WSR 24-15-120
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR AND INDUSTRIES
[Filed July 23, 2024, 8:52 a.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 296-19A WAC, Vocational rehabilitation.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: SHB 2127, chapter 90, Laws of 2024, amended several vocational statutes that affect the department of labor and industries' (L&I) vocational rules:
| |
| • | RCW 51.32.095 was amended to add a new subsection allowing funding to participate in approved basic skills training and increase the amount available for prejob accommodation from $5,000 to $10,000. |
| • | References to expired RCW 51.32.099 were removed. |
| • | RCW 51.32.250 was amended to increase the amount available for job modification from $5,000 to $10,000. |
The intention of this rulemaking is to align L&I's vocational rules with the statutory changes.
SHB 2127 takes effect on January 1, 2025.
L&I is also conducting a separate rule making to amend chapter 296-16 WAC, Employer-worker reemployment incentives, and chapter 296-16A WAC, Stay-at-work program, to implement the relevant changes under SHB 2127 applicable to those rules.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: No other state, local, or federal agency regulates this subject.
Process for Developing New Rule: Parties interested in this rule making may contact the individual listed below. The public may also participate by commenting after amendments are proposed by providing written comments and/or testimony during the public hearing and comment process. A public hearing will be held after the proposal is filed.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Sarah Moran, L&I, Insurance Services, Return to Work Partnerships, P.O. Box 44326, Olympia, WA 98504-4326, phone 360-902-6362, fax 360-902-5035, TTY 360-902-4252, email Sarah.Moran@Lni.wa.gov.
Additional comments: For more information on L&I rule making, visit L&I's Rulemaking Activity web page at https://www.Lni.wa.gov/rulemaking-activity/.
July 23, 2024
Joel Sacks
Director