).