PROPOSED RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Policy and External Relations)
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 12-06-030.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The department is amending WAC 388-02-0580 What is the deadline for requesting review by a review judge?
Hearing Location(s): Office Building 2, Lookout Room, DSHS Headquarters, 1115 Washington, Olympia, WA 98504 (public parking at 11th and Jefferson. A map is available at http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rpau/RPAU-OB-2directions.html or by calling (360) 664-6094), on June 5, 2012, at 10:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than June 6, 2012.
Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504-5850, delivery 1115 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, e-mail DSHSRPAURulesCoordinator@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-6185, by 5 p.m. on June 5, 2012.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jennisha Johnson, DSHS rules consultant, by May 22, 2012, TTY (360) 664-6178 or (360) 664-6094 or by e-mail at jennisha.johnson@dshs.wa.gov.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: WAC 388-02-0580 does not specifically address whether a party disagreeing with an initial order can submit a petition for review to the board of appeals (BOA) by fax, alone. WAC 388-02-0075 (1)(c) and 388-02-0040(4), do allow filing or sending of documents to BOA by fax if a copy of the document is also mailed the same day. "Filing" is defined in WAC 388-02-0070 as the act of delivering documents to BOA or the office of administrative hearings (OAH). It has been the practice of BOA to accept for review timely faxed transmissions of petitions for review whether or not a "hard copy" of the petition is eventually mailed to BOA. This practice is not in compliance with the regulations when reading and applying WAC 388-02-0580, 388-02-0075, and 388-02-0040 together. The proposed amendment (addition) to WAC 388-02-0580 would clarify and implement BOA's current practice of accepting for review timely faxed petitions for review while still encouraging follow-up with a mailed copy. The term "should" is defined in WAC 388-02-0010 as meaning that an action is recommended but not required. Using the term "should" in the proposed changes would allow accepting faxed petitions for review and would not require a "hard copy" to be mailed in order for BOA to assume jurisdiction to review the case. Without the rule change, there exists a serious question as to whether BOA has jurisdiction to review a timely faxed petition for review that has not also been mailed the same day as the facsimile transmission. The proposed rule change allows greater access to justice for all parties (department and clients) involved in the administrative hearing process.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 34.05.020.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 34.05.020.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Department of social and health services, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: James Conant, P.O. Box 45803, Olympia, WA 98504-5803, (360) 664-6081.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. These are procedural rules and are exempt under RCW 19.85.025(3) and 34.005.310 [34.05.310] (4)(g)(i).
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. The proposed rules are not "significant legislative rule" under RCW 34.05.328 (5)(c)(iii). Under RCW 34.05.328 (5)(a)(i), a cost-benefit analysis is only required for significant legislative rules.
April 24, 2012
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator
4351.1(2) A review judge may extend the deadline if a party:
(a) Asks for more time before the deadline expires; and
(b) Gives a good reason for more time.
(3) A review judge may accept a review request after the twenty-one calendar day deadline only if:
(a) The BOA receives the review request on or before the thirtieth calendar day after the deadline; and
(b) A party shows good cause for missing the deadline.
(4) If you ask a review judge to review an ALJ decision, the time period provided by this section for requesting review of an initial order, including any extensions, does not count against any deadline, if any, for a review judge to enter the final order.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 34.05.020, 34.05.220. 11-04-074, § 388-02-0580, filed 1/31/11, effective 3/3/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 34.05.020, 34.05.220, 42 C.F.R. 431.10 (e)(3), 45 C.F.R. 205.100 (b)(3), chapter 34.05 RCW, Parts IV and V. 08-21-144, § 388-02-0580, filed 10/21/08, effective 11/21/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 34.05.020, chapter 34.05 RCW, Parts IV and V, 2002 c 371 § 211. 02-21-061, § 388-02-0580, filed 10/15/02, effective 11/15/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 34.05.020. 00-18-059, § 388-02-0580, filed 9/1/00, effective 10/2/00.]