Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department of social and health services (DSHS) is planning to amend WAC 388-310-0300 WorkFirst—Infant care exemptions for mandatory participants, 388-310-1450 Pregnancy to employment, 388-484-0006 TANF/SFA time limit extension, and other related rules as may be required.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, and 74.08.090.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Planned amendments support implementation of SHB 2007 (chapter 181, Laws of 2024), effective July 1, 2024, which creates a TANF time limit extension for households caring for a child under the age of two that qualifies for an infant, toddler, or postpartum exemption from WorkFirst activities. 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.

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

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 Sarah Mintzer, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone 360-764-0050, fax 360-725-4905, email sarah.mintzer@dshs.wa.gov.