WSR 97-12-080

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES

(Economic Services Administration)

[Filed June 4, 1997, 10:28 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Eligibility changes to Washington state's workfirst temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) program based on recently enacted state (EHB 3901 and ESB 6098) and federal (Public Law 104-193, Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996) legislation.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, and 74.08.090.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: To comply with recently enacted state and federal welfare reform legislation.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

Process for Developing New Rule: Interested parties are invited to contact the Department of Social and Health Services staff representative below to participate in developing these rules. The Department of Social and Health Services will distribute proposed rules for review and comment. All comments will be taken into consideration before final rules are adopted.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Tom Everett, Administrator, WorkFirst Program Support Section, WorkFirst Division, P.O. Box 45480, Olympia, WA 98504-5480, phone (360) 413-3020, FAX (360) 413-3495, e-mail everettr@dshs.wa.gov.

June 4, 1997

Merry A. Kogut, Manager