PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-810 WAC, Counselors, amending the chapter to repeal the registered counselor credential, and create agency affiliated counselor, certified adviser, and certified counselor.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 135, Laws of 2008 (2SHB 2674).
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Rules are needed to implement chapter 135, Laws of 2008 (2SHB 2674). Eight new counselor professions were created and the registered counselor credential is abolished July 1, 2010. This rule making will establish application requirements, continuing education, and practice standards for agency affiliated counselors, certified counselors and certified advisers.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Betty Moe, Department of Health, Counselor Rules, 310 Israel Road S.E., Tumwater, WA 98501, fax (360) 236-4909, phone (360) 236-4912.
Meetings will start after July 1, 2008. To receive information about meetings, stakeholders can join the counselor program list serv at http://listserv.wa.gov and select registered counselors.
July 1, 2008
Mary C. Selecky
Secretary