SENATE BILL REPORT

                 E2SHB 2882

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

        Human Services & Corrections, February 26, 1998

 

Title:  An act relating to providing technical assistance and training to agency personnel and state contractors.

 

Brief Description:  Providing technical assistance to agency personnel and state contractors.

 

Sponsors:  House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Clements, Dickerson, Backlund, Parlette, Gardner, Gombosky and Delvin).

 

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  2/25/98, 2/26/98 [DPA-WM].

Ways & Means:  2/27/98.

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

 

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

  Signed by Senators Long, Chair; Franklin, Hargrove and Schow.

 

Staff:  Richard Rodger (786-7461)

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

 

Staff:  Steve Jones (786-7440)

 

Background:  There are currently no funding sources dedicated to the provision of technical training for nonprofit entities who contract with state agencies for the provision of social services.

 

In addition, while state agency contract management training does currently occur through the Office of Financial Management, there are no statutory guidelines for this training.

 

Summary of Amended Bill:  A technical assistance fund administered by the Secretary of State is created for the benefit of nonprofit entities that provide human services to state agencies.  The moneys are disbursed in the form of training grants which are paid to a state or private training entity for the benefit of the nonprofit entity.  In order to qualify for technical assistance, the nonprofit entity must be recommended by a state agency, the State Auditor, or another appropriate party.  Repeated disbursements are to be limited.

 

The Secretary of State is required to convene a technical advisory committee which will make suggestions regarding agency grant recommendations and grant awards.  The advisory committee is also required to determine which categories of assistance shall be granted.  The advisory committee must include one representative of a nonprofit contractor.

 

The Secretary of State is required to report to the House of Representatives and the Senate after administering the mentoring grant program for one year.  The report must include a recommendation of whether the Secretary of State is the appropriate authority to administer the program, and if not, which state agency would be more appropriate.

 

The Office of Financial Management is also authorized to offer technical contract management assistance to state agencies.  Such costs may be charged to the agency which receives assistance.

 

The bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.

 

Amended Bill Compared to Second Substitute Bill:  The "mentoring grant" program is renamed as a "technical assistance grant" program.

 

The recommendation to provide a grant must indicate the need for assistance in:  (1) maintaining records, (2) complying with federal or state law, or (3) avoiding impediments to the proper use of funds.  The phrase "to continue operations" is removed from this list.  The recommendation to receive a grant need not include a statement regarding the "importance of the entity."

 

Legislative staff are removed from the list of persons who may serve on the technical advisory committee.  The "non-supplant" clause is clarified.  Other technical and clarifying amend­ments are made.

 

Appropriation:  None.

 

Fiscal Note:  Available.

 

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

 

Testimony For:  This bill will help nonprofit agencies who may be struggling to meet the requirements of state and federal laws or regulations.  The idea is to provide early assistance to the valuable agencies and assist them in avoiding complex audits or failure of the enterprise.  Improved management techniques and other assistance will allow small nonprofit organizations to compete for state contracts.  As a result, service delivery will be improved.  This issue will be studied to ensure that the Secretary of State=s office is the appropriate agency to operate the grant program.

 

Testimony Against:  None.

 

Testified:  Rep. Clements (prime sponsor); Tracy Guerin, Asst. Secretary of State (pro); Linda Long, Deputy State Auditor (pro); Margaret Casey, Washington State Catholic Conference (pro).