Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is:

•	Adding new sections to chapter 388-78A WAC, Boarding home licensing rules, to clarify due process rights of persons investigated for alleged abuse, neglect, exploitation and financial exploitation of a boarding home resident and amending other related sections; and

•	Amending other sections as necessary.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapters 74.34 RCW, Abuse of vulnerable adults and chapter 18.20 RCW, Boarding homes.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish:

•	To clarify the due process rights of persons investigated by the department for alleged abuse, neglect, exploitation and financial exploitation of a boarding home resident; and

•	To improve protection of vulnerable adults who reside in boarding homes from abuse, neglect, exploitation and financial exploitation through investigations and agency findings.

     Process for Developing New Rule: The department received funding to fully implement chapter 74.34 RCW. 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 a proposal 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 Todd Erik Henry, Boarding Home Program, Residential Care Services, Aging and Disability Services Administration, Department of Social and Health Services, P.O. Box 45600, Olympia, WA 98513, phone (360) 725-2580, fax (360) 438-7903, TTY 1-877-905-0454, e-mail henryte@dshs.wa.gov.

July 12, 2007

Stephanie E. Schiller

Rules Coordinator

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office