PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
(Board of Hearing and Speech)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Hearing and speech, WAC 246-828-XXX Sexual misconduct.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.35.161 and 18.130.050.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The board of hearing and speech (board) is considering proposing a new section in the hearing and speech rules. The rule being considered would define activities by practitioners that are sexual misconduct and define appropriate sanctions. The purpose of regulating hearing and speech practitioners in this manner, is to protect the public from any potential unethical practitioners who may use their position to foster inappropriate conduct. The rules would create enforceable standards and promote the highest degree of processional conduct.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Karen Kelley, Board of Hearing and Speech Program Manager, P.O. Box 47869, Olympia, WA 98504-7869, office (360) 236-4950, fax (360) 236-4918. Stakeholders will be notified of the rule proposal via listserv and surface mail. Stakeholders will also be given an opportunity to submit written comments and participate in the public rule-writing workshop.
May 16, 2006
Karen Kelley
Program Manager