AN ACT Relating to providing technical assistance and training to agency personnel and state contractors; adding new sections to chapter 43.07 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 39.29 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 43.07 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The secretary of state mentoring grant is established. The secretary of state shall distribute grant funds for the benefit of nonprofit entities that provide human services under contract to state agencies.

(2) To receive a mentoring grant, an appropriate state agency including, but not limited to, contracting agencies and the state auditor, must submit to the secretary of state a recommendation indicating that a nonprofit entity needs technical assistance. A recommendation must also indicate whether the assistance is crucial for the entity to maintain adequate financial records, to comply with state or federal law, to continue operations, or to avoid other impediments to the nonprofit entity's proper use of funds to achieve the purposes set by state contract. A recommendation must further indicate the importance of the entity to the provision of services by the contracting agency.

(3) The secretary of state shall convene a technical advisory committee for the purpose of making suggestions regarding agency grant recommendations, and grant awards. The technical advisory committee shall additionally determine the categories of technical assistance which will be made available to nonprofit entities that provide human services under contract to state agencies.

The technical advisory committee shall include in its membership at least one member representing nonprofit entities that provide human services under contract to state agencies, and may additionally include legislative staff. The secretary of state otherwise may decide the appropriate composition and number of members to be seated on the technical advisory committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 43.07 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Upon recommendation, the secretary of state may use funds specifically appropriated to make grants to any state agency, county, city, public entity, or private individual to provide technical assistance to nonprofit entities that contract with the state. Such assistance should be administered to help the nonprofit entity provide more effective services to the state agency with which it contracts and to facilitate the nonprofit entity's self-sufficiency and successful operation. Technical assistance categories will be defined by the technical advisory committee.

(2) Any state agency, county, city, or public entity which already provides, through dedicated existing funds, technical assistance to nonprofit entities that provide human services under contract to state agencies shall not be eligible to receive a mentoring grant if that grant would replace previously dedicated funds.

(3) In making grants, the secretary of state shall consider the number of times the potential recipient has received previous grants, and the dollar amount of previous amounts.

(4) The secretary of state may adopt rules to govern the use of the grants in accordance with the purpose of chapter . . ., Laws of 1998 (this act).

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 43.07 RCW to read as follows:

The secretary of state shall prepare a report outlining the status of the program after one year of administration. The report should include a determination of whether the office of the secretary of state is the appropriate governmental entity to be charged with operation of the mentoring grant program, and if not, which governmental entity or entities might be more appropriate. By November 1, 1999, the secretary of state shall deliver the findings of its report to the house of representatives vendor contracting and services select committee, or to the most appropriate house of representatives standing committee in the event that the vendor contracting and services select committee no longer exists, and the senate government operations committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 39.29 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The office of financial management may offer technical assistance to agencies for improved management and administration of agency contracting. The training may include, but is not limited to, the following subjects:

(a) Types and methods of contracting;

(b) Consultant selection;

(d) Financial recordkeeping and appropriate accounting measures;

(e) Any other subject related to effective contract management.

(2) The cost of technical services may be charged to the agency served and must be paid to the office of financial management in the same manner that other claims against the agency are paid.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. 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. 6. If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 1998, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.