WSR 25-12-106
EXPEDITED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING
[Filed June 4, 2025, 9:15 a.m.]
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 308-104-170 Alcohol or drug abuse treatment program, and 308-96A-062 Transfer or destruction of honorary consul special license plates.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: This rule making proposes to repeal WAC 308-96A-062 to align with federal and state directives as the department of licensing (DOL) no longer issues honorary consul plates. Additionally, amending WAC 308-104-170 to provide technical language and reference corrections.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: This proposal aligns WAC with changes made in RCW under the passage of HB [ESHB] 1439 during the 2025 legislative session.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 46.01.110 Rule-making authority.
Statute Being Implemented: HB [ESHB] 1439.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: DOL, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Colton Myers, 1125 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, 564-464-5716; Implementation and Enforcement: Sky Rue, 1125 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, 360-280-2108.
This notice meets the following criteria to use the expedited adoption process for these rules:
Content is explicitly and specifically dictated by statute.
This notice meets the following criteria to use the expedited repeal process for these rules:
The statute on which the rule is based has been repealed and has not been replaced by another statute providing statutory authority for the rule.
Explanation of the Reason the Agency Believes the Expedited Rule-Making Process is Appropriate: In 2021, the United States Department of State ordered cessation of honorary consul license plates; HB [ESHB] 1439 repealed RCW 46.18.250 Honorary consul special license plates. Additionally, HB [ESHB] 1439 moved the approval authority of drug and alcohol program(s) from the department of social and health services to the department of health.
NOTICE
THIS RULE IS BEING PROPOSED UNDER AN EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS THAT WILL ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE AGENCY TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS, PREPARE A SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT, OR PROVIDE RESPONSES TO THE CRITERIA FOR A SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATIVE RULE. IF YOU OBJECT TO THIS USE OF THE EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS, YOU MUST EXPRESS YOUR OBJECTIONS IN WRITING AND THEY MUST BE SENT TO Ellis Starrett, DOL, 1125 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-902-3846, email rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov, BEGINNING June 18, 2025, AND RECEIVED BY August 5, 2025.
June 4, 2025
Ellis Starrett
Rules and Policy Manager
RDS-6402.1
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
WAC 308-96A-062
Transfer or destruction of honorary consul special license plates.
RDS-6408.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 00-18-070, filed 9/1/00, effective 10/2/00)
WAC 308-104-170Alcohol or drug abuse treatment program.
(1) For the purposes of Title 46 RCW, a person shall be deemed to have undertaken and followed a course of treatment for alcohol or drug abuse on a program approved by the department of ((social and)) health ((services)) if ((he or she has))they have been under said program for at least ((sixty))60 days: Provided, that the department may accept a shorter treatment term upon a showing that the full ((sixty))60 days of treatment would not be in the best interest((s)) of the person's recovery progress.
(2) The term "program approved by the department of ((social and)) health ((services))," as used in Title 46 RCW, shall mean an alcohol or drug abuse treatment program meeting the requirements of chapter ((388-305))246-341 WAC.