EMERGENCY RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.
Purpose: The department is extending the emergency rule filed as WSR 10-10-112 amending sections of chapter 388-448 WAC repealing changes to disability lifeline incapacity criteria, including how the department uses social and vocational factors to determine eligibility filed as WSR 10-08-036. These amendments will repeal changes to the disability lifeline incapacity criteria [and] are required in order for the department to comply with ESSB 6444 as passed by the legislature April 12, 2010. As passed, the bill limits the department's ability to make any changes to the incapacity determination and progressive evaluations process regulations until at least September 30, 2010, except for provisions related to the use of administrative review teams may be amended, and obsolete terminology and functional assessment language may be updated.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-448-0050, 388-448-0080, 388-448-0090, 388-448-0100, and 388-448-0110.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and 74.04.005.
Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest; and that in order to implement the requirements or reductions in appropriations enacted in any budget for fiscal years 2009, 2010, or 2011, which necessitates the need for the immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the fiscal needs or requirements of the agency.
Reasons for this Finding: The bill limits the department's ability to make any changes to the incapacity determination and progressive evaluations process regulations until at least September 30, 2010, except for provisions related to the use of administrative review teams may be amended, and obsolete terminology and functional assessment language may be updated. This filing continues the emergency rule filed as WSR 10-10-112 while the department continues the permanent rule-making process. The department has filed a preproposal statement of inquiry (WSR 10-09-074) and a proposed rule-making notice (WSR 10-13-158). The permanent rule-filing process is anticipated to be completed in September 2010.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 5, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 5, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: July 28, 2010.
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator
Reviser's note: The material contained in this filing exceeded the page-count limitations of WAC 1-21-040 for appearance in this issue of the Register. It will appear in the 10-17 issue of the Register.