WSR 98-22-056

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES

(Economic Services Administration)

(Medical Assistance Administration)

(Aging and Adult Services Administration)

[Filed November 2, 1998, 1:02 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Economic Services Administration (ESA), working in collaboration with Medical Assistance Administration (MAA) and Aging and Adult Services Administration (AASA) is reviewing all its policies for compliance with the Governor's Executive Order 97-02, and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) secretary's order on regulatory improvement. This review will result in the adoption of new rules, or in the repeal or amendment or existing rules that affect ESA, MAA, or AASA services. These rules primarily reside in Title 388 WAC, but could include other rules, new or existing.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Statutory authority for ESA to adopt, amend, or repeal rules are found in RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, and 74.08.090.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: ESA, MAA, and AASA will review and amend policies to reduce complexities within and among the public assistance programs they administer. The goal is to make program policies as simple and consistent as possible and to eliminate any policies that are no longer needed for effective program operation. Policy differences can make programs and services difficult for clients to understand and for staff to appropriately interpret and administer. The public, clients, vendors, advocates and other parts of government will be included in the development of any new rules and any changes to existing rules needed to support these simplified policies.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, Employment Security Department, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and other administrations within DSHS may need to be involved. ESA will coordinate with all other affected agencies and include them in mailings, invitations to participate in meetings regarding these rule changes and any other rule development activities.

Process for Developing New Rule: All rules will be reviewed by the ESA or MAA regulatory improvement team (RIT) to ensure they comply with Executive Order 97-02. After this review, all rules will be developed and adopted as required by DSHS policy and the Administrative Procedure Act.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. To have your name added to the list of interested parties to receive mailings and meeting announcements, contact Tom Medina, Program Simplification Project Manager, Economic Services Administration, P.O. Box 45400, Olympia, WA 98504-5400, phone (360) 413-3124, fax (360) 413-3495, e-mail medintr@dshs.wa.gov.

October 28, 1998

Marie Myerchin-Redifer, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit