PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 388-434-0005 The department reviews each client's eligibility for benefits on a regular basis, and related sections, 388-406-0010 Filing an application, and 388-416-0005 How long can my food assistance certification period be?
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.08.090, 42 U.S.C. 601(a), 7 C.F.R. 273.14.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: A provision in the FY 02-03 state budget (ESSB 6153) requires the department to simplify eligibility rules in order to alleviate some of the workload associated with the two hundred seventy-five FTE reduction. The current rule requires a review of eligibility for every cash assistance unit at least once every six months. The revised rule gives clients longer cash eligibility periods. The current food assistance rule limits certification periods to three months for six categories of assistance units. The proposed rule would reduce it to three categories. This results in a reduction of workload and an increased ability of financial workers to focus on case management.
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 rule. Anyone interested in participating should contact the staff person indicated below. After the department drafts the rule, it will file a copy with the Office of the Code Reviser with a notice of proposed rule making, and send a copy to everyone currently on the mailing list and anyone else 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 Steve Pargman, Program Manager, Division of Employment and Assistance Programs, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-4570, (360) 413-3073, fax (360) 413-3493, e-mail pargmse@dshs.wa.gov.
December 17, 2001
Brian H. Lindgren, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit