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
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
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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
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
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
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
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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
Thank you for your attention!
… and good luck with your work for an
empowering environment for volunteering!
Renzo Razzano
[email protected]
Parliament of Lithuania, Vilnius
11th December 2008