Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 196-26A WAC, Registered professional engineers and land surveyor fees; and chapter 196-30 WAC, Fees for on-site wastewater treatment designers and inspectors.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.43.035, 18.43.050, 18.43.150, 18.210.050, 18.210.060, 18.210.120, 18.210.140, and 18.210.200.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: RCW 18.43.150 and 18.210.200 requires the board of registration for professional engineers and land surveyors (board) to "set fees at a level adequate to pay the costs of administering this chapter." It has been over 20 years since fees have been raised for engineers and land surveyors, and over 17 years since fees were raised for on-site septic designers. Fee increases are needed to mitigate the risk of fund balance depletion due to expenses exceeding revenues. Further, the fee increase is moderate and should minimize the risk of over collecting revenues.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Department of licensing (DOL). The board currently utilizes DOL's Professional Online Licensing and Regulatory Information System (POLARIS) for the licensing of the professions under the board's purview. Board staff will work with DOL's POLARIS team to ensure timelines are met regarding updating the system with amended fees.

Process for Developing New Rule: Negotiated rule making; and notice will be made to stakeholders and active licensees via the board's contact lists and will be posted on our website and distributed through the board and board staff. Interested parties may contact the individual listed below and the public may also participate by commenting after amendments are proposed by providing written comments or giving oral testimony during the public hearing process.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Shanan Gillespie, P.O. Box 9025, Olympia, WA 98507-9025, phone 360-664-1570, TTY 711, email shanan.gillespie@brpels.wa.gov, website https://brpels.wa.gov/about-us/laws-and-rules/rulemaking-activity.