PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Division of Employment and Assistance Programs will amend WAC 388-460-0005 to update the language of the rule on authorized representatives for food assistance.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.08.090.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The language of the rule references food coupon authorization (FCA) cards. Food assistance benefits are no longer issued using FCA cards.
This revision will update the language of the rule to reflect the department's use of electronic benefits transfer (EBT) for food assistance.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) publishes federal regulations for the food stamp program in the Federal Register. Rules published in the Federal Register are incorporated into the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. FNS also issues administrative notices and clarifications to inform states of new program requirements that are not yet in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. DSHS incorporates these regulations and guidance by adopting administrative rules for food assistance benefits in Washington state.
Process for Developing New Rule: 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 the proposed rule with the Office of the Code Reviser with a notice of proposed rule making. A copy of the proposed rule 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 John Camp, Program Manager, Division of Employment and Assistance Programs, Lacey Government Center, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-4570, phone (360) 413-3232, fax (360) 413-3493, e-mail CAMPJX@DSHS.WA.GOV.
September 27, 2002
Brian H. Lindgren
Manager