Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is proposing an amendment to the current Washington Administrative Code regarding services provided by children's administration (WAC 388-32-0030), that would remove time limits for family reconciliation services phase II family crisis counseling.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 13.32A.040, 74.13.031, and 74.08.090.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: A new evidence based service option is being incorporated into family reconciliations services that can require more than twelve hours of counseling or take longer than forty-five days to complete.

     Process for Developing New Rule: Children's administration will utilize stakeholder groups in the rule-making process to aid in clear and concise amendments to the rules. At a later date, the department will file proposed rules and a proposed rule-making notice for publication the Washington State Register, invite public comments, and hold a public hearing. The proposal will be sent to everyone on the mailing list to receive rule-making notices on this subject, and to anyone who requests the proposal.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Tim Kelly, P.O. Box 45710, Olympia, WA 98504-5710, mailstop 45710, phone (360) 902-7772, fax (360) 902-3248, e-mail ketd300@dshs.wa.gov.

December 30, 2005

Andy Fernando, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit