WSR 17-03-015

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed January 5, 2017, 3:25 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Revisions to existing chapter 67-10 WAC, Public records—Disclosure, chapter 67-16 WAC, Department—General administration, chapter 67-25 WAC, Vocational rehabilitation and services for blind persons, chapter 67-55 WAC, Child and family services, and chapter 67-75 WAC, Independent living services.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (H.R. 803; Pub.L. 113-128) (WIOA) is a United States public law that incorporates the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and consolidates job training programs under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 into a single funding stream.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Code of Federal Regulations Title 34, Subtitle B, Chapter Ill, Part 361 was revised June 30, 2016, to align with the WIOA law. The agency's WAC needs to be similarly revised to align with federal regulations.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Services Administration. In Washington state, other state agencies that we are mandated to partner with through WIOA legislation may have interest and impact on the rules of this agency, such as the department of social and health services' division of vocational rehabilitation, TANF and senior community service employment programs; the client assistance program; American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation programs; the employment security department's WIOA Title I programs; the state board for community and technical colleges adult basic education and career and technical education programs; and department of commerce's community services block grant employment and training program; the Washington state school for the blind; and the office of superintendent of public instruction.

Process for Developing New Rule: Agency study.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Michael MacKillop, Deputy Director, 3411 South Alaska Street, Seattle, WA 98118, (206) 906-5520, Michael.mackillop@dsb.wa.gov, www.dsb.wa.gov. Revised WAC language will be posted on web site once CR approval is provided. Public hearings will be held as is required in the WIOA for major policy changes.

December 22, 2016

Michael MacKillop

Deputy Director