PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Division of Employment and Assistance Programs will amend WAC 388-450-0045 to update the policy on how the department treats income from employment and training programs for cash, food assistance, and medical programs.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.08.090.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition [Service] (FNS) has indicated that all types of Americorps income under this rule must be excluded for food assistance. In the process of revising this rule, the department will review how income from other sources of employment and training income are to be counted for all cash, food assistance, and medical programs.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) publishes federal regulations for the food stamp program in the Federal Register. Rules published in the Federal Register are incorporated into the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. FNS also issues administrative notices and clarifications to inform states of new program requirements that are not yet in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. DSHS incorporates these regulations and guidance by adopting administrative rules for food assistance benefits in Washington state.
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. At a later date, DSHS will file the proposed rule with the Office of the Code Reviser with a notice of proposed rule making. A copy of the proposed rule 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 Employment and 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.
September 27, 2002
Brian H. Lindgren, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit