Drafter
Clerk 06/09/2016
Title
AN ORDINANCE relating to gifts, bequests and donations of religious materials and texts, other educational materials, and books to the inmate welfare fund; and adding a new section to K.C.C. chapter 2.80.
Body
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. K.C.C. 2.80.010 requires that gifts, bequests and donations of more than two thousand dollars can only be accepted upon behalf of the county after approval by motion of the county council. This provision was enacted in 1972.
2. The King County Code does however, have several exemptions to the required approval process where the value of the gift, bequest or donation can exceed the two thousand dollar valuation; with some of the exemptions being as high as fifty thousand dollars.
3. The department of adult and juvenile detention is responsible for the operation of two adult detention facilities housing about 1,850 inmates on an average daily basis. The department must comply with federal and state laws that ensure that all inmates have access to religious services and materials.
4. The department's inmate welfare fund is used to pay for a variety of inmate services, including support to volunteer programs including faith-based ministry and the provision of religious materials. The department also provides other educational materials and books for inmate literacy, education, and recreation.
5. The department provides donated religious texts, brochures, educational materials, and other reading materials to inmates upon request without cost.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
NEW SECTION. SECTION 1. There is hereby added to K.C.C. chapter 2.80 a new section to read as follows:
This chapter does not apply to gifts, bequests or donations, of under fifteen
thousand dollars received for the inmate welfare fund for religious materials and texts, other educational materials, and books.