WSR 14-17-088

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed August 19, 2014, 7:34 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: When retro rules were updated in 2011, department of labor and industries (L&I) made a commitment to revisit the studies leading to the current hazard group assignments, formulas and tables, and to update them if needed.

This rule making begins the process of repeating the studies behind the 2011 rules, and to identify any necessary updates or changes.

This rule making is also 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: L&I will solicit public input by way of direct mailings, the retro web page, listserv, formal and informal meetings, including the retro and workers' compensation advisory committee meetings. L&I 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. L&I 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 Diane.Doherty@Lni.wa.gov, by fax (360) 902-4258 or by calling (360) 902-5903.

August 19, 2014

Joel Sacks

Director