Effective Date of Rule: October 1, 2010.

     Other Findings Required by Other Provisions of Law as Precondition to Adoption or Effectiveness of Rule: This rule adopts federally approved standards that must be annually adjusted under Title 7 C.F.R. § 273.9 (d)(6)(3) and implemented effective October 1, 2010, as directed by USDA Food and Nutrition Service.

     Purpose: The department is amending WAC 388-450-0195 related to the standard utility allowance (SUA) used when determining eligibility and benefit levels for Basic Food and WASHCAP.

     This standard, which must be updated annually as required under Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations § 273 [273.9] (d)(6)(3). FNS has approved the new standards to be used from October 1, 2010, through September 30, 2011. The department will provide this same SUA standard to all households regardless of the number of persons in the household.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-450-0195.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.005, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.08.090.

     Other Authority: 7 C.F.R. § 273.9 (d)(6)(3).

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 10-15-113 on July 21, 2010.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: August 26, 2010.

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator

     (2) We considered the average cost of the following utilities to determine the value of the SUA:

     (a) Heating ((or)) and cooling fuel such as electricity, oil, or gas;

     (b) Electricity ((or gas));

     (c) Water ((or)) and sewer;

     (d) Well or septic tank installation/maintenance;

     (e) Garbage/trash collection; and

     (f) Telephone service.

     (((2))) (3) The department uses the ((amounts below if you have utility costs separate from your rent or mortgage payment. We add your utility allowance to your rent or mortgage payment to determine your total shelter costs. We use total shelter costs to determine your Basic Food benefits)) SUA if you have utility costs separate from your rent or mortgage payment or if you receive a low income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP) benefit during the year.

     (((a) If you have heating or cooling costs or receive a low income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP) benefit during the year you get a standard utility allowance (SUA) that depends on your assistance unit's size.))

((Assistance Unit (AU) Size))	((Utility Allowance))
((1))	(($352))
((2))	(($362))
((3))	(($373))
((4))	(($384))
((5))	(($394))
((6 or more))	(($405))

     (((b) If your AU does not qualify for the SUA and you have any two utility costs listed above, you get a limited utility allowance (LUA) of two hundred seventy-six dollars.

     (c) If your AU has only telephone costs and no other utility costs, you get a telephone utility allowance (TUA) of forty-two dollars.))

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.005, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, and 7 C.F.R. 273.9. 09-24-001, § 388-450-0195, filed 11/18/09, effective 12/19/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, and 7 C.F.R. 273.9. 08-21-106, § 388-450-0195, filed 10/16/08, effective 11/16/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510 and 7 C.F.R. § 273.9. 07-22-036, § 388-450-0195, filed 10/30/07, effective 11/30/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090 and 7 C.F.R. 273.9 (d)(6)(iii)(b). 06-21-011, § 388-450-0195, filed 10/6/06, effective 11/6/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090. 06-10-056, § 388-450-0195, filed 5/1/06, effective 6/1/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, and 7 C.F.R. § 273.9. 05-19-062, § 388-450-0195, filed 9/16/05, effective 10/17/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090. 05-09-087, § 388-450-0195, filed 4/19/05, effective 6/1/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057. 04-23-025, § 388-450-0195, filed 11/8/04, effective 12/9/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510. 03-21-030, § 388-450-0195, filed 10/7/03, effective 12/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. 02-22-045, § 388-450-0195, filed 10/30/02, effective 12/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510. 01-21-059, § 388-450-0195, filed 10/16/01, effective 12/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510. 00-22-065, § 388-450-0195, filed 10/27/00, effective 11/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.040.510 [74.04.510]. 99-24-052, § 388-450-0195, filed 11/29/99, effective 12/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510. 99-09-055, § 388-450-0195, filed 4/19/99, effective 5/20/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510 and 7 CFR 273.9 (d)(6). 99-01-069, § 388-450-0195, filed 12/14/98, effective 1/14/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-450-0195, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

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