Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department of social and health services (DSHS) is planning to amend WAC 388-478-0015 Need standards for cash assistance, and other 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, 74.04.770, 74.08.090.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Planned amendments are necessary per RCW 74.04.770, which requires DSHS to annually update standards of need using an existing, broadly used national standard. These amendments will reflect this required update using the University of Washington Center for Women's Welfare Self-Sufficiency Standard. As needed, amendments will also make additional changes required to improve clarity, update policy, or better align rule language with state and federal law or regulations.

Process for Developing New Rule: DSHS welcomes the public to take part in developing 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 Patrick Budde, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone 360-764-0068, fax 360-725-4905, email Patrick.Budde@dshs.wa.gov.