PROPOSED RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
(Community Services Division)
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 12-11-091.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The community services division (CSD) is proposing to amend WAC 388-478-0005 Cash assistance need and payment standards and grant maximum.
Hearing Location(s): Office Building 2, Lookout Room, DSHS Headquarters, 1115 Washington, Olympia, WA 98504 (public parking at 11th and Jefferson. A map is available at http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rpau/RPAU-OB-2directions.html), on August 21, 2012, at 10:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than August 22, 2012.
Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504, e-mail DSHSRPAURulesCoordinator@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-6185, by 5 p.m. on August 21, 2012.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jennisha Johnson, DSHS rules consultant, by August 7, 2012, TTY (360) 664-6178 or (360) 664-6094 or by e-mail at jennisha.johnson@dshs.wa.gov.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The department is proposing to amend WAC 388-478-0005 to increase the cash assistance grant maximum to an eight person household for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF), state family assistance (SFA) and refugee cash assistance (RCA) effective July 1, 2012. This change may affect households with six or more members.
This amendment is in place via an emergency adoption by WSR 12-12-049 filed June 1, 2012.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: This amendment is necessary to comply with the 2011-2013 revised omnibus operating budget as mandated under 3ESHB 2127, Laws of 2012.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08A.100, 74.04.770, and 74.08.090.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08A.100, 74.04.770, and 74.08.090.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Department of social and health services, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Aurea Figueroa-Rogers, 712 Pear Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 725-4623.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The proposed rule does not have an economic impact on small businesses. The proposed rule is necessary to comply with the 2011-2013 revised omnibus operating budget as mandated under 3ESHB 2127, Laws of 2012.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. These amendments are exempt as allowed under RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii) which states in part, "[t]his section does not apply to ... rules of the department of social and health services relating only to client medical or financial eligibility and rules concerning liability for care of dependents." The proposed rule increases the cash assistance maximum to an eight person household for TANF, SFA and RCA.
July 13, 2012
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator
4366.1(2) Payment standards for assistance units in medical institutions and other facilities are based on the need for clothing, personal maintenance, and necessary incidentals (see WAC 388-478-0040 and 388-478-0045).
(3) Need and payment standards for persons and families who do not reside in medical institutions and other facilities are based on their obligation to pay for shelter.
(a) Eligibility and benefit levels for persons and families who meet the requirements in WAC 388-478-0010 are determined using standards for assistance units with an obligation to pay shelter costs.
(b) Eligibility and benefit levels for all other persons and families are determined using standards for assistance units who have shelter provided at no cost.
(c) For recent arrivals to Washington state who apply for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF), see WAC 388-468-0005.
(4) ((Effective May 1, 2011)) Starting July 1, 2012, the
monthly cash assistance grant for an assistance unit cannot
exceed ((seven hundred and twenty-six dollars)) the payment
standard for a family of eight listed in WAC 388-478-0020(1).
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08A.100, 74.04.770, and 74.08.090. 11-21-024, § 388-478-0005, filed 10/11/11, effective 11/11/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08A.100, 74.04.770, 74.08.090, and 2008 c 329 § 207 (1)(e). 08-21-134, § 388-478-0005, filed 10/20/08, effective 10/28/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057. 04-05-010, § 388-478-0005, filed 2/6/04, effective 3/8/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-478-0005, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]