SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1782

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Ways & Means, April 11, 2003

Title: An act relating to capital projects for local nonprofit youth organizations.

Brief Description: Creating a competitive grant program for nonprofit youth organizations.

Sponsors: House Committee on Capital Budget (originally sponsored by Representatives McCoy, Alexander, Dunshee, Bush, Murray, Jarrett, McIntire, Priest, Veloria, Lantz, Eickmeyer, Upthegrove, Kagi, Conway, Kenney, Darneille, Wood, Lovick, Santos, Simpson, Hudgins and Edwards).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 4/10/03, 4/11/03 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Rossi, Chair; Hewitt, Vice Chair; Zarelli, Vice Chair; Brown, Doumit, Fraser, Hale, Johnson, Parlette, Regala, Roach, Sheahan, B. Sheldon and Winsley.

Staff: David Schumacher (786-7474)

Background: Washington has traditionally provided capital facilities support to local governments and other entities through a variety of competitive grant and loan programs. Examples of such programs funded through the state's capital budget include: the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program; the Public Works Trust Fund; the Housing Trust Fund; the Heritage program; and the Building for the Arts program.

In the 1997 legislative session, a competitive grant program called the Community Services Facilities Program (CSFP) was established in statute for nonresidential capital projects for social service organizations. The program is administered by the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED) to assist nonprofit organizations in acquiring, constructing, or rehabilitating facilities used for the delivery of nonresidential social services. Individual nonprofit youth organizations have received funding through the CSFP in prior biennia.

Summary of Bill: CTED is directed to establish a process for soliciting and prioritizing projects that assist nonprofit youth organizations in acquiring, constructing, or rehabilitating facilities used for the delivery of nonresidential services, excluding outdoor athletic fields. Eligible projects must have a major recreational component, and must have an educational or social service component.

CTED must evaluate and rank project applications in consultation with a citizen advisory committee and submit a prioritized list of recommended projects to the Governor and the Legislature in its biennial capital budget request beginning with the 2005-07 biennium. Capital budget requests for the program must not exceed $2 million in any biennium and a $500,000 alternate list of projects is permitted.

State assistance is limited to up to 25 percent of the total project cost. The nonstate portion of the total project cost may include cash, the value of real property when acquired solely for the purpose of the project, and in-kind contributions.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For: This is a wonderful bill for the kids of this state. It will provide seed money for private donations. It will help boys and girls clubs, scouts and other programs.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Rep. McCoy, prime sponsor; Steve Wehrly, Boys and Girls Clubs.