PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Children's Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: SHB 2568 authorized the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to develop health and safety standards in WAC to be used regularly to access the safety of residential students at the Washington State School for the Deaf (WSD). The new rules will define the standards and outline the scope of the review process.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: SHB 2568 (chapter 72.40 RCW).
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: In response to the governor's directive to DSHS, Children's Administration completed a comprehensive health and safety review of the WSD. Legislation passed in 2002, directing DSHS to develop safety standards in WAC for reviews of the school's residential-related policies and residential facilities.
The new WACs will guide DSHS in conducting the health and safety reviews and provide for greater physical safety of residential students at the School for the Deaf.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Department of Health, Office of the State Fire Marshal, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Office of the Attorney General.
Process for Developing New Rule: [No information supplied by agency.]
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Jean L. Croisant, Children's Administration, P.O. Box 45710, Olympia, WA 98504-5710, (360) 902-7992, fax (360) 902-7903, Loje300@dshs.wa.gov.
May 30, 2002
Brian H. Lindgren, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit