PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The community services division is proposing to amend WAC 388-450-0175 Does the department offer income deduction for the general assistance program as an incentive for clients to work?, 388-450-0110 Allocating income of a general assistance-unemployable (GA-U) client to legal dependents, 388-450-0135 Allocating income of an ineligible spouse to a GA-U client, and any other WACs related to budgeting income for general assistance (GA).
The department will propose amendments to align the GA earned income deductions with RCW 74.04.266 and the earned income incentive offered under the temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) program. The department will also propose revisions to WACs regarding allocating income for the GA program and will try to plain talk the WACs to make them more clear.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.266, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.04.510, and ESHB 1244 as passed [by] the legislature in 2009.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department will propose amendments to align the GA earned income deduction with RCW 74.04.266 and earned income incentives offered under the TANF program.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
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 Melissa Mathson, Program Manager, Community Services Division, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone (360) 725-4563, fax (360) 725-4905, e-mail mathsmc@dshs.wa.gov.
May 19, 2009
Stephanie E. Schiller
Rules Coordinator