BILL REQ. #:  H-3999.3 

Read first time 01/28/08.   Referred to Committee on Community & Economic Development & Trade.

     AN ACT Relating to assistance to nonprofit organizations; and amending RCW 43.63A.125.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 43.63A.125 and 2006 c 371 s 233 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall establish a competitive process to solicit proposals for and prioritize projects that assist nonprofit organizations in acquiring, constructing, or rehabilitating facilities used for the delivery of nonresidential ((social)) community services including:
     (a) Social service centers; and
     (b) Multipurpose community and cultural centers.
     (2) The department shall establish a competitive process to prioritize applications for the assistance as follows:
     (a) The department shall conduct a statewide solicitation of project applications from local governments, nonprofit organizations, and other entities, as determined by the department. The department shall evaluate and rank applications in consultation with a citizen advisory committee using objective criteria. At a minimum, applicants must demonstrate that the ((requested assistance)) proposed project will increase the range, efficiency, or quality of the ((social)) services it provides to citizens. The department and the citizen advisory committee shall prioritize projects located in distressed communities defined in (b) of this subsection. The evaluation and ranking process shall also include an examination of existing assets that applicants may apply to projects. Grant assistance under this section shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the total cost of the project. The nonstate portion of the total project cost may include cash, the value of real property when acquired solely for the purpose of the project, and in-kind contributions.
     (b) For the purposes of this section, "distressed community" means a community that meets at least one of the following criteria:
     (i) A significant percentage of local elementary students receive free and reduced-price meals;
     (ii) The county unemployment rate is one hundred twenty percent above the state average for the previous three years; or
     (iii) The small business administration historically underutilized business zones criteria.
     (c) The department shall submit a prioritized list of recommended projects to the governor and the legislature in the department's biennial capital budget request ((beginning with the 2001-2003 biennium and thereafter. For the 1999-2001 biennium, the department shall conduct a solicitation and ranking process, as described in (a) of this subsection, for projects to be funded by appropriations provided for this program in the 1999-2001 capital budget)). The list shall include a description of each project, the amount of recommended state funding, and documentation of nonstate funds to be used for the project. ((The total amount of recommended state funding for projects on a biennial project list shall not exceed ten million dollars. Except for the 1999-2001 biennium,)) The department shall not sign contracts or otherwise financially obligate funds under this section until the legislature has approved a specific list of projects.
     (((c))) (d) In contracts for grants authorized under this section the department shall include provisions which require that capital improvements shall be held by the grantee for a specified period of time appropriate to the amount of the grant and that facilities shall be used for the express purpose of the grant. If the grantee is found to be out of compliance with provisions of the contract, the grantee shall repay to the state general fund the principal amount of the grant plus interest calculated at the rate of interest on state of Washington general obligation bonds issued most closely to the date of authorization of the grant.
     (e) If cash funds are appropriated, up to five million dollars may be used for technical assistance and planning.