HOUSE BILL REPORT

                E2SHB 2882

                      As Passed House:

                      February 13, 1998

Title:  An act relating to providing technical assistance and training to agency personnel and state contractors.

Brief Description:  Providing technical assistance to agency personnel and state contractors.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Clements, Dickerson, Backlund, Parlette, Gardner, Gombosky and Delvin).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Vendor Contracting & Services:  1/27/98, 2/3/98 [DPS];

Government Administration:  2/5/98 [DPS(SVC)];

Appropriations:  2/7/98 [DP2S(w/o sub SVC)].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/13/98, 98-0.

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON VENDOR CONTRACTING & SERVICES

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 7 members:  Representatives Clements, Chairman; Backlund; Delvin; Dickerson; Gardner; Gombosky and Parlette.

Staff:  Josh Weiss (786-7292).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill by Committee on Select Vendor Committee be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives D. Schmidt, Chairman; D. Sommers, Vice Chairman; Scott, Ranking Minority Member; Gardner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Doumit; Dunn; Dunshee; Murray; Reams; L. Thomas; Wensman and Wolfe.

Staff:  Josh Weiss (786-7292).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass and do not pass the substitute bill by Select Committee on Vendor Contracting & Services.  Signed by 29 members:  Representatives Huff, Chairman; Alexander, Vice Chairman; Clements, Vice Chairman; Wensman, Vice Chairman; H. Sommers, Ranking Minority Member; Doumit, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Gombosky, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Benson; Carlson; Chopp; Cody; Cooke; Crouse; Grant; Keiser; Kenney; Kessler; Lambert; Lisk; Mastin; McMorris; Parlette; Poulsen; Regala; D. Schmidt; Sehlin; Sheahan; Talcott and Tokuda.

Staff:  Joe Hauth (786-7271).

Background:  There are currently no funding sources dedicated to the provision of technical training for nonprofit entities who contract with state agencies for the provision of social services.

In addition, while state agency contract management training does currently occur through the Office of Financial Management, there are no statutory guidelines for this training. 

Summary of Bill:  A mentoring fund administered by the Secretary of State is created for the benefit of nonprofit entities who provide human services to state agencies.  The moneys are disbursed in the form of training grants which are paid to any state or private training entity for the benefit of the nonprofit entity.  In order to qualify for mentoring, the nonprofit entity must be recommended by a state agency, the state auditor, or another appropriate party.  Repeated disbursements are to be limited. 

The Secretary of State is required to convene a technical advisory committee which will make suggestions regarding agency grant recommendations and grant awards.  The advisory committee is also required to determine which categories of assistance shall be granted.  The advisory committee must include one representative of a nonprofit contractor, and may include legislative staff. 

The Secretary of State is required to report to the House of Representatives and the Senate after administering the mentoring grant program for one year.  The report must include a recommendation of whether the Secretary of State is the appropriate authority to administer the program, and if not, which state agency would be more appropriate. 

The bill additionally authorizes the Office of Financial Management to offer technical contract management assistance to state agencies.  Such costs are charged to the agency which receives assistance.

The bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.

Appropriation:  The sum of $194,000 is appropriated to the Office of the Secretary of State for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998.  The sum of $14,700 is appropriated to the Office of Financial Management for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 20, 1998.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.  However, the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.

Testimony For:  (Vendor Contracting & Services)  The Secretary of State should be given the authority to have a technical advisory committee which will review grant applications and make recommendations.  The types of technical assistance to be provided should be left to the Secretary of State.  After administering the program for one year, the Secretary of State should report back to the Legislature, and recommend whether the mentoring grant program should remain with the secretary.   The term "social services" should not be used, as some agencies may be precluded from recommending grants.  The grants should not be used to subsidize current services which are currently being offered by agencies.

(Government Administration)   None.

(Appropriations)  Some of the largest not-for-profit organizations have had some problems.  The money provided for services should get into the hands of the people for which it is intended.  The Washington State Catholic Conference is probably one of the largest social-service providers and supports these measures.  The State Auditor's Office supports the bill.

Testimony Against:  (Vendor Contracting & Services)  None.

(Government Administration)   None.

(Appropriations)  None.

Testified:  (Vendor Contracting & Services)  Tracy Guerin, on behalf of the Secretary of State. 

(Government Administration)   None.

(Appropriations)  Representative Clements, prime sponsor; Margaret Casey, Washington State Catholic Conference; and Linda Long, State Auditor's Office.