Drafter

Clerk 07/27/2016

Title

AN ORDINANCE relating to the King County employee giving program; allowing for more flexibility for charitable donations through the program; and amending Ordinance 8575, Section 1, as amended, and K.C.C. 3.36.010, Ordinance 8575, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 3.36.020, Ordinance 8575, Section 3, as amended, and K.C.C. 3.36.030 and Ordinance 16035, Section 7, as amended, and K.C.C. 3.36.065.

Body

STATEMENTS OF FACTS:

1.  The King County employee giving program is the year-round resource for employee philanthropy including the annual giving drive and during natural disaster events.

2.  The purpose of the employee giving program is to facilitate fiscally efficient employee support of qualified nonprofit organizations while minimizing disruption to the King County workforce.

3.  The expansion of contribution methods to include electronic payments provides greater flexibility to the employees and allows for a more timely response during natural disaster events.

                     BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:

                     SECTION 1.  Ordinance 8575, Section 1, as amended, and K.C.C. 3.36.010 are hereby amended to read as follows:

                     A.  This chapter is intended to establish uniform guidance, consistent with state law governing salary and wage deductions, for the efficient administration of county employee charitable contributions to qualified nonprofit organizations, donated via the annual drive, ((and)) natural disaster relief solicitations and other charitable solicitations.  This chapter shall be liberally construed to accomplish this intention.

                     B.  The purpose of this chapter is to provide a convenient and effective channel through which county employees may contribute to qualified nonprofit organizations, while minimizing disruption to the county workplace and the costs to the taxpayer that multiple charitable fund drives cause; and to enhance government and community efforts to meet charitable needs.

                     C.  The program shall provide guidance, quality control and disbursement of employee donations to qualified nonprofit organizations and federations as provided by this chapter, in accordance with rules for the program.

                     SECTION 2.  Ordinance 8575, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 3.36.020 are hereby amended to read as follows:

                     The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

                     A.  "Annual drive" means the annual solicitation of contributions from county employees by representatives of qualified nonprofit organizations and federations through oral presentations, printed materials, audio or video media or other similar.

                     B.  “Committee” means the county employee giving program committee established under K.C.C. 3.36.030.

                     C.  "Employee giving program" or "the program" means the year-round King County sanctioned, employee-based program that provides the process and infrastructure for administration of employee-directed giving and volunteering to qualified nonprofit organizations and federations ((through the annual drive and natural disaster relief solicitations)) and is administered by the committee in accordance with this chapter and any rules adopted for the program.

                     D.  "Federation" means a nonprofit organization that solicits and distributes contributions on behalf of its member nonprofit organizations.

                     E.  "Qualified nonprofit organization" means a nonprofit organization or federation that applies to participate in the annual drive and meets the eligibility criteria as provided in this chapter and any rules adopted for the program.

                     SECTION 3.  Ordinance 8575, Section 3, as amended, and K.C.C. 3.36.030 are hereby amended to read as follows:

                     A.  A county employee giving program committee is established consisting of fifteen members nominated by the committee, appointed by the executive and confirmed by the council.

                       1.  The committee shall strive in its nominations to include members representing the diversity of the county work force, including union representation.

                       2.  The term of committee members shall be two years.

                       3.  A committee member who serves as a federation or nonprofit organization board member or director, or in a decision-making capacity for a federation or nonprofit organization, shall not vote on that federation or nonprofit organization's eligibility if that federation or nonprofit organization applies to participate in the ((annual drive)) program.

                       4.  The committee shall annually elect a chair and other officers as established in the committee's bylaws.

                     B.  In order to operate the program, the committee may:

                       1.  Adopt rules and bylaws consistent with this chapter that are necessary to the conduct of the program, based upon the following principles:

                         a.  seek operational efficiencies;

                         b.  enhance program effectiveness;

                         c.  use innovative best practices;

                         d.  promote equitable access for nonprofit participation; and

                         e.  maintain standards to ensure nonprofit fiscal responsibility and stability;

                       2.  Establish and apply eligibility rules by which a nonprofit organization may participate in the ((annual drive)) program;

                       3.  Coordinate and facilitate the ((annual drive and natural disaster relief solicitations)) program consistent with this chapter and any rules adopted for the program.  If the committee determines that a federation or nonprofit organization is not eligible to participate in the ((annual drive)) program, the federation or nonprofit organization may apply to the committee for reconsideration of the eligibility decision;

                       4.  Guide fiscal stewardship of the program;

                       5.  Serve voluntarily without additional wages, including no additional compensation for working beyond normal working hours, and shall be reimbursed by their employing departments for travel, lodging and meals in accordance with county laws and regulations.  Committee members shall be given release time from regular work hours to serve on the committee.  Employees covered by the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act or state law who are serving as committee members should ensure that their working hours, including hours worked for the committee, do not exceed approved hours;

                       6.  Assist the executive or the executive's designee in the selection of a program administrator; and

                       7.  Solicit and accept from the general public and business communities and all other persons, gifts, bequests and donations to the county in support of the program. 

SECTION 4.  Ordinance 16035, Section 7, as amended, and K.C.C. 3.36.065 are hereby amended to read as follows:

                     A.  Donations ((through the annual drive)) under this chapter may include payroll deductions, checks, money orders, cash, electronic payments and time donations in accordance with K.C.C. 3.12.222.

                     B.  The county shall make deductions from county employees' salary warrants and pay the moneys collected to the qualified nonprofit organizations and federations

designated by county employees when the deductions and payments are authorized by county employees in accordance with this chapter.