WSR 16-08-045

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed March 30, 2016, 2:36 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-980 WAC, Home care aide rules, updating the rules to be clear, concise, and easily understood.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.88B.021.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Portions of this chapter have been revised in 2012, 2013 and 2014 in response to Initiative 1163 (in 2011) and other legislation, but the chapter has not had a comprehensive review since it was created in 2010. In the nearly six years that the profession has been using the current rules, multiple sections have been identified as lacking clarity. The department is considering revising the rules to make them easier to understand and reduce ambiguity.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The department of social and hehttp://www.oria.wa.gov/site/alias_oria/publications_business_publications/433/business_publications.aspxalth [health] services will be consulted with on an ongoing basis.

Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting the Washington state home care aide program at Homecareaides@doh.wa.gov, fax (360) 236-2901, or mail Home Care Aide Program, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7877.

March 28, 2016

John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH

Secretary