PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-809 WAC, Mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and social workers; chapter 246-811 WAC, Chemical dependency professionals; and chapter 246-810 WAC, Certified counselors and certified advisers; amending existing rules to implement the requirements for suicide assessment, treatment and management described in ESHB 2366.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 43.70 RCW as amended by ESHB 2366 (chapter 181, Laws of 2012).
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: ESHB 2366 (chapter 181, Laws of 2012) directs the department of health to implement continuing education requirements for the listed professions. The rules will describe the timelines and the continuing education/education topics that may be used to meet the requirements identified in the bill.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None known.
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. Stakeholders will be notified of open public workshops and may submit written comments for consideration. Notifications will be sent through the professions listserv mailings, committee meetings, stakeholder meetings, and postings to each profession's web site. Betty Moe, Program Manager, Department of Health, Health Professions and Facilities, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone (360) 236-4912, e-mail Betty.Moe@doh.wa.gov.
July 30, 2012
Mary C. Selecky
Secretary