WSR 04-03-050

PERMANENT RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)

[ Filed January 15, 2004, 4:14 p.m. ]


     Date Adopted: January 8, 2004.

     Purpose: The amended rule is to correct an error by changing the reference listed in subsection (2)(d) from WAC 388-08-413 to chapter 388-02 WAC.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-426-0005.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 03-23-110 on November 18, 2003.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

January 8, 2004

Brian H. Lindgren, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

3341.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-17-025, filed 8/10/99, effective 10/1/99)

WAC 388-426-0005   Client complaints.   (1) Clients who believe they have been discriminated against by the department for reason of race, color, creed, political affiliation, national origin, religion, age, gender, disability, or birthplace have the right to file a complaint. Clients can file discrimination complaints with the:

     (a) DSHS, Division of Access and Equal Opportunity, PO Box 45012, Olympia, WA, 98504;

     (b) Administrator, Food and Nutrition Services, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA, 22302; or

     (c) Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington D.C., 20250.

     (2) Clients with a complaint about a department decision or action have the right to present their complaint, in writing, to a supervisor.

     (a) Within ten days of the receipt of the complaint:

     (i) A decision will be made on the client's complaint; and

     (ii) The client will be sent written notice of the decision, including information about the right to further review by the local office administrator.

     (b) Clients not satisfied with the decision of a supervisor have the right to present a written complaint to the local office administrator. Within ten days of the receipt of the complaint:

     (i) A decision will be made on the complaint, and

     (ii) The client will be sent written notice of the decision.

     (c) Written notice of the administrator's decision concludes the complaint procedure.

     (d) The filing of a written complaint does not prevent a client from requesting a fair hearing under ((WAC 388-08-413)) chapter 388-02 WAC.

     (e) Clients have the right to speak to a worker's supervisor or have a decision or action reviewed by the supervisor, whether or not a formal complaint has been filed.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510. 99-17-025, § 388-426-0005, filed 8/10/99, effective 10/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-426-0005, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]