WSR 26-03-089
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Home and Community Living Administration)
[Filed January 20, 2026, 3:39 p.m., effective February 20, 2026]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: Resident protection program WAC are no longer in use. The responsibility for investigation of abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation allegations against a nursing home resident by an individual transitioned from residential care services to adult protective services. As a result, the WAC listed below are being repealed.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 388-97-0660, 388-97-0680, 388-97-0700, 388-97-0720, 388-97-0725, 388-97-0740, 388-97-0760, 388-97-0780, 388-97-0800, 388-97-0820, and 388-97-0840.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 34.05.353 (2)(d) and 74.42.620.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 25-22-107 on November 2 [5], 2025.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 11.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 11.
Date Adopted: January 20, 2026.
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator
SHS-5108.1
REPEALER
The following sections of the Washington Administrative Code are repealed:
WAC 388-97-0660
Resident protection program definition.
WAC 388-97-0680
Investigation of mandated reports.
WAC 388-97-0700
Preliminary finding.
WAC 388-97-0720
Notice to individual of preliminary findings.
WAC 388-97-0725
Notice to others of preliminary findings.
WAC 388-97-0740
Disputing a preliminary finding.
WAC 388-97-0760
Hearing procedures to dispute preliminary finding.
WAC 388-97-0780
Finalizing the preliminary finding.
WAC 388-97-0800
Reporting final findings.
WAC 388-97-0820
Appeal of administrative law judge's initial order or finding.
WAC 388-97-0840
Disclosure of investigative and finding information.