Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapters 246-809 and 246-811 WAC, the department of health (department) is considering adding new sections to these chapters to implement the requirements of SB 5054 regarding probationary licensure and a reciprocity program between Washington and other U.S. states and territories for the following mental health licenses: Substance use disorder professional, mental health counselor, marriage and family therapist, advanced social worker, and independent clinical social worker. The department may also fix internal references in both chapters as needed to harmonize with the newly added sections. Finally, the department will open WAC 246-809-990 and 246-811-990 to discuss a fee regarding probationary licensure for each of the licenses listed as well as WAC 246-924-990 for a psychology probationary license as authorized by the statute.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Rule making is necessary for the department to establish the administrative requirements and fees for the reciprocity programs and probationary licensure required in statute. The statute and subsequent rule making is intended to increase the mental health professional workforce in Washington state.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Pamela Ranes, P.O. Box 47850, Olympia, WA 98504-7850, phone 360-236-4987, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 360-833-6388 or 711, email pamela.ranes@doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Rule development will take place in open public meetings prior to a formal rule proposal and comment period. All rule-making notices will be mailed via GovDelivery to various behavioral health professions lists. Notices for this rule making will be the same regardless of the GovDelivery list it will be sent to. To receive notices, interested persons may sign up for any or all of the lists mentioned here. Please go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new. After signing in, please click open the box labeled "Health Systems Quality Assurance." Next click open the box labeled "Health Professions." From there you may check the box next to one or more of the follow[ing] professions: Agency affiliated counselor, board of psychology, certified counselors/certified advisers, licensed counselors.