Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 388-437-0005 Changes to food assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and other related rules as may be required.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Planned adoption of this rule is required to implement provisions from an April 1, 2021, memo issued by the United States Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) containing guidance for the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201, Section 2302) to issue a minimum emergency food assistance allotment of $95 to all eligible households, and to align department policies with an April 21, 2021, clarification issued by FNS which states that households receiving a zero benefit are not eligible for emergency adjustments to food benefit issuances implemented under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201, Section 2302).

These amendments will consolidate emergency WAC 388-437-0002 What is the minimum emergency food assistance allotment an assistance unit may receive? into WAC 388-437-0005 Changes to food assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Process for Developing New Rule: The department of social and health services (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 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 Patrick Budde, Economic Services Administration, Community Services Division, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-764-0068, fax 360-725-4905, email patrick.budde@dshs.wa.gov.