Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 13-04-091.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The community services division (CSD) is proposing to amend WAC 388-482-0005 How does being a student impact my eligibility for the Washington Basic Food program?

     Hearing Location(s): Office Building 2, Lookout Room, 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 May 21, 2013, at 10:00 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than May 22, 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 May 21, 2013.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jennisha Johnson, DSHS rules consultant, by May 7, 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: The department is proposing to amend WAC 388-482-0005 to remove references to the food stamp employment and training program and replace it with the Basic Food employment and training. CSD will also use this opportunity to edit rule language to provide more clarity of student status as it relates to Basic Food eligibility and improve accuracy in the Basic Food program.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: The department seeks to avoid Basic Food payment errors and improve overall program access. This will help assure Washington state continues to receive federal funding for its supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) and avoid financial penalties.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, and 74.08.090.

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.04.005, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, and 74.08.090.

     Rule is necessary because of federal law, 7 C.F.R. § 273.5.

     Name of Proponent: Department of social and health services, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Robert Thibodeau, 712 Pear Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 725-4634.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. These proposed rules do not have an economic impact on small businesses. The proposed amendment only affects DSHS program denial letter preparation procedures to align them with procedures described in other rule sections.

     A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. These amendments are exempt as allowed under RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii) which states in part, "[t]his section does not apply to ... rules of the department of social and health services relating only to client medical or financial eligibility and rules concerning liability for care of dependents."

April 1, 2013

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator

     (a) Age eighteen through forty-nine;

     (b) Physically and mentally able to work (we determine if you are unable to work); ((and))

     (c) Enrolled in an institution of higher education at least half-time as defined by the institution; and

     (d) Enrolled in coursework considered to be higher education.

     (2) An institution of higher education is:

     (a) Any educational institution that requires a high school diploma or general education development certificate (GED);

     (b) A business, trade, or vocational school that requires a high school diploma or GED; or

     (c) A two-year or four-year college or university that offers a degree but does not require a high school diploma or GED.

     (3) If you are a student of higher education, you must also meet one of the following conditions to be eligible for Basic Food:

     (a) You have paid employment of at least twenty hours per week.

     (b) ((Be)) You are self-employed, work, and earn at least the amount you would earn working twenty hours at the federal minimum wage;

     (c) ((Be)) You were participating in a state or federal work study program ((at the time you applied for Basic Food benefits. For the purpose of being eligible for Basic Food, work study is:

     (i) Working and receiving money from the work study program; and

     (ii) Not turning down a work assignment)) during the regular school year.

     (i) To qualify under this condition, you must:

     (A) Have approval for work study at the time of application for Basic Food;

     (B) Have work study that is approved for the school term; and

     (C) Anticipate actually working during that time.

     (ii) The work study exemption begins:

     (A) The month in which the school term starts; or

     (B) The month work study is approved, whichever is later.

     (iii) Once begun, the work study exemption shall continue until:

     (A) The end of the month in which the school term ends; or

     (B) We find out you refused a work study assignment.

     (d) ((Be)) You are responsible for more than half the care of a dependent person in your assistance unit (AU) who is age five or younger;

     (e) ((Be)) You are responsible for more than half the care of a dependent person in your AU who is between age six and eleven, if we have determined that there is not adequate child care available during the school year to allow you to:

     (i) Attend class and satisfy the twenty-hour work requirement; or

     (ii) Take part in a work study program.

     (f) ((Be)) You are a single parent responsible for the care of your natural, step, or adopted child who is eleven or younger;

     (g) ((Be)) You are an adult who has the parental responsibility of a child who is age eleven or younger if none of the following people live in the home:

     (i) The child's parents; or

     (ii) Your spouse.

     (h) You participate in the WorkFirst program under WAC 388-310-0200;

     (i) You receive TANF or SFA benefits;

     (j) You attend an institution of higher education through:

     (i) The Workforce Investment Act (WIA);

     (ii) The ((food stamp)) Basic Food employment and training (BF E&T) program under chapter 388-444 WAC;

     (iii) An approved state or local employment and training program; or

     (iv) Section 236 of the Trade Act of 1974.

     (4) If you are a student of higher education and the only reason you are eligible for Basic Food is because you ((participate)) are participating in work study, you are only eligible while you work and receive money from work study. If your work study stops during the summer months, you must meet another condition to be an eligible student during this period.

     (5) If you are a student of higher education, your status as a student:

     (a) Begins the first day of the school term; and

     (b) Continues through vacations. This includes the summer break if you plan to return to school for the next term.

     (6) We do not consider you a student of higher education if you:

     (a) Graduate;

     (b) Are suspended or expelled;

     (c) Drop out; or

     (d) Do not intend to register for the next normal school term other than summer school.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, and 74.04.510. 03-22-037, § 388-482-0005, filed 10/28/03, effective 12/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510. 99-16-024, § 388-482-0005, filed 7/26/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-482-0005, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]