04/25/1995 09:25 AM Senate FIN

                                                                               
       SENATE BILL NO. 124                                                     
       "An  Act  relating  to  the  human  services  community                 
  matching       grant program; and providing for an effective                 
  date."                                                                       
                                                                               
                                                                               
  Senator  Miller testified that  the Human Services Community                 
  Matching Grants Program was created to assist municipalities                 
  in providing  human services via  local non-profit agencies.                 
  The statute  was structured to increase the local match each                 
  year   for  three   consecutive  years  beginning   at  10%,                 
  increasing the next  year to  30%, and leveling  out on  the                 
  third (FY96) and subsequent years at 50%.  Unfortunately the                 
  50%  match will be extremely difficult if not impossible for                 
  most  local  governments  to  accomplish  due  to  declining                 
  municipal assistance and revenue sharing  as well as reduced                 
  federal funds.  In addition,  non profits are struggling  to                 
  obtain contributions at levels similar  to those received in                 
  past  years.    It  should  also  be noted  that  all  other                 
  state/municipal matching grant programs require a 30% match.                 
  This legislation is  modeled after  SB 368  from 1994  which                 
  received broad support and passed both the House (Y31-N5-E1-                 
  A3) and Senate (Y13-N3-E1-A3) but was later vetoed.                          
                                                                               
  Senator  Zharoff  asked  for  an  example.   Senator  Miller                 
  referred  to  the  "History  of   Human  Services  Community                 
  Matching  Grant"  chart  which compares  1993  through 1995.                 
  (attached to minutes)                                                        
                                                                               
  Senator Rieger MOVED  to adopt SB  124 with an  accompanying                 
  zero fiscal note  and with  individual recommendations.   No                 
  objections being heard, SB 124 was REPORTED OUT of committee                 
  with a  zero fiscal note  from the  Dept of Health  & Social                 
  Services and a  "do Pass" from Co-chairs  Halford and Frank,                 
  along  with  Senators Rieger  and  Sharp.   Senator Phillips                 
  recommended "do not  pass", and Senators Donley  and Zharoff                 
  signed "no recommendation".