Original Notice.

     Exempt from preproposal statement of inquiry under RCW 34.05.310(4).

     Title of Rule: WAC 388-478-0015 Need standards for cash assistance.

     Purpose: Need standards for cash assistance programs represent the amount of income required by individuals and families to maintain a minimum and adequate standard of living. Need standards are based on assistance unit size and include basic requirements for food, clothing, shelter, energy costs, transportation, household maintenance and operations, personal maintenance, and necessary incidentals. This rule specifies the need standards for cash assistance based on assistance unit size.

     Other Identifying Information: This rule sets need standard rates pursuant to legislative standards in RCW 74.04.770, and therefore is exempt from filing a preproposal statement of inquiry per RCW 34.05.310 (4)(f).

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510.

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.08.090, 74.04.510, and 74.04.770.

     Summary: This WAC is being amended to comply with the statutory requirement to update the need standard each year.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Veronica Barnes, 1009 College S.E., Lacey, WA 98504, (360) 413-3071.

     Name of Proponent: Department of Social and Health Services, governmental.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: Rule: WAC 388-478-0015 Need standards for cash assistance.

     Purpose and Effect: This rule specifies the need standards for cash assistance based on assistance unit size.

     Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: This rule is being changed to update the standards based on the current consumer price index.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. This proposed rule does not have an economic impact on small businesses, it only affects DSHS clients.

     RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to this rule adoption. These amendments are exempt as allowed under RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii) which states in part, "[t]his section does not apply to...rules of the department of social and health services relating only to client medical or financial eligibility and rules concerning liability for care of dependents." This rule adopts the standards mandated in RCW 74.04.770.

     Hearing Location: Blake Office Park (behind Goodyear Courtesy Tire), 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Rose Room, Lacey, WA 98503, on November 5, 2002, at 10:00 a.m.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Andy Fernando, DSHS Rules Coordinator, by November 1, 2002, phone (360) 664-6094, TTY (360) 664-6178, e-mail FernAX@dshs.wa.gov.

     Submit Written Comments to: Identify WAC Numbers, DSHS Rules Coordinator, Rules and Policies Assistance Unit, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504-5850, fax (360) 664-6185, e-mail fernaax@dshs.wa.gov, by 5:00 p.m., November 5, 2002.

     Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than November 6, 2002.

September 20, 2002

Brian H. Lindgren, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

     (1) For assistance units with obligation to pay shelter costs:

Assistance Unit Size	Need Standard
1	$ ((797)) 944
2	((1,008)) 1,194
3	((1,247)) 1,474
4	((1,467)) 1,740
5	((1,690)) 2,005
6	((1,918)) 2,271
7	((2,215)) 2,624
8	((2,452)) 2,905
9	((2,693)) 3,185
10 or more	((2,926)) 3,465

     (2) For assistance units with shelter provided at no cost:

Assistance Unit Size	Need Standard
1	$ ((480)) 492
2	((607)) 623
3	((752)) 769
4	((884)) 907
5	((1,019)) 1,046
6	((1,156)) 1,184
7	((1,335)) 1,369
8	((1,478)) 1,515
9	((1,623)) 1,661
10 or more	((1,764)) 1,807

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and 74.04.200. 01-11-108, § 388-478-0015, filed 5/21/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.200. 99-04-056, § 388-478-0015, filed 1/29/99, effective 3/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-478-0015, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

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