AN ACT Relating to food banks; adding a new chapter to Title 70 RCW; making an appropriation; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The purpose of this chapter is to increase the availability of supplemental foodstuffs to the hungry. To that end, this chapter establishes an emergency food program for the hungry under which the department shall provide financial aid to nonprofit community-based emergency food distributors to assist in meeting the needs of the hungry.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. As used in this chapter:

(1) "Food bank" means a facility which provides food to the hungry on an emergency basis;

(2) "Food distributor" means a facility which is specifically created to collect, warehouse, and distribute food to food banks;

(3) "Department" means the department of community development; and

(4) "Director" means the director of the department of community development.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Within the limits of appropriated funds, the director shall make annual grants to public or private nonprofit entities operating food banks or food distribution programs. The grants shall be in addition to any federal or local assistance otherwise available to these public or private nonprofit entities, and shall be used only to operate food banks and food distribution programs for the hungry. These public or private nonprofit entities may not receive funds under this chapter if they fail or refuse to provide emergency food on the basis of any individual's inability to pay.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The director shall accept applications from public or private nonprofit entities operating food banks or food distribution programs for grants under this chapter and shall award grants annually, taking into consideration at least the following factors:

(1) The unmet need for emergency supplemental food in the geographic area served by each applicant;

(2) The past performance of each applicant in providing emergency services;

(3) An equitable distribution based on need of emergency supplemental food;

(4) The extent of current and prospective community support for each applicant, including consideration of funding, or in-kind support provided from local tax revenue, or private charitable contributions; and

(5) The number and percentage of indigent clients served by the food bank or food distribution program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Annual grants to public or private nonprofit entities under this chapter shall be used for the purchase and distribution of food. For purposes of this section, up to fifteen percent of the grant may be applied to the operating cost of the food bank or food distribution program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The director shall award no less than forty percent of the annual grants under this chapter to food distribution programs and no less than sixty percent of the grants to food banks.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Each applicant for assistance under this chapter shall include the following information:

(1) A description of the geographic area being served by the food bank or food distribution program, the economic status of its population, the existing resources to provide emergency supplemental food to the population, and the nature and extent of hunger.

(2) A description of the role played by the applicant program in meeting the need for emergency supplemental food in its service area;

(3) A description of any formal or informal operating agreements the program has or will have with any charitable or emergency service entity to provide emergency foodstuffs in its service area; and

(4) A copy of the agency's operating budget for the current and preceding fiscal year, including identification of current and prospective funding from federal, state, and local sources and private charitable contributions.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. For the purpose of auditing the expenditure of state funds and assuring the use of state funds for the purposes defined in this chapter, the department may have access to the books and records of the programs receiving grants under this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. Sections 1 through 8 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 70 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. There is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1987, from the general fund to the department of community development the sum of five million dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to carry out the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1985.