[Filed March 9, 2020, 11:07 a.m.]

Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 20-03-011.

Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 484-10-010 State veterans institutions.

Hearing Location(s): On May 6, 2020, at 11:30 [a.m.], at Washington department of veterans affairs (WDVA), at 1102 Quince Street S.E., 3rd Floor Conference Room, Olympia, WA 98504.

Date of Intended Adoption: May 7, 2020.

Submit Written Comments to: WDVA, Heidi Audette, P.O. Box 41150, email heidia@dva.wa.gov, fax 360-725-2197, by May 5, 2020.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Heidi Audette, phone 360-725-2154, fax 360-725-2197, TTY 360-725-2199, email heidia@dva.wa.gov, by March 10, 2019 [2020].

Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: General updates to language from superintendent to administrator and removing provision allowing a superintendent in training to be hired.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: Compliance with RCW 72.36.020.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 43.60A.070, 72.36.020.

Statute Being Implemented: RCW 72.36.020.

Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

Name of Proponent: WDVA, governmental.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation, and Enforcement: Heidi Audette, 1102 Quince Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, 360-725-2154.

A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW 28A.305.135.

A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. This rule is not considered a significant legislative rule.

This rule proposal, or portions of the proposal, is exempt from requirements of the Regulatory Fairness Act because the proposal:

Is exempt under RCW 19.85.025(3) as the rules relate only to internal governmental operations that are not subject to violation by a nongovernment party.

Legislative Director

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 10-04-027, filed 1/26/10, effective 2/26/10)

WAC 484-10-010State veterans institutions.

(1) The Washington soldiers home and colony, the Washington veterans home, ((and)) the eastern Washington veterans home, and the Walla Walla veterans home shall have, respectively, a chief executive officer to be called ((a superintendent))an administrator. The ((superintendent))administrator shall be directly responsible to the director or designee, of the department of veterans affairs((, and as such shall be an honorably discharged veteran)).

(2) The ((superintendent))administrator shall be a licensed nursing home administrator in the state of Washington. ((In situations where a candidate is identified who is an honorably discharged veteran but not yet a licensed nursing home administrator in the state of Washington, the director may appoint the candidate to the position of superintendent-in-training, providing time for the candidate to complete an administrator-in-training program, approved by the Washington state department of health, and pass the nursing home administrators licensing examination. The candidate is eligible for appointment to the position of superintendent once he or she becomes a licensed nursing home administrator. The director will ensure that the facility is directed by an interim on-site, full-time superintendent who is a licensed nursing home administrator and who may or may not be a veteran, while the candidate is in training, or whenever a suitable candidate is not available.))