Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 49.04 RCW, Apprenticeship Act.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council has authorized the department, in conjunction with the council, to update chapter 296-04 WAC, rewrite it in an understandable clear rule-writing style, bring it into compliance with federal standards and propose amendments which will enable the rule to be generally accepted by industry, labor and apprentices.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: United States Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training is the agency with federal oversight over apprenticeship programs. The council and department plan to work closely with representatives from BAT in developing any rule proposals.

Process for Developing New Rule: Any proposed apprenticeship rule language will be developed by a representative ad hoc committee chaired by the apprenticeship program manager and according to Executive Order 97-02 criteria. Once the rule proposal has been developed it will be promulgated according to RCW 49.04.010 and the Administrative Procedure Act and in compliance with the Regulatory Fairness Act. Interested parties are invited to submit ideas to the program manager and are encouraged to participate in the public hearing process. Interested parties should contact the apprenticeship program to make sure they are on the program's stakeholder mailing list.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Nancy Mason, Program Manager, Apprenticeship, Department of Labor and Industries, P.O. Box 44530, Olympia, WA 98504-4530, phone (360) 902-5320, FAX (360) 902-4248. See above.

April 16, 1998

Melinda Nichols

Chair