HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1675

BYRepresentatives Bristow, Leonard, Day and Cooper

Appropriating funds for local community action agencies.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (6)

      Signed by Representatives Brekke, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Anderson, Leonard, Moyer and Sutherland.

House Staff:Jean Wessman (786-7132)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES FEBRUARY 3, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Currently operating and administrative expenses for programs that receive a portion of their funding through the federal Community Services Block Grant are limited to a maximum of fifteen percent from the total of all of their funding sources including federal and private sources.  The Department of Community Development, who passes the Block Grant monies through to the local agencies, is allowed to retain five percent of the federal money for administrative expenses. There is currently no state money provided for administrative and operating expenses of the actual programs run by the local community action agencies causing a reduction in funds actually available for delivery of services.

SUMMARY:

The sum of $980,000 is appropriated for administrative and operating expenses of the programs operated by the community action agencies that receive a portion of their funding from the Community Services Block Grant.  The Department of Community Development is allowed up to five percent of the appropriation in meeting the costs of its administrative overhead in delivering the funds to the local agencies.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 28, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Bristow, Prime Sponsor; Rick Allen, Washington State Association of Community Action Agencies; and John Shontz, Metropolitan Development Council.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The decrease in federal funds has made it increasingly difficult to meet the needs of low-income persons. The programs funded by the community action agencies do a wonderful job in the community and are very important.  We should assist in helping them to continue to serve low-income persons.  Community action agencies are often able to respond to a crisis more quickly than state bureaucracies.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.