WSR 14-03-133

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed January 22, 2014, 10:41 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Student conduct code, chapter 132M-121 WAC, repeal and replace.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 28B.50 RCW.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: This is an update of the existing policy to bring it into alignment with the current Violence Against Women [Act], Department of Education Dear Colleague letter dated April 2011. New rules contain substantial reorganization of existing material and additions of new materials. For clarity, it is easier to delete old rules and replace with the new rules.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights has provided colleges with recent specific guidance on Title IX requirements: Dear Colleague Letter, April 4, 2011, and Revised Sexual Harassment Guidance: Harassment of Students by School Employees, Other Students or Third Parties, January 2001; May 9, 2013, University of Montana-Missoula OCR compliance review and settlement agreement. See also 2013 amendment to Violence Against Women Act.

Process for Developing New Rule: Agency study.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Dr. Lisa Matye Edwards, Vice-President for Student Success, Lower Columbia College, (360) 442-2301 or lmatyeedwards@lcc.ctc.edu.

January 22, 2014

Lisa Matye Edwards

Vice-President

for Student Success