PROPOSED RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 09-02-058.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The department is proposing to amend WAC 388-454-0015 to clarify the policy regarding situations that do not meet the criteria of a temporary absence as described in subsection (4).
Hearing Location(s): Blake Office Park East, Rose Room, 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA 98503 (one block north of the intersection of Pacific Avenue S.E. and Alhadeff Lane. A map or directions are available at http://www.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rpau/docket.html or by calling (360) 664-6094), on October 6, 2009, at 10:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than October 7, 2009.
Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504-5850, delivery 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA 98503, e-mail DSHSRPAURulesCoordinator@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-6185, by 5 p.m. on October 6, 2009.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jennisha Johnson, DSHS rules consultant, by September 22, 2009, TTY (360) 664-6178 or (360) 664-6094 or by e-mail at johnsjl4@dshs.wa.gov.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The decision to propose amending the WAC is in response to a question about temporary absences and parents who are incarcerated. As a result of the change, eligibility staff will have better guidance about how to handle short-term incarcerations and workload will be reduced with staff not having to terminate and reopen cases over short time periods.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: Periods of short-term incarceration, such as when a client is generally in compliance with a drug court proceeding but has been sent to jail for a few days for failure to comply with all requirements, are not a sound basis for terminating assistance.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.005, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, and 74.08.090.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.04.005, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, and 74.08.090.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Department of social and health services, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Tom Berry, 712 Pear Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98503, (360) 725-4617.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The proposed changes do not have an economic impact on small businesses. The proposed amendments only clarify eligibility regarding temporary absences from the home.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. This amendment is 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."
August 28, 2009
Stephanie E. Vaughn
Rules Coordinator
4126.2(1) For recipients, temporary absences include, but are not limited to:
(a) A caregiver receiving care in a hospital, substance abuse treatment facility, or other medical institution. If the temporary care exceeds one hundred eighty days, the assistance payment for the person is reduced to the CPI amount specified under chapter 388-478 WAC.
(b) Out-of-home visits less than one hundred eighty days, when the caregiver is still responsible for the support and care of the child.
(c) A caregiver or child attending school or training as described in WAC 388-454-0020.
(d) Placement of a child in foster care or in the care of a relative or other adult, including when the child's primary caregiver is in a residential treatment facility. The division of children and family services (DCFS) must place the child and determine the child is expected to return to the primary caregiver within one hundred eighty days of the placement.
(2) For applicants, temporary absences include:
(a) When the child is placed in unlicensed foster care or in the care of a relative or other adult and DCFS expects the child will return to the home within one hundred eighty days of removal. Benefits can also be approved for an applicant if DCFS determines that the child will be in the care of the applying adult within thirty days of authorizing assistance even if the child has been out of the home for over one hundred eighty days.
(b) When the child is out of the home because of illness or hospitalization and the absence isn't expected to exceed one hundred eighty days.
(3) For situations described in (1)(d) and (2)(a) of this WAC, concurrent TANF or SFA cash assistance can be made for the child, only when DCFS places the child in the temporary care of an unlicensed-relative, other caregiver, or in foster care. DCFS must expect the child return to the home of the primary caregiver in one hundred eighty days.
(a) When the child goes into licensed foster care, the TANF/SFA grant to the parent continues.
(b) When the child goes into unlicensed care, whether with a relative or other caregiver, the TANF grant to the parent continues and the caregiver can also get a TANF grant.
(4) Situations that do not meet the criteria of a temporary absence include, but aren't limited to:
(a) The caregiver or child is expected to be incarcerated
((for any length of time)) thirty days or more.
(b) The child ran away and there is no clear expectation of when the child will be returning home.
(c) A caregiver or child is away attending school and doesn't meet the criteria outlined in WAC 388-454-0020.
(5) A caregiver must report within five days of learning that a child's absence is going to be greater than one hundred eighty days as required under WAC 388-418-0005 and 388-418-0007.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, and 74.08.090. 08-14-105, § 388-454-0015, filed 6/30/08, effective 8/1/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-454-0015, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]