FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1491

PARTIAL VETO

                                  C 156 L 90

BYRepresentatives Leonard, Schoon, Moyer, Prentice, Anderson, Raiter, Hine, Wineberry, Todd, Vekich, Cooper, Brekke, Jacobsen, Nelson, R. King, Pruitt, Sayan, Spanel, Basich and Rasmussen

Redefining the role of the community action agency network.

House Committe on Human Services

Senate Committee on Children & Family Services

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

Prior to 1981, federal grants for services to low-income, elderly, and disabled people went directly to community action agencies, defined under federal law, to provide locally determined services.  After 1981, the distribution of those anti-poverty funds was changed to community service block grants to the states.

There is no statutory recognition of the role of the 31 community action agencies in the state, nor is there a statutory determination of how or by whom federal community block grants should be disbursed.

SUMMARY:

The community action agency network is recognized as a delivery system for federal and state anti-poverty programs in the state.  Local community action agencies, and their service areas, must be designated in the state/federal community service block grant plan that is developed by the Department of Community Development.

A community action agency is defined as an office that is either a political subdivision of the state, or a local organization qualifying under federal law as non-profit.  Non-profit organizations must be governed by a community action board consisting of between nine and 33 members, with one-third being public officials, one-third representing the poor, and the remainder from the community at large.

The powers of the governing board include the appointment of the executive director, approval of the budget, contracting and operational affairs, and program evaluation and audit.

A public community action agency must have the program administered by the community action board, which is accountable to its governing public agency.  The duties of the administrative board include review and consultation on development of program policy, consultation on appointment of the director, monitoring and evaluation of programs; and accountability, with assurances against discrimination.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 95   0

      Senate    44     0

EFFECTIVE:June 7, 1990

Partial Veto Summary:  The section of the bill was vetoed that defined community action agency, specified the organization and powers of community action boards, and required local community action agencies to have such boards to control the administration of federal and state anti-poverty funds disbursed by state agencies.  (See VETO MESSAGE)