PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department's Division of Employment and Assistance Programs plans to amend the rules in chapters 388-412 and 388-460 WAC to update program language and clarify program requirements for payees, allotments, and benefit issuance for the Washington basic food program. The department plans to amend the following as well as any related rules: WAC 388-412-0015 General information about your food assistance allotments, 388-412-0020 When do I get my benefits?, 388-412-0025 How do I get my benefits?, 388-412-0040 Can I get my benefits replaced?, 388-460-0001 Who may be issued cash, child care, medical and food assistance benefits?, 388-460-0005 Can I choose someone to apply for basic food for my assistance unit?, 388-460-0010 Food assistance authorized representative -- Treatment centers and group homes, and 388-460-0015 Persons who may not be an authorized representative for a food assistance unit.
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 department must adopt rules to be consistent with federal regulations for food stamps. This revision is intended to update the language of department rules to clarify requirements for clients and department staff to assist in consistent statewide application of policy for the Washington basic food program.
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 United States Code of Federal Regulations. FNS also issues administrative notices to inform states of new program requirements that are not yet in the United States Code of Federal Regulations. DSHS incorporates these regulations and exercises state options 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 proposed rules with the Office of the Code Reviser with a notice of proposed rule making. A copy of the proposal 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.
July 7, 2003
Brian H. Lindgren, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit