HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 1491

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

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment.  (9)

      Signed by Representatives Bristow, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Moyer, Ranking Republican Member; Tate, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Anderson, Brekke, Hargrove, Leonard and Raiter.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (1)

      Signed by Representative Padden.

House Staff:John Welsh (786-7133)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 2, 1990

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.  Afterwards, the distribution of those anti-poverty funds was changed to community service block grants to the states.

Currently there is no statutory recognition of the role of the thirty one community action agencies in the state, nor 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, shall 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 which is either a political subdivision of the state, or a local organization qualifying under federal law as non-profit.  Non-profit organizations must have a governing board of between nine and thirty-three 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 board accountable to its governing body.  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.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Leonard; Paul Youmans, Washington Association of Community Action Agencies; Chuck Sauvage, Washington Association of Community Action Agencies.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    There is no recognition in state law for important community organizations that implement federal anti-poverty programs at the local level. There is a need to establish a uniform structure and roles for these local programs.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.