WSR 20-13-061

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING

[Filed June 15, 2020, 2:43 p.m., effective June 15, 2020, 2:43 p.m.]

Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.

Purpose: The department is filing an emergency rule to address the backlog of license renewals related to COVID-19. Due to the department's move from Venture to POLARIS, the ability to process renewals will be halted before the backlog can be resolved. In order to keep those who have submitted a license renewal active while transitioning from one system to the other, the department is adopting WAC 308-108-030 Addressing license renewal backlog. The department will not determine or treat any license that is expiring between June 1 and July 15 as expired until August 1, 2020. Licensees still must renew timely in order to avoid any enforcement action against their license.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New WAC 308-108-030 Addressing license renewal backlog.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 46.01.110.

Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.

Reasons for this Finding: Failure to take action would not only impact driver training schools, if the department did not adopt this rule, students of these schools could experience difficulties in being issued a license.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: June 15, 2020.

Damon Monroe

Rules Coordinator