AN ACT Relating to community mobilization against substance abuse; creating a new chapter in Title 43 RCW; creating a new section; 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 legislature recognizes that state-wide efforts aimed at reducing the incidence of substance abuse must be increased. The legislature further recognizes that the most effective strategy for reducing the impact of alcohol and other drug abuse is through the collaborative efforts of educators, law enforcement, local government officials, local treatment providers, and concerned community and citizens' groups.

The legislature intends to support the development and activities of community mobilization strategies against substance abuse through the following efforts:

(1) Provide funding support for prevention, treatment, and enforcement activities identified by communities that have brought together education, treatment, local government, law enforcement, and other key elements of the community;

(2) Provide technical assistance and support to help communities develop and carry out effective activities;

(3) Provide communities with opportunities to share suggestions for state program operations and budget priorities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) A grant program for the purpose of community mobilization against substance abuse is established in the office of the governor. The governor shall develop a process for communities to apply for funds as enumerated in sections 3 and 4 of this act and shall develop criteria for the selection and approval of grant requests.

(2) At a minimum, grant applications shall include the following information:

(a) Definition of the community's geographic area;

(b) Impact and extent of substance abuse in the community;

(c) Evidence of active participation in preparation of the proposal and specific commitments to implementing the community-wide agenda by leadership from at least education, law enforcement, local government, tribal government, and treatment entities in the community, and the opportunity for meaningful involvement from other interested leaders such as neighborhood and citizen groups, businesses, human service, health and job training organizations, and other key elements of the community;

(d) Identification of a community-wide strategy for prevention, treatment, and enforcement activities related to substance abuse;

(e) Identification of existing prevention, treatment, and law enforcement resources in the community, including financial and other support provided;

(f) Identification of activities requiring additional or new funding that address gaps in existing community resources;

(g) Priority of the specific proposal requiring funds within the overall community strategy for combatting substance abuse;

(h) Identification of a fiscal agent meeting state requirements.

(3) Grants may be awarded to those proposals demonstrating both feasibility and a rationale for achieving measurable results in:

(a) Reduction of substance abuse in high incidence areas;

(b) Exemplary coordination of activities;

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Beginning October 1, 1989, the governor shall, subject to money being appropriated by the legislature for this purpose, distribute to communities throughout the state, grants to support coordinated community mobilization strategies that will reduce substance abuse. No more than fifty percent of funds appropriated for this purpose are intended to be awarded on a per capita basis and no less than fifty percent through a competitive application process. Initial applications to participate in this program shall be submitted to the office of the governor no later than July 15, 1989.

Per capita allocations, based on the population of the county in which chosen applicants are located, shall be issued only to those projects or programs identified through a county-wide process that includes representatives of education, treatment providers, law enforcement, and local government. Funds not awarded on a per capita basis shall be distributed through the competitive application process.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Beginning July 1, 1990, the governor shall, subject to money being appropriated by the legislature for this purpose, distribute to communities throughout the state, grants to provide opportunities for the maximum coordination of local and state resources to combat substance abuse. No more than fifty percent of funds appropriated for this purpose are intended to be awarded on a per capita basis and no less than fifty percent through a competitive application process. Initial applications to participate in this program shall be submitted to the office of the governor no later than May 1, 1990.

Per capita allocations, based on the population of the county in which selected applicants are located, shall be issued only to those projects or programs identified through a county-wide process that includes representatives of education, treatment providers, law enforcement, and local government. Funds not awarded on a per capita basis shall be distributed through the competitive application process.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The governor may receive such gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources as may be made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of this act and spend the same or any income from them according to the terms of the gifts, grants, or endowments.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The sum of forty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated to the governor's office from the general fund for the biennium ending June 30, 1989, to provide technical assistance to communities in meeting the conditions of grant applications under this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Sections 1 through 6 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The governor shall report to the legislature by January 1, 1991, regarding the operations of the grant program authorized in section 2 of this act. At a minimum, the report shall include the following:

(1) Number of grants awarded and the amount of each grant;

(2) Recipients of grants, including the communities in which they are based;

(3) Purposes for which the grants were awarded;

(4) Success of the projects in achieving their stated goals and objectives;

(5) Recommendations for further funding by the state; and

(6) Recommendations regarding future operations of the program, including criteria for awarding grants.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect April 1, 1989.