SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES

(Aging and Long-Term Support Administration)

[Filed March 4, 2024, 8:14 a.m.]

Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The department of social and health services (DSHS) is proposing to amend WAC 388-112A-0400 What is specialty training and who is required to take it?

Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The purpose of amending WAC 388-112A-0400 What is specialty training and who is required to take it?, is to correct a reference, update numbers over 10 from words to numerals, and to remove time-dated language that is no longer needed.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: The proposed changes are necessary for the following reasons:


•	The citation in subsection (2) pointing to WAC 388-112A-0010(3) is incorrect and should be WAC 388-112A-0010(36);
•	References in subsection (2)(a)(i) and (ii) dealing with alternative curriculum reference a submission date of June 30, 2018, which is no longer needed; and
•	Numbers over 10 in subsections (5) and (6) do not conform to the current rules on style which require them to be numerals.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 70.128.230, 74.08.074, 74.39A.009, and 74.39A.070.

Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

Name of Proponent: DSHS, governmental.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: David Chappell, Aging and Long-Term Support Administration Headquarters, Blake East 4500 10th Avenue S.E., 2nd Floor, Lacey, WA 98503, 360-725-2516.

This notice meets the following criteria to use the expedited adoption process for these rules:

Corrects typographical errors, makes address or name changes, or clarifies language of a rule without changing its effect.

This notice meets the following criteria to use the expedited repeal process for these rules:

The rule is no longer necessary because of changed circumstances.

THIS RULE IS BEING PROPOSED UNDER AN EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS THAT WILL ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE AGENCY TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS, PREPARE A SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT, OR PROVIDE RESPONSES TO THE CRITERIA FOR A SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATIVE RULE. IF YOU OBJECT TO THIS USE OF THE EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS, YOU MUST EXPRESS YOUR OBJECTIONS IN WRITING AND THEY MUST BE SENT TO Rules Coordinator, DSHS, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504-5850, phone 360-664-6097, fax 360-664-6185, email DSHSRPAURulesCoordinator@dshs.wa.gov, AND RECEIVED BY 5:00 p.m. on May 6, 2024.

Katherine I. Vasquez

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 17-22-036, filed 10/24/17, effective 11/24/17)

WAC 388-112A-0400What is specialty training and who is required to take it?

(1) Specialty training refers to approved curricula that meets the requirements of RCW 18.20.270 and 70.128.230 to provide basic core knowledge and skills to effectively and safely provide care to residents living with mental illness, dementia, or developmental disabilities.

(2) Specialty training classes are different for each population served and are not interchangeable. Specialty training curriculum must be DSHS developed, as described in WAC 388-112A-0010(((3)))(36), or DSHS approved.

(a) In order for DSHS to approve a curriculum as a specialty training class, the class must use the competencies and learning objectives in WAC 388-112A-0430, 388-112A-0440, or 388-112A-0450.

(((i) Training entities that currently use classes approved as alternative curriculum for specialty training must update and submit their curricula for approval prior to June 30, 2018.))

(((ii) After July 1, 2018,))(b) Training entities must not use classes approved as alternative curriculum for specialty training that are not using the competencies and learning objectives in WAC 388-112A-0430, 388-112A-0440, or 388-112A-0450 to meet the specialty training requirement.

(((b)))(c) Curricula approved as specialty training may be integrated with basic training if the complete content of each training is included.

(3) Assisted living facility administrators or their designees, enhanced services facility administrators or their designees, adult family home applicants or providers, resident managers, and entity representatives who are affiliated with homes that service residents who have special needs, including developmental disabilities, dementia, or mental health, must take one or more of the following specialty training curricula:

(a) Developmental disabilities specialty training as described in WAC 388-112A-0420;

(b) Dementia specialty training as described in WAC 388-112A-0440;

(4) All long-term care workers including those exempt from basic training who work in an assisted living facility, enhanced services facility, or adult family home who serve residents with the special needs described in subsection (3) of this section, must take a class approved as specialty training. The specialty training applies to the type of residents served by the home as follows:

(a) Developmental disabilities specialty training as described in WAC 388-112A-0420((.));

(b) Dementia specialty training as described in WAC 388-112A-0440; and

(5) Specialty training may be used to meet the requirements for the basic training population specific component if completed within ((one hundred twenty))120 days of the date of hire.

(6) For long-term care workers who have completed the ((seventy-five hour))75-hour training and do not have a specialty training certificate that indicates completion and competency testing, the long-term care worker must complete specialty training when employed by the adult family home, enhanced services facility, or assisted living facility that serves residents with special needs.