[Filed February 17, 2021, 3:49 p.m., effective February 17, 2021, 3:49 p.m.]

Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.

Purpose: The grants program is increasing the amount the executive director can approve for individual grant awards by amending WAC 30-02-015 Grants.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending 1.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 43.46.040.

Other Authority: RCW 43.46.005 and 43.46.055.

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: The Washington state arts commission is pursuing permanent adoption of this rule amendment and has filed WSR 21-05-045 on February 11, 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe and negative impact on Washington's creative economy. The emergency adoption of this proposed amendment provides the agency flexibility and capacity to provide effective rapid-response and sustained operating support in the form of grants during, but not limited to, this and other natural disasters, emergencies, and when resolving structural inequities that impact the conservation and development of the state's artistic resources as described in RCW 43.46.005 and authorized by 43.46.055.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: February 17, 2021.

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 19-07-001, filed 3/6/19, effective 4/6/19)

WAC 30-12-015Grants.

(1) The commission provides grants through a competitive process to organizations or individuals for the purpose of developing, sponsoring, and promoting the growth and development of the arts and arts education in the state of Washington.

(2) Staff create and publish applications, application cycles, forms and documents, guidelines, eligibility requirements, review criteria, and select review panelists.

(3) Staff manage the application process. Panelists evaluate and score applications and offer recommendations to the board. See also WAC 30-12-017 (Applications) and WAC 30-12-030 (Panels).

(4) The board reviews panel recommendations and approves grants, except as noted below.

(a) The executive director may approve grants that do not exceed ((three))five thousand dollars. Grants approved by the executive director are subject to ratification by the board at the next board meeting.

(b) The board may delegate to the executive director approval of grants that exceed ((three))five thousand dollars. Grants approved by the executive director are subject to ratification by the board at the next board meeting.