WSR 99-03-082

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

[Filed January 20, 1999, 9:08 a.m.]



Subject of Possible Rule Making: Temporary worker housing rules for the cherry harvest.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 70.54.110.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The State Board of Health (SBOH) delegated rule-making authority to the Department of Health (DOH) at the January 13, 1999, board meeting. The delegation of rule-making authority specifically directed the department to develop rules for the temporary worker housing - cherry harvest.

These rules will establish health and safety standards for licensed temporary worker housing during the cherry harvest in Eastern Washington.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) (WISHA/OSHA), Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (DCTED), Department of Employment Security (ESD) and the Washington State Board of Health.

DOH will include L&I, DCTED, ESD, and SBOH in developing the rules and in rule development meetings. DOH will also report monthly to the SBOH.

Process for Developing New Rule: The department will hold a public work session with interested parties to finalize rule language. The SBOH provided specific guidelines for the temporary worker housing - cherry harvest rules when they delegated their authority. The rules must follow the principles established in the Department of Health's report to the legislature: Common Sense and Science: New Directions in the Regulation of Temporary Worker Housing, published December 1996.

DOH will mail information packets to all licensees and interested parties during the rule-making process.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. The department is scheduled to present on the progress of the rule at every SBOH board meeting from February through September. The meeting dates are: February 10, 1999, March 10, 1999, April 14, 1999, May 12, 1999, June 9, 1999, July 14, 1999, August 11, 1999, and September 8, 1999. For SBOH meeting locations and agendas, contact the SBOH at (360) 586-0399.

For information on the public work session, contact Jennell Prentice, Rules Coordinator, Facilities and Services Licensing, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone (360) 705-6661, fax (360) 705-6654, e-mail jzp0303@wa.doh.gov.

January 19, 1999

Kris Van Gorkom

Deputy Secretary

Legislature Code Reviser 

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