Purpose: This filing delays the effective date of revisions to chapter 246-101 WAC, Notifiable conditions, due to technical challenges that prevent rule implementation from being completed by the original effective date of January 1, 2022.

The purpose of the chapter is to provide critical information to public health authorities to aid them in protecting and improving public health through prevention and control of infectious and noninfectious conditions as required under law. Public health authorities use the information gathered under this chapter to take appropriate action, including, but not limited to: Treating ill people; providing preventive therapies for individuals who came into contact with infectious agents; investigating and halting outbreaks; removing harmful health exposures from the environment; assessing broader health-related patterns, including historical trends, geographic clustering, and risk factors; and redirecting program activities and developing policies based on broader health-related patterns. The chapter establishes notification requirements and standards for conditions that pose a threat to public health consistent with this purpose and the authorizing statutes it is adopted under.

Extending the rule revision's effective date allows sufficient time for the Washington state department of health to update its internal processes and data systems to come into compliance with the rule, as well as work with regulated entities to support their compliance.

A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Samantha Pskowski, P.O. Box 47990, Olympia, WA 98540-7990 [98504-7990], phone 360-789-2358, TTY 711, email notifiableconditions@sboh.wa.gov, website https://sboh.wa.gov/Rulemaking/CurrentRulesandActivity/NotifiableCondition.