WSR 18-03-055

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed January 10, 2018, 9:06 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is planning to amend licensing regulations contained in chapter 388-145 WAC, Licensing requirements for group care facilities and services; chapter 388-147 WAC, Licensing requirements for child placing agency and adoption services; and chapter 388-148 WAC, Licensing requirements for child foster homes, including WAC 388-145-1305, 388-145-1330, 388-145-1335, 388-145-1400, 388-145-1405, 388-145-1430, 388-145-1460, 388-145-1560, 388-145-1565, 388-145-1610, 388-145-1835, 388-145-1855, 388-147-1305, 388-147-1425, 388-147-1450, 388-147-1565, 388-148-1305, 388-148-1365, 388-148-1530, 388-148-1575, 388-148-1645, and other related rules as may be required.

The intent of the planned WAC revision is to provide foster parents, child placing agencies, and group care facilities further instructions and additional clarification regarding minimum licensing requirements. The minimum licensing requirements were overhauled in January 2015, but since that time the department of social and health services (DSHS), child placing agencies, and group care staff have made additional recommendations to improve the clarity and understandability of the WAC. The regional medical consultants, the Foster Parent 1624 Statewide Consultation Team, assistant attorneys general, and other stakeholders have also provided feedback regarding additional changes to make the WAC clearer and easier to understand.

The division of licensed resources (DLR) is planning to amend several of the licensing WAC as a result of the feedback received from these different internal and external stakeholders.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.13.031, 74.15.010, 74.15.030, 74.15.040, 74.15.090.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The planned WAC revisions are intended to provide foster parents, child placing agencies, and group care staff additional instructions specific to infant and child safety, as well as the practices and processes related to licensing.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

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 Kristina Wright, Program Manager, DLR, 1115 Washington Street S.E., P.O. Box 45710, Olympia, WA 98504-5710, phone 360-902-8349, fax 360-902-7903, email wrighks@dshs.wa.gov.

January 9, 2018

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator