PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is proposing amendments to WAC 388-436-0050 Determining financial need and benefit amount for CEAP, 388-478-0005 Cash assistance need and payment standards and grant maximum, 388-478-0020 Payment standards for TANF, SFA, and RCA, 388-478-0035 Maximum earned income limits for TANF, SFA, and RCA, and any other related rules.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.50 [74.04.050], 74.04.055, 74.08.090, chapters 74.08A and 74.12 RCW.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department may propose amendments to reduce payment standards, maximum earned income limits, grant maximum amount and other related rules. The proposed changes are necessary to achieve targeted budget reductions for the remainder of the 2011-2013 biennium and thereafter, which may help to prevent further WorkFirst program reductions in the future.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: No other agencies regulate this subject.
Process for Developing New Rule: DSHS welcomes the public to take part in developing the rules. Anyone interested should contact the staff person identified below. At a later date, DSHS will file a proposal with the office of the code reviser with a notice of proposed rule making. A copy of the proposal will be sent to everyone on the mailing list and to anyone who requests a copy.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Aurea Figueroa-Rogers, Program Manager, Economic Services Administration, Community Services Division, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone (360) 725-4623, fax (360) 725-4904, e-mail Aurea.Figueroa-Rogers@dshs.wa.gov.
December 16, 2011
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator