PROPOSED RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 11-14-115.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The department is proposing to amend WAC 388-478-0005 Cash assistance need and payment standards and grant maximum.
Hearing Location(s): Office Building 2, Auditorium, DSHS Headquarters, 1115 Washington, Olympia, WA 98504 (public parking at 11th and Jefferson. A map is available at http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rpau/RPAU-OB-2directions.html or by calling (360) 664-6094), on September 27, 2011, at 10:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than September 28, 2011.
Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504-5850, delivery 1115 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, e-mail DSHSRPAURulesCoordinator@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-6185, by 5 p.m. on September 27, 2011.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jennisha Johnson, DSHS rules consultant, by September 6, 2011, TTY (360) 664-6178 or (360) 664-6094 or by e-mail at jennisha.johnson@dshs.wa.gov.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The department is proposing to reduce the cash assistance grant maximum to $726.
The proposal will impact households with more than five members.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: These changes are necessary to comply with the department's appropriation for the 2011-2013 biennium, per RCW 34.05.350 as amended by ESSB [EHB 1248 and as documented in the 2011-2013 TANF/WorkFirst spending plan.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08A.100, 74.04.770, and 74.08.090.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08A.100, 74.04.770, 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: Sandy Jsames, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, (360) 725-4648.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The proposed rule does not have an economic impact on small businesses. The proposed rule is necessary to comply with the department's appropriation for the 2011-2013 biennium, per RCW 34.05.350 as amended by ESSB [EHB] 1248 and as documented in the 2011-2013 TANF/WorkFirst spending plan.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. These amendments are 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." The proposed rule reduces the cash assistance grant maximum to $726 and affects households with more than five members.
August 22, 2011
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator
4294.1(2) Payment standards for assistance units in medical institutions and other facilities are based on the need for clothing, personal maintenance, and necessary incidentals (see WAC 388-478-0040 and 388-478-0045).
(3) Need and payment standards for persons and families who do not reside in medical institutions and other facilities are based on their obligation to pay for shelter.
(a) Eligibility and benefit levels for persons and families who meet the requirements in WAC 388-478-0010 are determined using standards for assistance units with an obligation to pay shelter costs.
(b) Eligibility and benefit levels for all other persons and families are determined using standards for assistance units who have shelter provided at no cost.
(c) For recent arrivals to Washington state who apply for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF), see WAC 388-468-0005.
(4) Effective May 1, 2011, the monthly cash assistance
grant for an assistance unit ((containing eight or more
persons)) cannot exceed ((the grant maximum payment standard
for a family of eight listed in WAC 388-478-0020(1))) seven
hundred and twenty-six dollars.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08A.100, 74.04.770, 74.08.090, and 2008 c 329 § 207 (1)(e). 08-21-134, § 388-478-0005, filed 10/20/08, effective 10/28/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057. 04-05-010, § 388-478-0005, filed 2/6/04, effective 3/8/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-478-0005, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]