PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Amending and increasing transient accommodation licensing fees, WAC 246-360-990.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 70.62.220, 43.70.110, and 43.70.250.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Licensing fees have not changed for the last four years. Licensing costs have increased due to (1) increased number of facilities licensed, i.e., 9% or about one hundred forty facilities in the last four years, (2) the use of specially trained investigators from the FSL investigations section to investigate complaints of substantial health and safety violations, and (3) significantly increased enforcement actions for noncompliance with the law as well as with both health and safety rules and administrative rules. By adjusting the fees, the department will be able to cover costs to adequately administer the licensing program, which includes licensing administration, inspection/investigation, and enforcement activities.
Process for Developing New Rule: The department will conduct a fee study and present the study data with fee schedule options and attached survey via mailings to licensed transient accommodation facilities and industry representatives for feedback to the proposals.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Bliss Moore, Manager, Accommodation Licensing, Construction Review and Support Services, Facilities and Services Licensing, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone (360) 705-6660, fax (360) 705-6654, e-mail bxm0303@wa.doh.gov; or Jennell Prentice, Rules Administrator, phone (360) 705-6661, e-mail jzp0303@wa.doh.gov.
April 28, 1999
K. Van Gorkom
Deputy Secretary