WSR 17-16-168

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed August 2, 2017, 10:24 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is proposing to amend WAC 388-25-0506, 388-25-0528, 388-25-0534, and other related rules as may be required related to extended foster care (EFC).

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 13.34.145, 13.34.267, 74.13.020, 74.13.031, 43.88C.010, 74.13.107, 43.131.416, 13.34.030.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The Washington state legislature modified RCW 74.13.031 by expanding the age youth can reenroll into the EFC program. The age has been expanded from nineteen to twenty-one years old.

The following EFC WAC are being revised to align with this change: WAC 388-25-0506 Who is eligible for extended foster care?, 388-25-0528 How does a youth agree to participate in the extended foster care program?, 388-25-0534 If an extended foster care participant loses his or her eligibility before he or she turns nineteen, can he or she reapply for extended foster care?, and other changes that are identified during this rule making may be incorporated to clarify language.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: DSHS children's administration will continue to coordinate with office of attorney general.

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 Sherrie Flores, P.O. Box 45710, Olympia, WA 98504, phone (360) 902-8332, fax (360) 902-7903, email sherrie.flores@dshs.wa.gov.

August 2, 2017

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator