HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 5367
As Reported by House Committee On:
Children & Family Services
Title: An act relating to removal of competitive grant requirements for community mobilization.
Brief Description: Changing competitive grant requirements for community mobilization programs.
Sponsors: By Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Fraser, Long, Patterson, Costa, Regala and Jacobsen; by request of Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development).
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Children & Family Services: 3/22/01, 3/28/01 [DP].
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Brief Summary of Bill
$Moves the Community Mobilization Against Substance Abuse grant program to the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED).
$Awards grants to county-wide programs through a formula developed by CTED and program contractors that considers county population size.
$Reorganizes the grant application statutes.
$Requires a written agreement specifying the powers and duties between the local advisory board and the contracting agent.
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 10 members: Representatives Boldt, Republican Co‑Chair; Tokuda, Democratic Co‑Chair; Kagi, Democratic Vice Chair; Morell, Republican Vice Chair; Ballasiotes, Campbell, Darneille, Dickerson, Miloscia and Pflug.
Staff: Tracey Taylor (786‑7196).
Background:
The Omnibus Alcohol and Controlled Substance Act was enacted in 1989. This included the creation of a grant program for community mobilization against substance abuse in the Office of the Governor and administered by the Department of Community Development.
The grant program is intended to provide funding support for prevention, treatment, and enforcement activities developed by a community through the collaboration of educators, treatment professionals, local government officials, and law enforcement. The program also provides technical assistance and support in the implementation of activities and provides an avenue for communities to share suggestions. Each county receives a base grant based on the county=s population. In addition, there are grants awarded on a competitive basis.
Programs offered by the Community Mobilization program statewide include parent education and support programs, after-school and summer activities, alcohol and drug prevent programs, and youth leadership training activities. During 1998, approximately 9,175 volunteers donated their time for Community Mobilization projects.
Summary of Bill:
This bill amends the Community Mobilization Against Substance Abuse statutes.
$The community mobilization grants are to be used to address alcohol, tobacco or other drug abuse, and violence, not just substance abuse.
$The grant program is moved to CTED.
$The statutes regarding the grant application process are reorganized. In the grant application, the identification of activities that address specific objectives in the strategy does not need to be submitted in priority order.
$Grants will be awarded to county-wide programs through a formula developed by CTED and program contractors that considers county population size.
$Each contracting agent involved in the grant program must have a written agreement with the local community mobilization advisory board that specifies the duties and powers of the agent and the board.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: Eliminating the current competitive grant system will allow the grant money to be distributed more fairly, efficiently, and effectively across the state. Local planning efforts will be streamlined by eliminating the double application process. The cost of state government will be reduced by reducing the number of grant applications required. Collaboration and cooperation within and between communities will improve the effectiveness of the program. The program evaluation process is making good progress and will offset any loss of accountability due to the elimination of the competitive process.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Seth Dawson, Washington Association for the Prevention of Substance Abuse and Violence; and Susie Roberts, Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development.