Alabama § 36-1A-5 - Participation Limited to Voluntary, Charitable, Health and Human Care Federations and Agencies with a Substantial Local Presence.

§ 36-1A-5. Participation Limited to Voluntary, Charitable, Health and Human Care Federations and Agencies with a Substantial Local Presence.

(a) Participation in the Alabama State Employee Combined Charitable Campaign shall be limited to voluntary, charitable, health and human care federations and agencies with a substantial local presence that provide or support direct health and welfare services to individuals or their families and meet the criteria set forth in this section. “Substantial local presence” is defined as a facility, staffed by professionals or volunteers, available to provide its services and open at least 15 hours a week. Such services must be available to state employees in the local campaign community, unless they are rendered to needy persons overseas. Such services must directly benefit human beings, whether children, youth, adults, the aged, the ill and infirm, or the mentally or physically handicapped. Such services must consist of care, research, or education in the fields of human health or social adjustment and rehabilitation; relief for victims of natural disasters and other emergencies; or assistance to those who are impoverished and in need of food, shelter, clothing, and basic human welfare services.

(b) For the purposes of the Alabama State Employee Combined Charitable Campaign, basic health and human care service shall not include:

(1) Organizations whose primary purpose is the direct or indirect support of institutions of higher education;

(2) Organizations engaging in litigation activities on behalf of parties other than themselves;

(3) Lobbying; and

(4) Religious activities.

(c) To be included in the Alabama State Employee Combined Charitable Campaign, a charitable federation or agency, in addition to meeting the other requirements in this section, shall:

(1) Be a tax exempt charitable organization and submit a 501(c)(3) exemption from the Internal Revenue Service;

(2) Be incorporated or authorized to do business in this state as a private, nonprofit organization;

(3) Not be a foundation;

(4) Demonstrate to the local agency review committee that at least 60 percent of funds raised locally in each of the two fiscal years preceding its application to participate in a campaign consist of individual contributions from citizens of the state;

(5) Be directed by an active local board which meets at least quarterly, whose members serve without compensation and are residents of the local geographic region served (with the exception of agencies serving the needy overseas);

(6) Adopt and employ the standards of accounting and financial reporting for voluntary health and welfare organizations; prepare and make available to the general public a detailed annual budget; provide for an annual external audit by an independent public accountant and make such audit available to the general public; and provide and make available to the general public an annual report;

(7) Provide programs of services directed at one or more of the common human needs defined in subsection (a) in the State of Alabama or in countries overseas;

(8) Have a stated policy of nondiscrimination and be in compliance with all requirements of law and regulations respecting nondiscrimination and equal employment opportunity with respect to its clients, officers, employees, and volunteers;

(9) (For federations only, with the exception of federations serving the needy overseas): Have raised at least $60,000 at the local level, and distributed that sum among at least 10 charitable agencies in each of its last two fiscal years preceding its application to participate in the campaign; and

(d) A charitable federation or agency shall automatically be eligible to participate if it is currently participating in the State of Alabama employee campaign under the provisions of Section 36-1-4.1, as amended.