PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The Division of Employment and Assistance Programs will amend WAC 388-492-0070 How are my WASHCAP food benefits calculated?, to be consistent with a federal waiver amendment effective January 1, 2005, regarding how WASHCAP benefits are calculated.
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, and 74.08.090.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The rule change is necessary to comply with a federal waiver amendment regarding benefit calculations for WASHCAP recipients. Specifically, the department is amending the utility allowance methodology used to calculate WASHCAP benefit amounts. The change will bring the department into compliance with the demonstration project cost-neutrality provisions stipulated in the federal waiver.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
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 proposed 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 Rebecca Henrie, Program Manager, Division of Employment and Assistance Programs, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98404-5470, phone (360) 725-4615, fax (360) 413-3493, e-mail henrira@dshs.wa.gov.
December 21, 2004
Brian H. Lindgren, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit