Date Adopted: January 5, 2004.

     Purpose: The purpose of the proposed emergency rules for group receiving centers (GRC), chapter 388-140 WAC, is to establish licensing standards for facilities providing out-of-home receiving or emergency care to children for up to thirty days. Licensing standards do not currently exist for GRCs. The emergency rules would provide protection for children placed in facilities in emergency situations. Currently, the one group receiving center in operation is licensed under standards that do not accurately or adequately address the program.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.15.030(2), 74.08.090.

     Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest; and that state or federal law or federal rule or a federal deadline for state receipt of federal funds requires immediate adoption of a rule.

     Reasons for this Finding: Children's Administration has licensed a facility as a group care program with several waivers as there are no current licensing standards for a group receiving center. After consulting with the state Attorney General's Office and representatives of the federal IV-E program, we have learned that the approval of waivers jeopardizes federal funds received by Children's Administration to support services to children. A stakeholder work group has been involved in preparation of these emergency rules and the rules being drafted for permanent adoption. The emergency rules are needed to protect the health and safety of children placed in these facilities until permanent rules are adopted. Children's Administration is amending licensing standards (chapter 388-148 WAC) for group care facilities and plans to incorporate these group receiving center rules into chapter 388-148 WAC. Stakeholders have reviewed the draft of revised chapter 388-148 WAC. Children's Administration will be filing the proposed rules in late January 2004.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 125, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 125, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

January 5, 2004

Brian H. Lindgren, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

     Reviser's note: The material contained in this filing exceeded the page-count limitations of WAC 1-21-040 for appearance in this issue of the Register. It will appear in the 04-05 issue of the Register.