WSR 14-03-070

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed January 14, 2014, 11:29 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 388-03 WAC rules and regulations for the certification of DSHS spoken language interpreters and translators.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.08.090; 74.04.025; 45 C.F.R. Section 80.3 (b)(2); Civil Right[s] Act of 1964; Reyes vs. Thompson Consent Order.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Since the creation of chapter 388-03 WAC in 2000, the services/business of the DSHS language testing and certification program and how the services are provided have changed. The name of the program has also changed to reflect what and how the services are provided. New demands from internal and external stakeholders are increasing. Additional rules and regulations are needed to implement agreements reached between the former governor and WFSE/AFSCME. New processes and specific procedures need to be included in chapter 388-03 WAC to decertify interpreting-related offenders and to strengthen and enforce interpreter qualification requirements.

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

Process for Developing New Rule: Rule revision: Necessitated by new services and new requirements for the program. 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 Don Barnes/Hungling Fu, Managers, 1115 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98501, phone (360) 902-8334/(360) 664-6035, fax (360) 664-6183, e-mail BarneDR@dshs.wa.gov/fuh@dshs.wa.gov.

January 14, 2014

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator