PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
LABOR AND INDUSTRIES
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 296-17A WAC, Classifications for workers' compensation insurance.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 51.16.035 and 51.16.100.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: This rule making is being proposed in response to SSB 6349 (chapter 160, Laws of 2010) for the farm internship program. The purpose of this pilot program is to allow small farms to provide a program for interns to learn about farming practices and farm enterprise. Three new farm intern risk classifications will be created. Each classification will have a different composite rate depending on the type of farm. Farms must have a valid labor and industries certification to be qualified to participate in the program.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: No other state, local or federal agency regulates this subject.
Process for Developing New Rule: The 2010 legislature passed SSB 6349 for the pilot farm internship program.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Comments can be submitted to Julee Gronley, P.O. Box 44148, Olympia, WA 98504-4148, e-mail GRON235@LNI.WA.GOV, phone (360) 902-4726, fax (360) 902-4729. Information about this process is available at the web site www.lni.wa.gov/insuranceservices/employerservices.
May 5, 2010
Judy Schurke
Director