PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-930-010 Definitions, 246-930-060 Professional experience required for affiliate prior to examination, and 246-930-320 Standards for special sex offender sentencing alternative (SSOSA) and special sex offender disposition alternative (SSODA) assessment and evaluation reports.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 38, Laws of 2004.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: In 1991, the department created in rule, the affiliate sex offender treatment provider (SOTP) credential using its general statutory authority. Agency request legislation, SHB 2849, eliminating credentialing barriers for sex offender treatment providers (SOTP) passed through the legislature this year, and was signed March 2004. Passage of the legislation creates statutory authority for the certification of the affiliate SOTP by adding references in the statute. SHB 2849 creates the statutory authority for the affiliate SOTP, but places restrictions on the affiliate provider's ability to treat and evaluate high risk sex offenders. Rules defining educational requirements, professional experience and standards for treatment will need to be updated and clarified to reflect the requirements in SHB 2849 and current standards recognized by the profession.
Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making, public meetings and mailings to interested persons.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Kitty Slater, Program Manager, P.O. Box 47869, Olympia, WA 98504-7869, phone (360) 236-4925, fax (360) 236-4918, e-mail Kitty.Slater@doh.wa.gov. Interested persons can participate through meetings and by submitting written comments.
June 21, 2004
M. C. Selecky
Secretary