PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
(Division of Assistance Programs)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Correct inadvertent omissions in chapter 388-450 WAC and rules related to income for cash, medical, and food assistance benefits. Amend income rules to reflect changes in program policy. Simplify income rules by making rules more consistent across program lines. This may require the addition of new rules and a new chapter.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, HB 2686 filed March 30, 2000.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The current income chapter does not contain adequate information to allow people to quickly find rules that impact a client's eligibility and benefit level and rules for income are not consistent across program lines. HB 2686 allows the department to change some of the income rules to be more consistent across program lines. By revising this chapter and updating the program policy, we will allow interested parties to find the rules related to income and apply the correct criteria.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Services. The department will be using the Code of Federal Regulations, policy memos, and administrative notices from USDA, Food and Nutrition Services to ensure the rules meet federal requirements.
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. After the rules are drafted, DSHS will file a copy with the Office of the Code Reviser with a notice of proposed rule making. A copy of the draft 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 John Camp, Program Manager, Division of Assistance Programs, Lacey Government Center, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-4570, phone (360) 413-3232, fax (360) 413-3493, e-mail CAMPJX@DSHS.WA.GOV.
April 20, 2000
Marie Myerchin-Redifer
Manager