The Legal Basis of Volunteering in Italy Renzo Razzano President

The Legal Basis of Volunteering in Italy

Renzo RazzanoPresident

SPES Volunteer Support Centre Lazio Region Vice President of CEV

Parliament of Lithuania, VilniusDecember 11th, 2008

Parliament of Lithuania, Vilnius 11th December 2008

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


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


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


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


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


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


Regional register

• prevalent function: control and certification

• registration necessary in order to perform activities financed by and in agreement with public institutions


Fiscal benefits

• exemption from payment of certain state taxes for registered voluntary organisations

• for persons and firms fiscal deductions for liberalities


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


Other provisions of interest of the Framework Law:

potential and problems

• National Observatory for Volunteering

• Flexibility of working hours


L. 266/91 Art. 15Special 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


L. 266/91 Art. 15Special 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


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


Volunteer Support Centres (CSV) in Italy:

mission and areas of activity

• promotion

• consultancy

• training

• information, documentation and research


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


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


Thank you for your attention!

… and good luck with your work for an empowering environment for volunteering!

Renzo Razzano

[email protected]

The Legal Basis of Volunteering in Italy Renzo Razzano President

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