WSR 18-05-027
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[Filed February 9, 2018, 11:29 a.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Low-income home rehabilitation revolving loan program.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 43.330.482.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: RCW 43.330.482 states that the Washington state department of commerce (commerce) must adopt rules for implementation of low-income home rehabilitation revolving loan program (program). Eligibility, eligible agencies, and program guidelines are expected outcomes of the rule-making process.
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The legislature in 2017 created the program to assist low-income homeowners in rural areas with home rehabilitation projects, subject to the availability of funding. The legislature appropriated $5 million in funding in 2018, enabling commerce to adopt rules and implement the program.
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Commerce will contract with local rehabilitation agencies, which might include any approved department grantee, tribal nation, or any public service company, municipality, public utility district, mutual or cooperative, or other entity approved by the department.
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Commerce intends to prioritize rehabilitation projects in coordination with weatherization projects.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: Stakeholder meetings will be held to allow those affected by the rule to provide input prior to the rule proposal being filed. Parties interested in the formulation of these rules for proposal may contact the individual listed below. The public may also participate by commenting after rules are proposed by providing written comments or giving oral testimony during the public hearing process.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Amanda Rains, 1011 Plum Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-725-2980, email Amanda.rains@commerce.wa.gov, web site commerce.wa.gov; or Emily Salzberg, 1011 Plum Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-725-2962, email Emily.salzberg@commerce.wa.gov, web site commerce.wa.gov.
February 9, 2018
Jaime Rossman
Rules Coordinator