PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Governmental and Community Affairs)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) plans to amend, repeal or add new rules in chapter 388-891 WAC regarding vocational rehabilitation services.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: 34 C.F.R. Parts 361, 363, 365; RCW 74.29.020(8).
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: By revising the order of selection criteria for Category 1: Individuals with most severe disabilities (WAC 388-891-0520), and Category 2: Individuals with severe disabilities (WAC 388-891-0530) DVR will continue to provide services to individuals with most severe disabilities first. DVR intends to expand the categories so that a broader diversity of disability groups are represented and served.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: United States Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration and Washington State Rehabilitation Council; consultation, review and comment will be used for coordinating the rule-making process.
Process for Developing New Rule: DVR welcomes the public to take part in developing the rules. Anyone interested in helping to draft the proposed rules should contact one of the staff persons listed below. After the rules are drafted, DVR will file a copy at the Office of the Code Reviser with a notice of the proposed rule. DVR will send a copy of the proposed rules for review and comment to everyone currently on the mailing list and anyone else requesting a copy.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. DVR staff members are available to talk to groups and organizations about these proposed changes. Contact Terry Redmon, Chief of Special Programs, (360) 725-3646, e-mail redmot@dshs.wa.gov or Michael Cunningham, Program Administrator, (360) 725-3621, e-mail cunnim@dshs.wa.gov; DSHS Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, 1-800-637-5627 (VTTY), fax (360) 438-8007, P.O. Box 45340, Olympia, WA 98504-5340.
October 3, 2005
Andy Fernando, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit