PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is amending WAC 388-412-0040 Can I get my benefits replaced, and any other related rules.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The current rule requires a signed affidavit from clients who report that their benefits were destroyed in a disaster in order for the benefits to be replaced. For Basic Food benefits, the Code of Federal Regulations imposes no such requirement on the states. Furthermore, the current process can be time consuming and frustrating for clients. We are proposing to streamline and expedite the benefits replacement process for clients, minimizing the amount of time they will be left without any food that is damaged by a disaster event.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) enforces the provisions of the federal food stamp program as enacted in the 2002 farm bill and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations. The DSHS economic services administration, community services division (CSD) policy unit intends to coordinate communications of the change with the CSD service delivery unit and with CSD regional financial coordinators.
Process for Developing New Rule: DSHS welcomes the public to take part in developing the rules. Anyone interested should contact the staff person identified below. At a later date, DSHS will file a proposal with the office of the code reviser with a notice of proposed rule making. A copy of the proposal will be sent to everyone on the mailing list and to anyone who requests a copy.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Don Winslow, Policy Analyst, Program Manager, Economic Services Administration, Community Services Division, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone (360) 725-4580, fax (360) 725-4905, e-mail winsldg@dshs.wa.gov.
December 11, 2008
Stephanie E. Schiller
Rules Coordinator