PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The division of employment and assistance programs will amend rules in chapter 388-410 WAC related to establishing and collecting overpaid benefits for food assistance through the Washington Basic Food program. This may include amending the following sections and related rules: WAC 388-410-0020 What happens if I get more food assistance benefits than I am supposed to get?, 388-410-0025 Am I responsible for an overpayment in my assistance unit?, 388-410-0030 How does the department calculate and set up my Basic Food overpayment?, and 388-410-0033 How and when does the department collect a food assistance overpayment?
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.08.090.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department is amending rules to meet federal requirements under 7 C.F.R. 273.18 regarding establishing and collecting food stamp overpayment claims against households consistent with RCW 74.04.510.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: 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 with 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 John Camp, Policy Analyst, Division of Employment and Assistance Programs, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone (360) 725-4616, fax (360) 493-3493, e-mail Campjx@dshs.wa.gov.
June 28, 2006
Andy Fernando, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit