WSR 15-16-050

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed July 29, 2015, 11:37 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: The community services division is proposing to repeal WAC 388-273-0010 Purpose of the Washington telephone assistance program, 388-273-0020 Who may receive Washington telephone assistance program (WTAP)?, 388-273-0025 Benefits you receive as a WTAP participant, 388-273-0030 How you can apply for WTAP, 388-273-0035 What we reimburse the local telephone company, and any other related rules as may be required.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.08.090, 80.36.470.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: RCW 80.36.470 prohibits enrollment in WTAP if program expenditures exceed the total amount of funds made available by the legislature. The department is repealing all sections of chapter 388-273 WAC related to WTAP as the program is not funded in the state of Washington 2015-2017 biennium legislative budget (ESSB 6052, section 207).

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: WTAP is jointly administered by DSHS, the Washington department of commerce (commerce), and the Washington utilities and transportation commission (UTC). Commerce and UTC have been notified that the program is not funded for the next biennium, and will be sent written notification. Telephone companies participating in WTAP will be sent a written notice of termination in order to allow them thirty days to notify their customers, as required by RCW 80.36.110 and WAC 480-120-194.

Process for Developing New Rule: DSHS welcomes the public to take part in developing the rules. Anyone interested should contact the staff person identified below. At a later date, DSHS will file a proposal with the office of the code reviser with a notice of proposed rule making. A copy of the proposal will be sent to everyone on the mailing list and to anyone who requests a copy.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Leslie Kozak, Community Services Division, Economic Services Administration, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone (360) 725-4589, fax (360) 725-4905, e-mail leslie.kozak@dshs.wa.gov.

July 29, 2015

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator