Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

     Purpose: To remove language regarding the effect of child support ordered on behalf of a child who will receive child care subsidy benefits on other children not receiving child support. The language removed negatively impacts the general welfare of the public by making certain families ineligible for working connections child care subsidy benefits under existing rules, and increasing copays for others. The department will adopt this rule under the regular rule-making process with a subsequent filing.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 170-290-0060.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 43.215 RCW.

     Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.

     Reasons for this Finding: It is necessary for the general welfare of the public to remove language stating that child support ordered on behalf of a child who will receive child care subsidy benefits does not affect other children in the family who are not receiving child support. Under existing rules, this language would require separate family eligibility determinations, and additional copayment determinations, with respect to children who receive child support and other children in the same family who do not. Removing this language is necessary to maintain access and eligibility, and to prevent higher aggregate copayments for such families.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: August 6, 2012.

Elizabeth M. Hyde

Director

OTS-4921.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 12-11-025, filed 5/8/12, effective 6/8/12)

WAC 170-290-0060   Countable income.   DSHS counts income as money an applicant or consumer earns or receives from:

     (1) A TANF grant, except when the grant is for the first three consecutive calendar months after the consumer starts a new job. The first calendar month is the month in which he or she starts working;

     (2) The following child support payment amounts:

     (a) For applicants or consumers who are not receiving DSHS division of child support services, the amount as shown on a current court or administrative order; or

     (b) For applicants or consumers who are receiving DSHS division of child support services, the amount as verified by the DSHS division of child support((;

     (c) Child support ordered on behalf of a child who will receive child care subsidy benefits does not affect the other children in the family who are not receiving child support. All other family size rules in WAC 170-290-0015 apply)).

     (3) Supplemental security income (SSI);

     (4) Other Social Security payments, such as SSA and SSDI;

     (5) Refugee assistance payments;

     (6) Payments from the Veterans' Administration, disability payments, or payments from labor and industries (L&I);

     (7) Unemployment compensation;

     (8) Other types of income not listed in WAC 170-290-0070;

     (9) VISTA volunteers, AmeriCorps, and Washington Service Corps (WSC) if the income is taxed;

     (10) Gross wages from employment or self-employment as defined in WAC 170-290-0003. Gross wages includes any wages that are taxable;

     (11) Corporate compensation received by or on behalf of the consumer, such as rent, living expenses, or transportation expenses;

     (12) Lump sums as money a consumer receives from a one-time payment such as back child support, an inheritance, or gambling winnings; and

     (13) Income for the sale of property as follows:

     (a) If a consumer sold the property before application, DSHS considers the proceeds an asset and does not count as income;

     (b) If a consumer sold the property in the month he or she applies or during his or her eligibility period, DSHS counts it as a lump sum payment as described in WAC 170-290-0065(2);

     (c) Property does not include small personal items such as furniture, clothes, and jewelry.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.215.070, 43.215.060 and chapter 43.215 RCW. 12-11-025, § 170-290-0060, filed 5/8/12, effective 6/8/12. Statutory Authority: Chapter 43.215 RCW, RCW 43.215.060, 43.215.070, 2011 1st sp.s. c 42, 2011 1st sp.s. c 50, and 2006 c 265 § 501. 11-18-001, § 170-290-0060, filed 8/24/11, effective 9/24/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.215.060, 43.215.070, 2006 c 265, and chapter 43.215 RCW. 09-22-043, § 170-290-0060, filed 10/28/09, effective 12/1/09. 08-08-047, recodified as § 170-290-0060, filed 3/27/08, effective 3/27/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.12.340, 74.13.085, and 2003 1st sp.s. c 25. 04-08-021 and 04-08-134, § 388-290-0060, filed 3/29/04 and 4/7/04, effective 5/28/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050 and C.F.R. Parts 98 and 99 (Child Care Development Fund Rules). 02-01-135, § 388-290-0060, filed 12/19/01, effective 1/19/02.]