WSR 26-07-025
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Home and Community Living Administration)
[Filed March 10, 2026, 9:16 a.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department of social and health services (DSHS) is making revisions to chapter 388-818 WAC as it pertains to the telecommunication equipment distribution program within the home and community living administration, office of the deaf and hard of hearing; other related rules as may be required.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The changes are primarily to remove the sliding fee scale, revise the age of eligibility, and correct outdated terminology. The removal of the sliding fee scale will result in savings of cost and staffing time. If applicable, DSHS may make additional changes required to improve clarity, update policy, or better align rule language with state and federal law or regulations.
Other federal and state agencies that regulate this subject and the process coordinating the rule with these agencies: Not applicable.
Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making. 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 within 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 Kelly D. Robison, P.O. Box 45301, Olympia, WA 98504-5301, phone 360-819-0913, TTY 711 relay service, email Kelly.robison@dshs.wa.gov, website https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/odhh.
March 10, 2026
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator