WSR 13-05-047

PROPOSED RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Children's Administration)

[ Filed February 13, 2013, 11:31 a.m. ]

     Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 12-05-113.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Revisions to chapter 388-61A WAC, Shelters for victims of domestic violence.

     Hearing Location(s): Office Building 2, Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Headquarters, 1115 Washington, Olympia, WA 98504 (public parking at 11th and Jefferson. A map is available at http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rpau/RPAU-OB-2directions.html), on March 26, 2013, at 10:00 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than March 27, 2013.

     Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504, e-mail DSHSRPAURulesCoordinator@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-6185, by 5 p.m. on March 26, 2013.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jennisha Johnson, DSHS rules consultant, by March 12, 2013, TTY (360) 664-6178 or (360) 664-6094 or by e-mail at jennisha.johnson@dshs.wa.gov.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: DSHS, children's administration (CA), division of quality management and accountability, is proposing revisions to chapter 388-61A WAC that will update the section on crib safety to be compliant with new rules adopted by the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission in December 2010, and to make clarifying edits to rules adopted in November 2010.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: Crib safety revisions to become compliant with new federal standards, and clarifying edits to rules adopted in November 2010.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 70.123 RCW.

     Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 70.123 RCW.

     Rule is necessary because of federal law, Consumer Product Safety Commission, 16 C.F.R. Parts 1219.

     Name of Proponent: DSHS, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Susan Hannibal, 4045 Delridge Way S.W., Room 200, Seattle, WA 98106, (206) 923-4910.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. Chapter 19.85 RCW, the Regulatory Fairness Act, requires that the economic impact of proposed regulations be analyzed in relation to small businesses. The statute defines small businesses as those businesses that employ fifty or fewer people and are independently owned and operated.

     The proposed rules affect forty-three emergency domestic violence shelter agencies that DSHS/CA contracts with for client services. In a September 2012 cost-benefit survey distributed to these agencies, twenty of the forty-three domestic violence shelter contractors responded for a response rate of forty-seven percent. Large and small domestic violence shelter agencies were represented in the range of contractors responding to the survey. The number of individuals employed by the twenty survey respondents ranged from a low of six to a high of forty-two.

     Preparation of a small business economic impact statement (SBEIS) is required when a proposed rule has the potential of placing a disproportionate economic impact on small businesses. The statute outlines information that must be included in an SBEIS. CA has analyzed the proposed rule amendments and concludes that they will not impose disproportionate costs on small businesses. All the agencies affected by the proposed rules are small businesses employing fewer than fifty full-time equivalent employees. Consequently, there is no disproportionate impact on small businesses from the proposed rule amendments. The preparation of a comprehensive SBEIS is not required.

     A cost-benefit analysis is required under RCW 34.05.328. A preliminary cost-benefit analysis may be obtained by contacting Susan Hannibal, DSHS/CA, c/o QA/Training Office, Seattle, WA 98106, phone (206) 923-4910, fax (206) 923-4899, e-mail hsus300@dshs.wa.gov.

February 12, 2013

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator

4393.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 10-22-040, filed 10/27/10, effective 11/27/10)

WAC 388-61A-0220   What definitions apply to this chapter?        "Advocacy" means that the client is involved with an advocate in individual or group sessions with a primary focus of safety planning, empowerment, and education of the client through reinforcement of the client's autonomy and self-determination. Advocacy also means speaking and acting for change or justice with, or on behalf of, another person or cause. Advocacy is survivor-centered and uses nonvictim blaming methods that include:

     • Identifying barriers to, and strategies to enhance, safety, including safety planning.

     • Clarifying and increasing awareness of the power and control associated with domestic violence and the options one may have to obtain resources while staying safe.

     • Supporting independent decision-making based on the unique needs and circumstances of each individual.

     "Advocate" means a trained staff person who works in a domestic violence agency and provides advocacy to clients.

     "Child care" means the temporary care of a client's child or children by staff of the domestic violence agency at the agency's location or another location where the client is receiving confidential or individual services from the domestic violence agency or is participating in activities sponsored by the domestic violence agency, other than employment, and so long as the client remains on the premises.

     "Children/youth activities" means activities other than children/youth advocacy, such as recreational and educational activities((, and including child care as defined in this chapter)).

     "Children/youth advocacy" means an age-appropriate intervention service that strives to assist children/youth to express feelings about their exposure to domestic violence. It is an educational, rather than a therapeutic intervention, and is focused on providing education about domestic violence, safety planning, and developing or enhancing problem-solving skills. Advocacy can be provided on an individual basis and in group settings.

     "Client" means a victim of domestic violence who is accessing services at a domestic violence agency. Client can also be referred to as a survivor, service recipient, or resident.

     "Cohabitant" means a person who is or was married, in a state registered domestic partnership, or cohabiting with another person in an intimate or dating relationship at the present time or at some time in the past. Any person who has one or more children in common with another person, regardless of whether they have been married, were/are in a domestic partnership with each other, or have lived together at any time, must be treated as a cohabitant. Any person who is or was in a dating relationship with another person at the present or at some time in the past, regardless of whether they lived together at any time, must be treated as a cohabitant.

     "Community education" refers to information that is provided in community settings about domestic violence and services related to victims of domestic violence. Community education activities include: Training, presentations, outreach to specific communities or geographic areas, community events, and media events.

     "Confidential communication" means all information, oral, written or nonverbal, that is transmitted between a victim of domestic violence and an employee or supervised volunteer of a domestic violence agency in the course of their relationship and in confidence by means which, so far as the victim is aware, does not disclose the information to a third person.

     "Confidential information" includes, but is not limited to, any information, advice, notes, reports, statistical data, memoranda, working papers, records or the like, made or given during the relationship between a victim of domestic violence and a domestic violence agency, however maintained. Confidential information includes the name, address, telephone number, social security number, date of birth, nine-digit postal (ZIP) code, physical appearance of, case file or history of, and other information that would personally identify a victim of domestic violence who seeks or has received services from a domestic violence agency.

     "Crisis hotline or helpline" means a designated telephone line of the domestic violence agency that operates twenty-four hours a day, three hundred sixty-five days a year. A hotline/helpline provides crisis intervention, safety planning, information, and referral services.

     "Crisis intervention" means services provided to an individual in crisis to stabilize an individual's emotions, clarify issues, and provide support and assistance to help explore options for resolution of the individual's immediate crisis and needs.

     "Department" means the department of social and health services (DSHS).

     "Domestic violence" is a pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviors that an adult or adolescent uses to maintain power and control over their intimate partner. Abusive tactics may include, but are not limited to the following: Physical abuse, sexual abuse, intimidating tactics, physical and/or psychological isolation of the victim, repeated attacks against the victim's competence, alternating use of indulgences, control of family funds and resources, stalking, and the use of children and systems to control the victim. The abuser's use of physical force against persons or property or the use of conduct that establishes credible threat of physical harm (i.e. terrorizing tactics) combined with other controlling tactics are key elements of domestic violence. The effect of the overall pattern of assaultive and coercive behavior is to increase the abuser's power and control in the relationship. It includes, but is not limited to, the categorization of offenses defined in RCW 10.99.020(3) when committed by one cohabitant against another.

     "Domestic violence agency" means an agency that provides shelter and advocacy for domestic violence clients in a safe and supportive environment.

     "Intimate partner violence" focuses on the most common form of domestic violence, which is between adult or adolescent intimate partners or cohabitants, rather than on violence between nonintimate adult or adolescent household members.

     "Legal advocacy" means personal support and assistance with victims of domestic violence to ensure their interests are represented and their rights upheld within the civil and criminal justice systems, including administrative hearings. It includes educating and assisting victims in navigating the justice systems; assisting victims in evaluating advantages and disadvantages of participating in the legal processes; facilitating victims' access and participation in the legal systems; and promoting victims' choices and rights to individuals within the legal systems.

     "Lodging unit" means one or more rooms used for a victim of domestic violence including rooms used for sleeping or sitting.

     "Marginalized populations" includes, but is not limited to, populations that have been historically underserved and oppressed in society because of ethnicity, race, culture or language diversity, age, sexual orientation, or disability.

     "Personally identifying information" includes, but is not limited to, first and last name, home or other physical address, telephone number, Social Security number, date of birth, nine-digit postal (ZIP) code, physical appearance of, case file or history of, and other information that would personally identify a victim of domestic violence who seeks or has received services from a domestic violence agency, or such other information which, taken individually or together with other identifying information, could identify a particular individual.

     "Program" means the DSHS domestic violence program.

     "Resident" means a client of the domestic violence agency who is residing in a shelter as defined in this chapter.

     "Safe home" means a shelter that has two or fewer lodging units and has a written working agreement with a domestic violence agency.

     "Safety plan" is a process of thinking through with the victim how to increase safety for both the victim of domestic violence and any dependent children of the victim. Safety planning addresses both immediate and long term risks, barriers, or concerns regarding the victim and any dependent children. It is based on knowledge about the specific pattern of the domestic violence perpetrator's tactics and the protective factors of the victim and any dependent children. Safety planning can be done formally, informally, in writing or orally, or in any other conversational process between the victim and advocate.

     "Secretary" means the DSHS secretary or the secretary's designee.

     "Shelter" means a safe home or shelter home that provides temporary refuge and food and clothing offered on a twenty-four hour, seven-day-per-week basis to victims of domestic violence and their dependent children. Domestic violence agencies may use hotels and motels for victims who need safe shelter, but the domestic violence agency must also have a shelter home and/or safe home(s) that meet the requirements of this chapter.

     "Shelter home" means a shelter that has three or more lodging units and is either a component of, or has a written working agreement with, a domestic violence agency.

     "Staff" means persons who are paid or who volunteer to provide services to clients and are a part of a domestic violence agency.

     "Support group" means interactive group sessions of two or more victims of domestic violence that is facilitated by trained staff on a regular basis. Participants share experiences, offer mutual support, and receive information and education around a specific topic of common interest. Support groups validate the experiences of victims, explore options, build on strengths, and respect participants' rights to make their own decisions. A shelter or house meeting where, for example, chores are discussed, and there is no advocacy provided, is not a support group.

     "Victim" means a cohabitant who has been subjected to domestic violence.

     "We, us and our" refers to the department of social and health services and its employees.

     "You, I and your" refers to the domestic violence agency.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.123 RCW. 10-22-040, § 388-61A-0220, filed 10/27/10, effective 11/27/10.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 10-22-040, filed 10/27/10, effective 11/27/10)

WAC 388-61A-0280   What are the requirements for the crisis hotline or helpline?   (1) You must provide a crisis hotline/helpline telephone number to access services of the domestic violence agency. The telephone number must ((be listed in the local telephone book, and identified as the crisis hotline/helpline telephone number of the domestic violence agency. The crisis hotline/helpline telephone number must also)) be widely distributed throughout the service area covered by the domestic violence agency and be identified as the crisis hotline/helpline of the agency.

     (2) The crisis hotline/helpline service must comply with the following minimum requirements:

     (a) It must operate twenty-four hours a day, three hundred sixty-five days a year.

     (b) It must be a dedicated telephone line that serves as the crisis hotline or helpline.

     (c) Staff that answer the hotline/helpline must be trained in, and familiar with, all referral and intake practices of the domestic violence agency.

     (d) In most cases, callers to the hotline/helpline must be able to speak, within fifteen minutes, to a trained staff person from whom the caller can obtain services, including access to emergency shelter.

     (e) Staff must have access to TTY or similar technology, and they must be trained on its use.

     (f) Safety must be addressed in every call.

     (3) You must have written procedures that address the following:

     (a) How crisis hotline staff will meet the needs of non-English speaking and hearing impaired callers.

     (b) Steps that must be taken when a caller requests emergency shelter.

     (c) If you use an answering service, or any other similar system, how you will provide training to the staff of the answering service, and how you will monitor the services provided to your agency.

     (4) If you use a call-forwarding system for your domestic violence agency's hotline/helpline, answering service, or any other similar system, you must guarantee that the caller's first contact is supportive.

     (5) You may use an answering machine, voice mail, or similar recording device as a back-up means of responding to calls to your agency's crisis hotline/helpline. However, these devices cannot be used as your agency's primary method of answering crisis hotline/helpline calls. Messages left on your agency's answering machine, voice mail, or similar recording device must be returned within the time frame described in subsection (2)(d) of this section.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.123 RCW. 10-22-040, § 388-61A-0280, filed 10/27/10, effective 11/27/10.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 10-22-040, filed 10/27/10, effective 11/27/10)

WAC 388-61A-0390   What safety requirements are shelters required to meet?   You must keep your equipment and the physical structures in the shelter, including furniture and appliances, safe and clean for the clients you serve. You must:

     (1) Maintain the shelter, premises, equipment, and supplies in a clean, safe and sanitary condition, free of hazards, and in good repair.

     (2) Provide guard or handrails, as necessary, for stairways, porches and balconies.

     (3) Maintain swimming pools, wading pools, bathtubs, hot tubs, spas, and bathing beaches in a safe manner and in such a way that does not present a health hazard, safety problem, or nuisance.

     (4) Have a method for securing all windows, doors, and other building accesses to prevent the entry of intruders.

     (5) ((Make sure all window screens can be secured to prevent children from falling from window openings.

     (6))) Make sure that clients residing in shelter are able to immediately enter the shelter if they do not have the ability to independently access the facility with their own key, keycard, door code, or other device.

     (((7))) (6) Provide adequate lighting of exterior areas to ensure the safety of clients residing in shelter and staff during the night.

     (((8))) (7) Provide a way for staff to enter any area occupied by clients should there be an emergency.

     (((9))) (8) Secure all unused refrigerators and freezers accessible to children in such a way that prevents them from climbing in and becoming trapped.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.123 RCW. 10-22-040, § 388-61A-0390, filed 10/27/10, effective 11/27/10.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 10-22-040, filed 10/27/10, effective 11/27/10)

WAC 388-61A-0410   What are requirements for cribs or bassinets?   If the shelter provides cribs or bassinets, the shelter must comply with ((each of these requirements:

     (1) Cribs and bassinets must have a clean, firm mattress covered with waterproof material that is easily sanitized.

     (2) Crib mattresses must fit snugly to prevent the infant from being caught between the mattress and crib side rails.

     (3) Cribs must be assembled correctly, and not have any missing, loose, or broken hardware or slats. There must not be any missing, loose, broken or improperly installed screws, brackets or other hardware on the crib or mattress support.

     (4) Soft objects and loose bedding, including bumper pads, cannot be used in cribs and bassinets.

     (5) Cribs must be made of wood, metal, or approved plastic with secure latching devices.

     (6) Cribs must have no more than two and three-eighths inches of space between vertical slats so an infant's body cannot fit through the slats. There must not be any missing or cracked slats.

     (7) Cribs must not have corner posts over one-sixteenth inch high so a child's clothing cannot catch.

     (8) Crib headboards and footboards must not have any cutouts that would result in a child's head getting trapped.

     (9) For mesh-sided cribs and playpens:

     (a) Mesh must not have any tears, holes or loose threads.

     (b) Mesh must be securely attached to the top rail and floor plate.

     (c) Top rail covers must not have any tears or holes)) crib safety standards issued by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.123 RCW. 10-22-040, § 388-61A-0410, filed 10/27/10, effective 11/27/10.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 10-22-040, filed 10/27/10, effective 11/27/10)

WAC 388-61A-0560   What first-aid supplies must I ((approve)) provide?   You must keep first-aid supplies on hand and accessible to clients residing in shelter for immediate use. First-aid supplies must include at a minimum the following: First-aid instruction booklet, band-aids, sterile gauze, adhesive tape, antibiotic ointment single use packets, antiseptic wipe single use packets, hydrocortisone ointment single use packets, roller bandage, thermometer (nonmercury/nonglass), and nonlatex gloves. In instances where an adult or child has ingested a potentially poisonous chemical or substance, you must call the Washington Poison Center for further instruction.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.123 RCW. 10-22-040, § 388-61A-0560, filed 10/27/10, effective 11/27/10.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 10-22-040, filed 10/27/10, effective 11/27/10)

WAC 388-61A-0650   What will happen if I am out of compliance with the minimum standards or my contract((s))?   (1) If we find that the domestic violence agency is out of compliance with the standards specified in this chapter or the terms of the DSHS contract, we will give you written notice of the deficiencies. You must correct the deficiencies according to a plan of correction we approve.

     (2) We may suspend or revoke the funding of a domestic violence agency if it is out of compliance with this chapter or the DSHS contract.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.123 RCW. 10-22-040, § 388-61A-0650, filed 10/27/10, effective 11/27/10.]