Subject of Possible Rule Making: Creating a new chapter 388-820 WAC for the Division of Development Disabilities (DDD) support intensity scale assessment module and revising and/or adopting other related rules as appropriate.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Title 71A RCW, RCW 71A.12.030.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: In June 2003, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) recommended that DSHS develop an assessment process for developmentally disabled clients designed to be consistently applied to all clients in all parts of the state. Part of developing this assessment process includes defining requirements for administering a newly developed support intensity scale assessment module to clients who are authorized to receive supported living services. Rules are needed to govern and support the implementation of the support intensity scale assessment requirements. Adoption of these rules will help promote consistent application and understanding of the division's support intensity scale assessment process in determining an eligible client's service level/rate for supported living services. As needed, the department may revise and/or adopt other related DDD rules to support implementation of the support intensity scale assessment module.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

     Process for Developing New Rule: At a later date, the department will file proposed rules and a proposed rule-making notice for publication in the Washington State Register, invite public comments, and hold a public hearing. The proposal will be sent to everyone on the mailing list to receive rule-making notices on this subject, and to anyone who requests the proposal.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Mark R. Eliason, Policy Manager, DDD Assessment Project, P.O. Box 45310, Olympia, WA 98504-5310, phone (360) 725-2517, fax (360) 407-0955, e-mail eliasmr2@dshs.wa.gov.

November 21, 2005

Andy Fernando, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit