Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 296-17 WAC, General reporting rules, audit and recordkeeping, rates and rating system for Washington workers' compensation insurance; chapter 296-17A WAC, Classifications for Washington workers' compensation insurance; and chapter 296-17B WAC, Retrospective rating for workers' compensation insurance.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department is considering whether provisions of RCW 51.32.187 regarding presumption of certain occupational diseases for Hanford site workers, necessitate special rates, classifications, and other rating rules for employment covered by RCW 51.32.187 insured with the state fund. The purpose of such rules would be to charge premiums for employment covered by RCW 51.32.187 consistent with recognized insurance principles, while protecting existing risk classes from having their rates adversely affected by risks present for employment covered by RCW 51.32.187, but not elsewhere.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: No other state, local, or federal agency regulates this subject.

Process for Developing New Rule: Premium rates for risk classifications are developed in part from the past loss experience of employers subject to the classification, changes in benefit levels mandated by law or court decisions, medical inflation, economic and business trends and financial markets.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Annie Peeples, P.O. Box 44148, Olympia, WA 98504-4148, phone 360-902-4723, fax 360-902-5830, TTY 360-902-5797, email Annie.Peeples@Lni.wa.gov, website https://lni.wa.gov/rulemaking-activity/.