WSR 15-20-092

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed October 6, 2015, 9:07 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 296-15 WAC, Workers' compensation self-insurance rules and regulations.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 51.04.020, 51.04.030, chapter 137, Laws of 2015 (SHB 1496).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Rule making is needed to modify an existing rule to conform to the provisions of chapter 137, Laws of 2015 (SHB 1496). The proposed rule making will allow a longer period of time for workers who are eligible for vocational retraining to decline further vocational services and instead select vocational Option 2 benefits.

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 subject.

Process for Developing New Rule: Labor and industries will begin the rule amendment process and will share the draft proposal with stakeholders and other interested parties. A public hearing will be held after the proposal is filed.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting James Nylander, Self-Insurance Program Manager, P.O. Box 44890, Olympia, WA 98504-4890, phone (360) 902-6907, fax (360) 902-6977, e-mail James.Nylander@lni.wa.gov.

October 6, 2015

Joel Sacks

Director