FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 6229

C 155 L 20

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Streamlining reporting for recipients of housing-related state funding by removing Washington state quality award program requirements.

Sponsors: Senators Kuderer and Wilson, C.; by request of Department of Commerce.

Senate Committee on Housing Stability & Affordability

House Committee on Appropriations

Background: Transitional Housing Operating and Rent Program. The Transitional Housing Operating and Rent (THOR) program is created within the Department of Commerce (Commerce) to assist individuals and families who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, to secure and retain safe and affordable housing. Commerce awards grants to eligible organizations, such as local governments, housing authorities, behavioral health organizations, tribes, and non-profit organizations, to provide rental assistance, case management services for program participants, and funds for operating expenses of transitional housing facilities.

Washington State Quality Award Program. The Washington State Quality Award (WSQA) program recognizes organizations having implemented and achieved exceptional quality performance. The WSQA program is administered by a council operating as a non-profit organization. The program receives applications from organizations seeking feedback and recognition for significant performance efforts. Through an assessment process of evaluation and scoring, the program decides whether to give the WSQA to the organization.

Beginning in 2011, each eligible organization receiving over $500,000 during the previous calendar year from the THOR program, state housing-related funding sources, and local recording fee surcharges, such as the affordable housing for all surcharge fee, the home security fund surcharge fee, and all other surcharge fees to fund homelessness and housing programs, must apply once every three years to the WSQA program for an independent assessment of the organization's quality management, accountability, and performance systems. Cities and counties were exempt from this requirement until 2018.

Summary: The requirement for eligible organizations receiving over $500,000 annually from the THOR program, other state housing-related funding sources, and local recording surcharge fees to apply once every three years to the WSQA program for an independent assessment is eliminated.

Votes on Final Passage: