PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-100-166 Immunization of child care and school children against certain vaccine-preventable diseases.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 28A.210.140, 43.20.050.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: To maintain consistency between Washington's school and child care immunization requirements and national immunization standards set by the advisory committee on immunization practices (ACIP), reference to the ACIP immunization schedule needs to be updated from the 2007 version to the 2008 version. To protect the health of young children, adding pneumococcal to the list of diseases for required vaccination will be considered. For clarity and administrative efficiency, WAC 246-100-166 needs to be recodified into multiple sections within a new chapter under TITLE 246 WAC, including necessary amendments. The board will also explore opportunities to better define terms used throughout WAC 246-100-166.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The superintendent of public instruction under RCW 28A.210.150 and chapter 392-182 WAC, provides procedures for schools to verify the immunization status of students transferring from one school to another; under RCW 28A.210.160 and chapter 392-380 WAC, governs the exclusion of children from public schools. The state board of education (SBOH) under RCW 28A.210.160 and chapter 180-38 WAC, governs the exclusion of children from private schools. The department of early learning, under chapters 170-151 and 170-295 WAC, governs the exclusion of children from licensed child care centers. SBOH and the department of health (DOH) will work to assure these agencies have sufficient time and opportunity to review and comment on any proposed changes.
Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Tara Wolff, Washington State Board of Health, P.O. Box 7990, Olympia, WA 98504, phone (360) 236-4101, fax (360) 236-4088, e-mail tara.wolff@doh.wa.gov, or Jeff Wise, Washington State Department of Health, P.O. Box 74843, Olympia, WA 98504, phone (360) 236-3483, fax 236-3590, e-mail jeff.wise@doh.wa.gov.
Public notice of rule-making activity and opportunities to submit written comments will be posted on the DOH web site www.doh.wa.gov/Rules.htm. Interested parties will be notified of proposed rule language and opportunities to provide input through listservs. Testimony from interested parties will be taken at a scheduled SBOH public hearing.
March 19, 2008
Craig McLaughlin
Executive Director