WSR 13-22-072

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed November 5, 2013, 11:34 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 296-17B WAC, Retrospective rating for workers' compensation insurance.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 51.18.005, 51.04.020, and 51.16.035.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Slight modifications to current rules are necessary to ensure that retro and nonretro employers continue to fund the same percentage of their claim costs and that retro refunds are distributed fairly among employers in retro.

This rule making is intended to open the dialog with the broader retro community and other stakeholders in order to ensure appropriate public input.

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 issue.

Process for Developing New Rule: Labor and industries will solicit public input by way of direct mailings, the retro web page, listserv, formal and informal meetings, including the retro advisory committee meetings. Labor and industries will use this input to formulate proposed changes to the existing rules. We will advise customers of future rule making by direct mailing, meetings and/or the internet.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Labor and industries will initiate communication through the retrospective rating advisory committee and will post notices on the retro web page and listserv. Interested parties may request information on our rules process at http://www.lni.wa.gov/LawRule/ruleProcess.asp and may submit comments electronically to Tim.Smolen@Lni.wa.gov, by fax to (360) 902-4258 or by calling (360) 902-4851.

November 5, 2013

Joel Sacks

Director