PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department will amend rules [in] TITLE 388 WAC related to eligibility and benefit level for the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) administered in Washington as the Washington Basic Food program, Washington combined application program (WASHCAP) and transitional food assistance.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.04.515, 74.08.090, 74.08A.010, 74.08A.903.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: On January 29, 2010, the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published final rules related to the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (FSRIA) under Volume 75, No. 19 of the Federal Register. This final rule implements eleven provisions of FSRIA that establish new eligibility and certification requirements for the receipt of food assistance benefits under SNAP.
Rules under this filing will amend rules related to eligibility and certification provisions for food assistance to be consistent with requirements of FSRIA.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: DSHS incorporates regulations from federal agencies, exercises state options, and implements approved waivers and demonstration projects by adopting administrative rules for food assistance administered as the Washington Basic Food program, WASHCAP, and transitional food assistance.
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 Holly St. John, SNAP Program Manager, Community Services Division, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone (360) 725-4895, fax (360) 725-4904, e-mail holly.st.john@dshs.wa.gov.
February 23, 2010
Don Goldsby, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit