WSR 97-22-041

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES

(Economic Services Administration)

(Public Assistance)

[Filed October 31, 1997, 9:23 a.m.]

Date of Adoption: October 30, 1997.

Purpose: Chapter 388-290 WAC implements a subsidized childcare program needed by low-income families with dependent children to become employed or maintain employment. These rules implement the mandate that all income and other eligible temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) and other non-TANF clients be eligible for the Department of Social and Health Services childcare subsidies with a copayment. This emergency amendment adds a critical program component concerning eligibility and copayments.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-290-010.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050 and 74.08.090.

Other Authority: EHB 3901, 401-404, chapter 58, Laws of 1997.

Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.

Reasons for this Finding: The Department of Social and Health Services inadvertently left out of the final adopted rules critical eligibility information concerning TANF participants' eligibility for subsidized child care. This change is essential for the program to fully comply with the intent of EHB 3901.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, amended 1, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

October 30, 1997

Merry A. Kogut, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 97-20-130, filed 10/1/97, effective 11/1/97)

WAC 388-290-010 Subsidized child care--Purpose. The purpose of this program is to provide child care services necessary to assist families with dependent children to become or remain employed. Subsidized child care services may be provided on a sliding-fee scale basis to families with gross incomes up to one hundred seventy-five percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) adjusted for family size.