The Legal Basis of Volunteering in Italy Renzo Razzano President

1. The Legal Basis of Volunteering in Italy Renzo Razzano President SPES Volunteer Support Centre Lazio Region Vice President of CEV Parliament of Lithuania, Vilnius December 11th, 2008

2. L. 266/91 Framework Law on Volunteering • What the Law is about • Definition of voluntary activity • Definition of voluntary organisation in Italy according to the Framework Law Parliament of Lithuania, Vilnius 11th December 2008

3. Statutes: • aim of solidarity: towards target users or towards common goods • democratic internal structure • representative elected and not paid • activities free of charge for target users • rights and duties of members • yearly balance, approved by the assembly of members • criteria for admission and dismissal of members: no bias principle Parliament of Lithuania, Vilnius 11th December 2008

4. Insurance • obligatory for injury and sickness related to activity, and for third party liability • within agreements with public institutions for the provision of services, the local authority or public institution is obliged to pay for the insurance of volunteers involved Parliament of Lithuania, Vilnius 11th December 2008

5. Economic resources from: • members’ contributions • private contributions and donations • State and public bodies • in agreements with public authorities for the provision of (mainly welfare) services, the reimbursement of expenses is defined Parliament of Lithuania, Vilnius 11th December 2008

6. Economic resources- continues • if voluntary organisation ceases to exist, whatever remains must go to a voluntary organisation active in the same field • revenue from commercial and/or productive activities must be marginal Parliament of Lithuania, Vilnius 11th December 2008

7. Regional Laws • define modalities of application of the national Framework Law • define modalities of consultation and participation: regional “conference” • Establish the regional register of voluntary organisations • define criteria for registration in register Parliament of Lithuania, Vilnius 11th December 2008

8. Regional register • prevalent function: control and certification • registration necessary in order to perform activities financed by and in agreement with public institutions Parliament of Lithuania, Vilnius 11th December 2008

9. Fiscal benefits • exemption from payment of certain state taxes for registered voluntary organisations • for persons and firms fiscal deductions for liberalities Parliament of Lithuania, Vilnius 11th December 2008

10. Fiscal benefits – continues • in 1998 fiscal benefits for not for profit organisations of social utility defined by a decree: registered voluntary organisations included among beneficiaries • 5/1000: year 2006 state provision permitting citizens to indicate a voluntary organisation to which 5 per thousand part of yearly taxes on earnings are to be given Parliament of Lithuania, Vilnius 11th December 2008

11. Other provisions of interest of the Framework Law: potential and problems • National Observatory for Volunteering • Flexibility of working hours Parliament of Lithuania, Vilnius 11th December 2008

12. L. 266/91 Art. 15 Special funds at the regional level for volunteer support centres • legal provision to guarantee funds for the functioning of volunteer support centres at regional level • ex bank foundations obliged to give not less than a fifteenth part of yearly net revenue Parliament of Lithuania, Vilnius 11th December 2008

13. L. 266/91 Art. 15 Special funds at the regional level for volunteer support centres • subsequent Ministerial Decree October 8th 1997 establishes criteria and modalities for the establishment and functioning of volunteer support centres • volunteer support centres are private entities proposed and controlled by voluntary organisations Parliament of Lithuania, Vilnius 11th December 2008

14. Volunteer Support Centres (CSV) in Italy • associations of local voluntary organisations: from volunteers to volunteers • controlling body at regional level: composed by representatives of ex bank foundations, voluntary organisations and public authorities Parliament of Lithuania, Vilnius 11th December 2008

15. Volunteer Support Centres (CSV) in Italy: mission and areas of activity • promotion • consultancy • training • information, documentation and research Parliament of Lithuania, Vilnius 11th December 2008

16. Volunteer Support Centres (CSV) in Italy: essential data • 77 volunteer support centres at provincial and regional levels, in all Italy • Total budget 2008: 140 million euro • 1500 people employed (full and part time) • plus 1200 experts and trainers • National Federation CSVnet Parliament of Lithuania, Vilnius 11th December 2008

17. Major issues at the moment • revision of the Framework Law on Volunteering • revision of the regional legislation on volunteering • regulation of consultation and participation processes and representation bodies • Methods for monitoring and evaluation of activities and impact of volunteer support centres Parliament of Lithuania, Vilnius 11th December 2008

18. Thank you for your attention! … and good luck with your work for an empowering environment for volunteering! Renzo Razzano europa@spes.lazio.it Parliament of Lithuania, Vilnius 11th December 2008