WSR 23-01-046
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
(Board of Optometry)
[Filed December 13, 2022, 5:06 p.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-851-440 through 246-851-470. The board of optometry (board) is considering updating health professional monitoring program terminology as required by SSB 5496 Health professional monitoring programs.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The board is considering amendments to terminology and definitions to implement SSB 5496 (chapter 43, Laws of 2022) for substance use disorder and the health professional monitoring program for WAC 246-851-440 Philosophy governing voluntary substance abuse monitoring programs, 246-851-450 Definitions, 246-851-460 Approval of substance abuse monitoring programs, and 246-851-470 Participation in approved substance abuse monitoring program.
Amendments will include terminology and definitions for currently accepted language and replacing "substance abuse" with "substance use disorder" based on SSB 5496. The board will also consider amendments to correct citations and make other general housekeeping changes.
Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Kristina Bell, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-236-4818, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 711, email kristina.bell@doh.wa.gov, website www.doh.wa.gov/optometrist.
Additional comments: Notices will be emailed through the program's GovDelivery interested parties list. Interested parties will be invited to participate in meetings and rule drafting workshops. At the formal proposal stage of rule making, proposed rule language will be posted on the department's rules comments website to receive public comment for the public hearing. To join the interested parties list via GovDelivery notices, visit www.doh.wa.gov and click on the "Subscribe" button at the bottom of the page; next, check the box for "Optometry Board" under "Health Professions."
December 12, 2022
Jennifer Santiago
Executive Director