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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Public Policy Brief from Washington Nonprofits


 



 
 
Public Policy Brief - 1/23/12
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Building a strong, collaborative network of nonprofits serving Washington communities.
 
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This Week in the Legislature
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Week 3 - Bills in Committee

This past week the Legislature battled snow, ice, and even loss of electricity but committee action continued mostly uninterrupted.  Read below to find out about bills affecting the nonprofit community that are now in committee.  

Nonprofit Contracting & Governance 

HB 2264 - Requires the DSHS to execute a new procurement for performance-based contracts.  The bill clarifies that procurement for services not is subject to certain competitive bidding processes.
HB 2293 - Expands consumer cooperative provisions and establishes new meeting notice and other requirements under the Nonprofit Miscellaneous and Mutual Corporations Act.
HB 2239 – Creates a new type of organization known as a social purpose corporation in which board members cannot be held liable for losses due to the pursuit of a stated social purpose.   This bill is up for executive session this week.
SB 6076 - Creates a new retail liquor license for nonprofit organizations whose primary service is providing recreational and social activities for seniors on the licensed premises (senior centers).
SB 6125 – Authorizes Port districts to contract with service groups without conforming with competitive bidding procedures, under certain circumstances.

Health & Human Services

HB 2289 - Authorizes the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to establish at least two sites to begin implementing Family Assessment Response (FAR) within Child Protective Services.  Requires the DSHS to develop an implementation plan in collaboration with stakeholders.
SB 6051– Allows for the donation and redistribution of unused prescription drugs under certain circumstances.
SB 6309 – Requires hospitals to provide uninterrupted periods for meals and rest breaks.
HB 2341 – Requires nonprofit and public hospital district hospitals to complete a community health needs assessment every three years and a community benefit implementation strategy within a year of the community health needs assessment.  Establishes three standards that a nonprofit hospital must use to demonstrate that it is meeting its community benefit obligations to maintain its nonprofit status.

Elections

HB 2204- Allows a person to participate in an election by registering to vote on Election Day.
HB 2205 - Authorizes persons who are at least 16 years of age, and who meet all other voter registration requirements, to register to vote with the office of the Secretary of State. This bill does not change the minimum voting age of 18 years.

Economic Development & Energy

HB 2374 - Requires Associate Development Organizations (ADOs,  which include nonprofit Economic Development Commissions) to meet and share best practices with each other at least twice annually.  Adds data and reporting requirements to ADOs, the Washington Economic Development Commission, and the Department of Commerce.
HB 2198 - Expands the Renewable Energy Investment Cost-recovery Incentive Program to include energy storage facilities.  Community solar projects are eligible for the incentive program.

 
 
Session Resources

 
Next Week's Committee Schedule
The weekly meeting schedule provides committee information on all work sessions and public hearings scheduled for next week.
 
Make Your Voice Heard
The Legislature maintains a Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 (TTY for Hearing 1-800-635-9993).  Call to leave a message to your legislator  about a bill or legislative topic.
 
Operating Budget Primer
The House Office of Program Research has written a 2011 Budget Briefing Book that provides an excellent overview and specific topical information relating the state’s operating budget.  This is a great reference for those who want to dig a little deeper into the budget issues.  
 
 
  calendar of events:
 
Join Washington Nonprofits, local board members and staff from nearby communities to engage in this critical thinking symposium designed to provide new perspectives and stimulate new thinking about leadership in the nonprofit sector.  Cathy Trower, a senior research associate at Harvard Graduate School of Education will provide a videotaped keynote. She has studied nonprofit board governance, faculty employment issues, policieis and practicies since 1996. Cathy provides governance consulting services to independent schools, colleges, universities, foundation, and community service organizations.  Symposium locations throughout the State will be announced in the near future. For more information contact Genia Seghetti at 509-688-4568.
 
presented by WN in partnership with Grays Harbor Community Foundation
January 25, 2012
8:30-12 PST
South Shore Mall - Community Room 
1017 South Boone Street
Aberdeen, WA   
 
February 27, 2012
12:00pm PST
Pacific Contental Bank - Seattle office
1100 Olive Way Suite 102
Seattle, WA
Join Pacific Continental Bank for a noon time chat  with Pamela Block, an influential officer and management executive for MissionWise® of Seattle. She is responsible for the organization's fiscal and strategic direction.
 
February 16, 2012
Spokane Masonic Temple
1108 W Riverside Avenue 
Spokane, WA
The 2nd annual Inland Northwest Nonprofit Conference will be hosted Thursday, February 16th, 2012. The one day event is an educational conference offered solely for the advancement and resource enhancement of area nonprofits. Several class presentations by area experts will cover topics such as grants, marketing, financial, and other current topical issues. Several networking opportunities and an exhibitor space are available throughout the event as well as lunch with keynote speaker, Deanna Davis, Ph.D., MPH.
 
March 30, 2012
Spokane Davenport Hotel
10 S Post Street  
Spokane, WA
This year's annual conference will be held on March 30, 2012, at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane, Washington.  Mark your calendar and come and enjoy a day of learning and collaborating with other nonprofit leaders. Not an NPIP client? See www.npip.org.
 
To place an event on our events calendar, please contact Genia Seghetti, Communications and Memership Manager.  Email: genia@washingtonnonprofits.org  Phone: 509-688-4568 

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