PROPOSED RULES
QUALITY AUTHORITY
Original Notice.
Exempt from preproposal statement of inquiry under RCW 34.05.310(4).
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Home Care Quality Authority organization and public records, new chapters 257-01 and 257-02 WAC.
Hearing Location(s): ADSA Headquarters Building, Conference Room 1-7.2, 640 Woodland Square Loop S.E., Lacey, WA 98503, on August 25, 2004, at 1:00 p.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: August 25, 2004.
Submit Written Comments to: HCQA Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 40940, Olympia, WA 98504, delivery 640 Woodland Square Loop S.E., Lacey, WA, e-mail JMyers@hcqa.wa.gov, fax (360) 407-0304, by 1:00 p.m., August 25, 2004.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact TTY (360) 493-2637, assistance must be requested by 5:00 p.m. on August 18, 2004.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Provide information on the authority's organization and internal procedures for handling requests for public disclosure.
This rule is exempt from filing a CR-101 preproposal statement of inquiry under RCW 34.05.310(4), exempting rules that relate to internal agency procedures that are not subject to violation by a nongovernmental party.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: To explain internal procedural operations of the authority.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.39A.280(3) and 74.39A.230 (1)(2).
Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 42.17 RCW and RCW 74.39A.230.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Home Care Quality Authority, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: Jackie Myers, Operations Manager, 640 Woodland Square Loop S.E., Lacey, WA 98503, (360) 725-2618; and Enforcement: Mindy Schaffner, Executive Director, 640 Woodland Square Loop S.E., Lacey, WA 98503, (360) 725-2635.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. Under chapter 19.85 RCW and RCW 34.05.310(4), rules relating only to internal government operations that are not subject to violation by a nongovernmental party are exempt from the requirement to prepare a small business economic impact statement.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. Under RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(ii), rules relating only to internal government operations that are not subject violation by a nongovernmental party are exempt from requirements to prepare a cost-benefit analysis.
July 20, 2004
Mindy L. Schaffner
Executive Director
OTS-7377.2
AUTHORITY ORGANIZATION
The authority consists of a board of nine members appointed by the governor as follows: Five board members shall be current and/or former consumers of long-term in-home care services provided for functionally disabled persons, at least one of whom shall be a person with a developmental disability; one board member shall be a representative of the developmental disabilities planning council; one board member shall be a representative of the governor's committee on disability issues and employment; one board member shall be a representative of the state council on aging; and one board member shall be a representative of the Washington state association of area agencies on aging. Each board member serves a term of three years.
If a vacancy occurs, the governor will make an appointment to become immediately effective for the unexpired term. Each board member is eligible for reappointment and may serve no more than two consecutive terms. In making appointments, the governor will take into consideration any nominations or recommendations made by the groups or agencies represented.
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All meetings are conducted in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act (chapter 42.30 RCW). A simple majority of the board constitutes a quorum. Any matter coming before the board may be decided by a majority vote of those members present and voting. Minutes shall be taken at all meetings.
Written communications intended for board consideration or action shall be filed with the authority's administrative office.
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OTS-7378.2
PUBLIC RECORDS
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(1) "Public record" includes any writing containing information relating to the conduct of government or the performance of any governmental or proprietary function prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics.
(2) "Writing" means handwriting, typewriting, printing, photostating, photographing, and every other means of recording any form of communication or representation, including, but not limited to, letters, words, pictures, sounds, or symbols, or combination thereof, and all papers, maps, magnetic or paper tapes, photographic films and prints, motion picture, film and video recordings, magnetic or punched cards, discs, drums, diskettes, sound recordings, and other documents including existing data compilations from which information may be obtained or translated.
(3) "Home care quality authority" means the authority established by chapter 3, Laws of 2002 (Initiative Measure No. 775). The home care quality authority shall be referred to as the "authority." The term authority refers to the authority board and, where appropriate, to the employees of the authority.
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(a) The name and address of the person making the request;
(b) The organization or group that the person represents;
(c) The calendar date and time of day of the inspection request;
(d) A description of the public records requested;
(e) A statement that the record will not be used for commercial purposes.
(2) A request for inspection or copying of public records may be made by mail in a letter containing the following information:
(a) The name and address of the person making the request;
(b) The organization or group that the person represents;
(c) The time of day and the calendar date on which the person wishes to inspect the public records;
(d) A description of the public records requested;
(e) A statement whether access to copying equipment is desired;
(f) A phone number where the person can be reached in case the public records officer or designee needs to contact the person for further description of the material or any other reason;
(g) A statement that the record will not be used for commercial purposes.
(3) All requests by mail should be received at the authority at least three business days before the requested date of inspection to allow the public records officer or designee to make certain the requested records are available and not exempt and, if necessary, to contact the person requesting inspection.
(4) The authority may, in its discretion, fill requests made by telephone.
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(1) Providing the record;
(2) Acknowledging that the authority has received the request and providing a reasonable estimate of the time the authority will require to respond to the request; or
(3) Denying the public record request.
In acknowledging receipt of a public record request that is unclear, the authority may ask the requestor to clarify what information the requestor is seeking. If the requestor fails to clarify the request, the authority shall not be required to respond to it.
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(1) No public records shall be removed from the authority's premises.
(2) Inspection of any public record shall be conducted in the presence of a designated authority employee.
(3) No public records may be marked or defaced in any manner during inspection.
(4) Public records which are maintained in a file or jacket, or chronological order, may not be dismantled except for purposes of copying and then only by the public records officer or designee.
(5) Access to file cabinets, shelves, and other storage areas with public records is restricted to authority employees, unless other arrangements are made with the executive director or designee.
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(2) In addition, pursuant to RCW 42.17.260(1), the authority reserves the right to delete identifying details when it makes available or publishes any public record, in any case when there is reason to believe that disclosure of such details would be an invasion of personal privacy protected by chapter 42.17 RCW. The justification for the deletion shall be explained fully in writing by the public records officer or designee.
(3) All denials of requests for public records must be accompanied by a written statement specifying the reason for denial, including a statement of the specific exemption authorizing the withholding of the record and a brief explanation of how the exemption applies to the record withheld.
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