This report represents DSHS rules under development at this time. There may be additional rule-making activity as DSHS responds to legislative actions, to comply with federal mandates, or to meet unforeseen circumstances.

     "CR" stands for code reviser, or code reviser's office. The code reviser's office creates the "CR" forms used by DSHS and all state agencies to notify the public about rule-making actions.

     A "preproposal notice" is a CR-101 preproposal statement of inquiry filed under RCW 34.05.310. This is a preliminary notice to the public that DSHS is in the planning stages to adopt, amend or repeal rules on a particular subject, and notes the laws authorizing the agency's action. The notice also lets the public know how to participate in the development of the rule, and identifies the department's contact person.

     A "proposed rule" is a CR-102 proposed rule-making notice filed under RCW 34.05.320. The notice includes:

     (1) A description of the rules that DSHS proposes to adopt, amend or repeal, and the reasons supporting the proposal;

     (2) The date and location of a public hearing or hearings to take formal comments about the proposed rule; the deadline for sending written comments about the rule; and how written comments may be sent;

     (3) The laws authorizing the agency action;

     (4) The complete text of the proposed new or amended rules, or a list of rule sections being repealed;

     (5) The text of a small business economic impact statement, if applicable;

     (6) Information on how to obtain a copy of the preliminary cost-benefit analysis, if applicable; and

     (7) Agency staff that the public may contact about the proposed rules.

     An "expedited rule is a CR-105 expedited rule-making notice, filed under RCW 34.05.353. DSHS may use this process to notify the public that it intends to adopt, amend or repeal very limited types of rules without accepting public comments or holding a public hearing. After a minimum waiting period, DSHS may adopt the rule as permanent, if no one has objected in writing. If someone does object, the department must file a CR-102 notice, hold a public hearing and accept written comments before adopting the permanent rule.

     A "permanent rule" is a CR-103 rule-making order, filed under RCW 34.05.360 and 34.05.380. The CR-103 gives notice that the department is adopting final new, amended or repealed rules, completing the rule-making process. A CR-103 rule-making order includes the complete text of the new or amended rules, or a list of the WAC numbers and caption of rules being repealed, and an explanation of any changes to the rule made after the CR-102 notice. Agencies also may use a CR-103 notice form to adopt temporary emergency rules (see below).

     An "emergency rule" is also a CR-103 rule-making order, filed under RCW 34.05.350 and 34.05.380. This is a temporary rule used to meet an urgent public health, safety or welfare need, or to meet a deadline set in a law or federal requirement. Emergency rules are effective for one hundred twenty days after the filing date. Emergency rules may be extended in certain circumstances, but they may not become permanent rules unless the agency files a preproposal notice and/or a proposed rule notice as applicable, and complies with other applicable rule-making statutes. NOTE: Emergency rules listed in these tables are only those in effect at the time this agenda was filed for publication in the Washington state register.

     "Rules" as used generally in this document are the Washington Administrative Code, also known as WAC or state regulations, which are adopted by state agencies according to the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW. References to "federal rules" or "federal regulations" are U.S. government regulations, also known as the Code of Federal Regulations or C.F.R.

     State "statutes" are laws adopted by the Washington state legislature and signed by the governor, or may be initiatives adopted by the state's voters, and are codified as the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), except that laws adopting annual state budgets are not codified. Recent state statutes may also be listed by their session law numbers, such as "chapter 140, Laws of 2008," or by a legislative bill number, such as "ESSB 6387." United States government statutes may be noted by their U.S. Code number, Public Law number, Act title, or congressional bill number.

     "WSR" is the Washington state register, the legal publication of state agency rules and other notices, published twice each month by the office of code reviser. Throughout this agenda, the seven-digit number following each WSR is the code reviser's official filing number assigned at the time DSHS files a rule-making notice with the code reviser. The WSR number, plus the date and time of filing, appears on the first page of each "CR" notice as filed. To view facsimiles of DSHS rule-making notices as filed with the code reviser, visit the DSHS public rule-making web site at http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rpau/. All DSHS rule-making notices are available to the public.

     This agenda is for information purposes only. Errors in this rule-making agenda do not alter the content or effect of the DSHS rules and rule-making notices filed with the office of the code reviser and published in the Washington state register.

     If you have questions about this rule-making agenda or the DSHS rule-making process, please contact the DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504-5850, by phone at (360) 664-6097. If you would like to receive DSHS rule-making notices by e-mail, please visit the DSHS rules and policies assistance unit (RPAU) web site for available electronic lists, at http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rpau/RPAU-Listserv.htm. If you would like to receive notices by postal mail, please contact Jennisha Johnson, RPAU Rules Consultant, at (360) 664-6094, or by e-mail at johnsjl4@dshs.wa.gov.

Stephanie Schiller

Rules Coordinator

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office