HB 2550-S.E - DIGEST

(AS OF HOUSE 2ND READING 2/11/04)

Requires the secretary to designate a person within each of the department's administrative regions to serve as a liaison for community-based and faith-based social services organizations that do not receive funding directly from the state. The liaison shall be available to such organizations for the purpose of: (1) Providing information as it relates to opportunities for such organizations to cooperate with the department in providing community services throughout the state;

(2) Identifying areas of need that are not currently being met in the state that community-based and faith-based social services organizations that do not receive funding directly from the state may provide;

(3) Coordinating efforts to promote involvement of community-based and faith-based social service organizations in providing community services.

Requires the secretary to include provisions in its contracts indicating that community-based and faith-based social services organizations that receive funds from the department must not: (1) Engage in discrimination that denies service to a potential client on the basis of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, national origin, creed, religion, or presence of a disability; or

(2) Engage in activities that promote conversion to a particular faith, institution, or cause, unless participation in those activities is voluntary.

Provides that, by January 1, 2005, and annually for the four years thereafter, the department shall report to the appropriate committees of the legislature on the activities of the liaisons, including identification of the community-based and faith-based organizations served.