Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department of social and health services (DSHS) is planning to amend WAC 388-60B-0015 What definitions apply to this chapter?, 388-60B-0025 What is the purpose of this chapter?, 388-60B-0120 Facility requirements—What facility requirements must a program meet for the space where domestic violence intervention assessments or treatment services are provided?, 388-60B-0125 Quality management—What are the minimum treatment outcomes for participants and how must a program measure staff and treatment effectiveness?, 388-60B-0315 Group treatment—What standards must programs follow regarding the provision of group treatment?, 388-60B-0325 Victim safety—What steps must programs take in order to help increase victim safety?, 388-60B-0345 Participant requirements—What must the program require of participants accepted into a domestic violence intervention treatment program?, 388-60B-0500 On-site reviews and plans of correction—How does the department review certified programs for compliance with the regulations of this chapter?, and other rules as may be required.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Planned amendments will allow domestic violence intervention treatment (DVIT) programs to provide services via HIPAA compliant video sessions when certain standards are met. This filing is in response to a rule-making petition received from a consortium of DVIT providers seeking to preserve the ability to provide treatment through virtual platforms, which began during pandemic-related shutdowns. If applicable, these amendments will make additional changes required to improve clarity, update policy, or better align rule language with state and federal law or regulations.

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 Amie Roberts, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone 360-790-1483, email amie.roberts@dshs.wa.gov.