Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is planning to amend WAC 388-466-0120 Refugee cash assistance (RCA); and other related rules as may be required.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.08A.250, 45 C.F.R § 400.300, and 8 U.S.C. § 1522 (e)(1).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: RCA recipients are eligible to receive benefits for a maximum of eight months; in case of emergencies, federal law allows for the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to approve clients to receive RCA benefits for a maximum of thirty-six months. Amending this rule will allow the department of social and health services (DSHS) to extend RCA benefits beyond eight months when allowed by ORR.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, of the economic services administration's community services division (CSD) within DSHS, coordinates and aligns RCA program policy with that of the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).

Process for Developing New Rule: DSHS welcomes the public to take part in developing the rules. Anyone interested should contact the staff person identified below. At a later date, DSHS will file a proposal with the office of the code reviser with a notice of proposed rule making. A copy of the proposal will be sent to everyone on the mailing list and to anyone who requests a copy.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Max Gibbs-Ruby, Lead Policy Analyst Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, CSD, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone 206-568-5528, email gibbsm@dshs.wa.gov; or Sarah Peterson, Chief, Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, CSD, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone 360-890-0691, email petersk@dshs.wa.gov, website https://www.dshs.wa.gov/esa/office-refugee-and-immigrant-assistance.