PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The community services division, economic services administration, is proposing to revise WAC 388-418-0005 How will I know what changes I must report?, to clarify that nonneedy relative or in loco parentis caregivers must report any changes to income that belongs to the child(ren) in their care.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Existing WAC language can be confusing. WAC 388-410-0005 (3)(a) states that overpayments cannot be collected from nonneedy caregivers who receive no financial benefit from the grant. The department needs to clarify that even though such caregivers receive no financial benefit for themselves, they must still report any changes to the child's income.
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 Tom Berry, Policy Analyst/Program Manager, Community Services Division, ESA, 712 Pear Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone (360) 725-4617, fax (360) 725-4905, e-mail berrytj@dshs.wa.gov.
October 6, 2009
Stephanie E. Vaughn
Rules Coordinator