S-3705               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6166

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Senators Newhouse, Hansen, Patrick, Bauer, Sutherland, Rasmussen, Lee, Johnson, Anderson, Conner, Kreidler, Wojahn, Amondson, Fleming and Bender

Prefiled with Secretary of the Senate 12/6/89.  Read first time 1/8/90 and referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

AN ACT Relating to senior volunteers; 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 finds that there is a growing number of citizens in the state over the age of sixty who have much to offer their fellow citizens and communities through volunteer service.  The legislature further finds that public programs for mental health, developmental disabilities, environmental protection, corrections, crime prevention, combatting drug abuse, respite care, helping at-risk youth, and housing the homeless, among others, are in need of volunteer assistance which seniors are uniquely qualified to provide.

          Therefore, the legislature intends to encourage the increased involvement of senior volunteers by providing funding throughout Washington to demonstrate the effectiveness of such programs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     (1) The sum of three hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the general fund to the department of community development.

          (2) The department is authorized to distribute those moneys to retired senior volunteer programs (RSVP) as follows:

          (a) Fifty-five percent of the moneys shall be distributed according to formulae and criteria to be determined by the department of community development and the RSVP directors association.

          (b) Twenty percent of the moneys shall be distributed by competitive grant process to develop RSVP projects in counties not presently served, or to expand existing RSVP services into counties not presently served.

          (c) Ten percent of the moneys shall be distributed by competitive grant process to match moneys for specific areas of program development to increase the services of RSVP.

          (d) Ten percent of the moneys may be used by the department of community development for administration of the grant process.

          (e) Up to five percent of the moneys may be used to support projects which will benefit RSVPs state-wide.

          (3) Grants under subsection (2) of this section shall give priority to programs in the areas of mental health, developmental disabilities, corrections, and respite care, and shall be distributed in accordance with the following:

          (a) None of the grant moneys may be used to displace any paid employee in the area being served.

          (b) Grants shall be made for programs that focus on:

          (i) Developing new roles for senior volunteers in nonprofit and public organizations with special emphasis on areas targeted in section 1 of this act.  The roles shall reflect the diversity of the local senior population and shall respect their life experiences;

          (ii) Increasing the expertise of volunteer managers and RSVP managers in the areas of communication, recruitment, motivation, and retention of today's over-sixty population;

          (iii) Increasing the number of senior citizens recruited, referred, and placed with nonprofit and public organizations; and

          (iv) Providing volunteer support such as:  Mileage to and from the volunteer assignment, recognition, and volunteer insurance.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     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 2, 1990.  The department of community development may immediately take such steps as are necessary to insure that this act is implemented promptly.