(1) Upon death or commencement of long-term disability of the minority, woman, or socially and economically disadvantaged owner of a certified business, the guardian of the disabled owner, the executor of the owner's estate, or other person shall notify the office in writing within thirty days of the death or documented disability. All notifications of long-term disability shall be documented by a statement from a qualified physician.

(2) "Long-term disability," for purposes of this section, shall mean the permanent inability to work, or inability to control the day-to-day operations of the business for a period of three consecutive months (ninety days or more), including both mental or physical incompetence.

(3) The certification of a business shall expire thirty days after receipt by the office of a notice of a death or documented disability of the owner of the business. Upon expiration of certification, the office shall notify the firm, in writing, that it has been decertified. The decertification decision will be considered final for purposes of WAC 326-08-015.