SCS/SB 166 - This act creates the "Community Partnership Program" to provide certain services to those persons eligible for benefits distributed by the Division of Family Services. Persons who elect to participate will enter into contractual agreements with charitable organizations for distribution of benefits and to provide services to help the recipients meet their individual living needs. Services may include education, transportation, child care, etc.

Charitable organizations must be in existence for at least one year, establish and maintain a system to address grievances, allow audits, and are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of sex, race, religion, or national origin. Charitable organizations may impose certain conditions on the recipients as a condition for receiving these services, except they cannot force the recipients attend a religious service or perform an illegal act. Charitable organizations may also charge a fee to those who participate to cover any overhead costs. However, the fee charged may not exceed 10% of the moneys to be distributed, which is also the minimum increase in benefits those who participate will receive.

Community Partnership Organizations may seek private donations to support and supplement a Community Partnership Program.

A taxpayer will be allowed to claim a tax credit against the taxpayer s state tax liability in the amount of fifty percent of the taxpayer s contribution to the Community Partnership Program.

A tax credit which cannot be claimed in the taxable year in which the contribution was made may be carried over to the next four succeeding taxable years until the full credit has been claimed.

The tax credit will become effective January 1, 1998, and shall apply to all taxable years beginning after December 31, 1997.

The act also creates the Community Partnership Program Fund which consists of the moneys that would ordinarily go to those who participate in terms of benefits, and an additional sum of ten percent of the total transferred from the savings in the overhead costs.

The Community Partnership Advisory Council is also created to make recommendations on how the program can be expanded and improved. The council consists of seven members that serve four year terms. The council is chaired by the Lt. Governor and its members include the Director of Social Services, the Director of the Division of Family Services, and four other public members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The public members must be active participants in a charitable organization that is involved in the program, and no more than two may be of the same political party.

This bill is similar to SB 959 (1996).
TOM MORTON