WSR 14-08-069

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed March 31, 2014, 12:20 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is proposing to amend WAC 388-450-0162 and any other income-related WAC necessary to allow a fifty percent unearned income disregard for nonparental child-only TANF cases.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.090, and 74.12.037.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: HB 2585 passed the 63rd legislature on March 13, 2014. The bill, which was delivered to the governor, is intended to create parity for nonparental TANF caregivers. The bill authorizes the department to, by rule, exempt fifty percent of a caregiver's unearned income in determining TANF eligibility and benefit standards.

Current rule only allows a fifty percent earned income disregard, creating an inequity for nonparental caregivers relying on unearned income. The proposed rules will allow for a fifty percent unearned income disregard for nonparental child-only TANF cases.

Process for Developing New Rule: DSHS welcomes the public to take part in developing the rules. Anyone interested should contact the staff person identified below. At a later date, DSHS will file a proposal with the office of the code reviser with a notice of proposed rule making. A copy of the proposal will be sent to everyone on the mailing list and to anyone who requests a copy.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Tom Berry, Program Manager, Community Services Division, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone (360) 725-4617, fax (360) 725-4904, e-mail Tom.Berry@dshs.wa.gov.

March 31, 2014

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Manager