WSR 17-15-070
PROPOSED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
[Filed July 14, 2017, 11:27 a.m.]
Original Notice.
Proposal is exempt under RCW 34.05.310(4) or 34.05.330(1).
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 246-809-990 Licensed counselor, and associate—Fees and renewal cycle, 246-810-990 Counselors fees and renewal cycle, and 246-811-990 Chemical dependency professional and chemical dependency professional trainee—Fees and renewal cycle, proposing increases in application and renewal fees, adjustments to standardize fees for late renewal, verification of credentials and duplicate credentials, and clarifications in formatting for marriage and family therapists and associates, certified counselors and advisers, agency affiliated counselors, and chemical dependency professionals and associates.
Hearing Location(s): Department of Health, Point Plaza East, Room 153, 310 Israel Road S.E., Tumwater, WA 98501, on August 22, 2017, at 10:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: August 29, 2017.
Submit Written Comments to: Sherry Thomas, P.O. Box 47850, Olympia, WA 98504-7850, email https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/policyreview, fax (360) 236-2901, by August 22, 2017.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Sherry Thomas by August 8, 2017, TTY (800) 833-6388 or 711.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Current licensing fees for these programs do not generate sufficient revenue to cover the full cost of administering these licensing programs. In response, the department is proposing to increase application and renewal fees. The department is also proposing adjustments to standardize fees for late renewal, verification of credentials and duplicate credentials, and minor formatting changes.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: RCW 43.70.250 requires the cost of each licensing program to be fully borne by the profession's members and licensing fees to be based on licensure costs. Increasing fees to the proposed levels will allow these programs' revenues to align more closely with current and projected expenses and to significantly reduce each program's ending fund balance deficit over time. The other fee adjustments will create consistency in the fees for functions that require similar staff time to complete across health professions.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Department of health, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation, and Enforcement: Sherry Thomas, 111 Israel Road, Tumwater, WA 98501, (360) 236-4612.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. Under RCW 19.85.025 and 34.05.310 (4)(f), a small business economic impact statement is not required for proposed rules that set or adjust fees or rates pursuant to legislative standards.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. The agency did not complete a cost-benefit analysis under RCW 34.05.328. RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vi) exempts rules that set or adjust fees or rates pursuant to legislative standards.
July 14, 2017
John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH
Secretary
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 15-19-149, filed 9/22/15, effective 1/1/16)
WAC 246-809-990 Licensed counselor, and associate—Fees and renewal cycle.
(1) Licenses must be renewed every year on the practitioner's birthday as provided in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2.
(2) Associate licenses are valid for one year and must be renewed every year on the date of issuance. The associate license may be renewed no more than six times.
(3) The following nonrefundable fees will be charged:
Title
Fee
Licensed marriage and family therapist
 
 
Original application
 
 
 
Application and initial license
$((150.00)) 290.00
 
 
((License
75.00))
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)
16.00
 
Active license renewal
 
 
 
Renewal
((140.00)) 180.00
 
 
Late renewal penalty
((70.00)) 90.00
 
 
Expired license reissuance
85.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)
16.00
 
Retired active license renewal
 
 
 
Renewal
70.00
 
 
Late renewal penalty
35.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)
16.00
 
Duplicate license
10.00
 
Verification of license
((10.00))
25.00
Licensed marriage and family therapy associate
 
 
Original application
 
 
 
Application
((50.00)) 65.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)
16.00
 
Renewal
 
 
 
Renewal
((40.00)) 50.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)
16.00
 
 
Late renewal penalty
((40.00)) 50.00
 
 
Expired license reissuance
40.00
 
Duplicate license
((15.00))
10.00
 
Verification of license
((15.00))
25.00
Licensed mental health counselor
 
 
Original application
 
 
 
Application
95.00
 
 
Initial license
80.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)
16.00
 
Active license renewal
 
 
 
Renewal
90.00
 
 
Late renewal penalty
50.00
 
 
Expired license reissuance
65.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)
16.00
 
Retired active license renewal
 
 
 
Renewal retired active
70.00
 
 
Late renewal penalty
35.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)
16.00
 
Duplicate license
10.00
 
Verification of license
((10.00))
25.00
Licensed mental health counselor associate
 
 
Original application
 
 
 
Application
35.00
 
Renewal
 
 
 
Renewal
25.00
 
 
Late renewal penalty
25.00
 
 
Expired license reissuance
40.00
 
Duplicate license
((15.00))
10.00
 
Verification of license
((15.00))
25.00
Licensed advanced social worker and licensed independent clinical social worker
 
 
Original application
 
 
 
Application
100.00
 
 
Initial license
100.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)
16.00
 
Active license renewal
 
 
 
Renewal
100.00
 
 
Late renewal penalty
50.00
 
 
Expired license reissuance
72.50
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)
16.00
 
Retired active license renewal
 
 
 
Renewal retired active
65.00
 
 
Late renewal penalty
30.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)
16.00
 
Duplicate license
10.00
 
Verification of license
((10.00))
25.00
Licensed advanced social worker associate and licensed independent clinical social worker associate
 
 
Original application
 
 
 
Application
35.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)*
16.00
 
Renewal
 
 
 
Renewal
25.00
 
 
Late renewal penalty
25.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)*
16.00
 
 
Expired license reissuance
40.00
 
Duplicate license
((15.00))
10.00
 
Verification of license
((15.00))
25.00
*
Surcharge applies to independent clinical social worker associate only.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 14-07-095, filed 3/18/14, effective 7/1/14)
WAC 246-810-990 Counselors fees and renewal cycle.
(1) Under chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2, a counselor must renew his or her credential every year on the practitioner's birthday.
(2) ((Any separate)) Examination and reexamination fees are the responsibility of the applicant and are paid directly to the testing company.
(3) The following nonrefundable fees will be charged:
Title
Fee
(((3)
The following nonrefundable fees will be charged for)) Registered hypnotherapist:
 
Application and registration
$155.00
 
Renewal
$80.00
 
Late renewal penalty
$75.00
 
Expired registration reissuance
$75.00
 
Duplicate registration
$((30.00))
10.00
 
((Certification)) Verification of registration
$((30.00))
25.00
(((4)
The following nonrefundable fees will be charged for)) Certified counselor:
 
Application and certification
$((160.00))
255.00
 
Examination or reexamination
$85.00
 
Renewal
$((140.00))
225.00
 
Late renewal penalty
$((50.00))
115.00
 
Expired credential reissuance
$100.00
 
Duplicate credential
$((15.00))
10.00
 
((Certification)) Verification of credential
$((15.00))
25.00
(((5)
The following nonrefundable fees will be charged for)) Certified adviser:
 
Application and certification
$((130.00))
210.00
 
Examination or reexamination
$85.00
 
Renewal
$((115.00))
185.00
 
Late renewal penalty
$((50.00))
95.00
 
Expired credential reissuance
$100.00
 
Duplicate credential
$((15.00))
10.00
 
((Certification)) Verification of credential
$((15.00))
25.00
(((6)
The following nonrefundable fees will be charged for)) Registered agency affiliated counselor:
 
Application and registration
$((60.00))
90.00
 
Renewal
$((50.00))
75.00
 
Late renewal penalty
$((40.00))
50.00
 
Expired registration reissuance
$50.00
 
Duplicate registration
$((15.00))
10.00
 
((Certification)) Verification of registration
$((15.00))
25.00
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 09-14-111, filed 6/30/09, effective 7/1/09)
WAC 246-811-990 Chemical dependency professional and chemical dependency professional trainee—Fees and renewal cycle.
(1) A chemical dependency professional (CDP) certificate must be renewed every year on the practitioner's birthday as provided in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2.
(2) A chemical dependency professional trainee (CDPT) certificate must be renewed every year to correspond with issuance date.
(3) The following nonrefundable fees will be charged for a certified chemical dependency professional:
Title of Fee
Fee
Application and initial certification
$((200.00))
640.00
((Initial certification
225.00))
Active renewal
((230.00))
345.00
Active late renewal penalty
175.00
((Renewal)) Retired active renewal
115.00
Retired active late renewal ((retired active)) penalty
((57.50))
60.00
((Late renewal penalty
115.00))
Expired certification reissuance
115.00
Duplicate certification
10.00
((Certification)) Verification of certificate
((10.00))
25.00
(4) The following nonrefundable fees will be charged for a certified chemical dependency professional trainee:
Title of Fee
Fee
Application and initial certification
$((110.00))
165.00
Renewal
((90.00))
135.00
Late renewal penalty
((50.00))
70.00
Expired certification reissuance
50.00
Duplicate certification
((15.00))
10.00
((Certification)) Verification of certificate
((15.00))
25.00