Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department of social and health services (DSHS) is considering amending WAC 388-112A-0118 What documentation is required for completion of each training?, related to documentation of facility orientation; and other related rules as may be required.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.20.270, 70.128.230, 74.08.090, 74.39A.070, and 74.39A.074.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: On December 9, 2022, DSHS filed WSR 23-01-022 to reconcile the differences between chapter 388-71 WAC and chapter 388-112A WAC. Part of that reconciliation was to combine the numerous separate documentation requirements in chapter 388-112A WAC into a single WAC 388-112A-0118. In the process, the requirement that documentation for facility orientation include the date of hire that previously was contained in WAC 388-112A-0240 was inadvertently left out of WAC 388-112A-0118.

This issue was brought to our attention by DSHS field staff that are required to verify when an employee is eligible to work. The absence of this information causes significant issues for licensors, particularly those who are working with new providers. DSHS is seeking to restore to WAC 388-112A-0118 the requirement that documentation for facility orientation include the date of hire.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative; 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 Dave Chappell, Program Manager, 4450 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA 98504-5600, phone 360-725-2516, email david.chappell@dshs.wa.gov.