WSR 14-24-078

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed December 1, 2014, 9:23 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is proposing to amend WAC 388-450-0085 Does the department count all of my self-employment income to determine if I am eligible for benefits?, and any other related rules to implement a standard fifty percent self-employment income deduction for cash and food assistance programs.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.08A.120, and 7 C.F.R. § 273.11 (b)(3)(iv).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The proposed changes allow households with self-employment income and who receive cash and/or food assistance to take the greater of:

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services, regulates federal food benefits affected by this filing. No direct coordination is necessary. Adopted rules will be consistent with federal laws and regulations regarding income deductions, budgeting and treatment of income under 7 C.F.R. §§ 273.9 and 273.11 (b)(3)(iv).

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 Bob Thibodeau, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia WA 98504-5470, phone (360) 725-4634, fax (360) 725-4904, e-mail thiborl@dshs.wa.gov.

December 1, 2014

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator