WSR 18-07-056

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed March 15, 2018, 10:20 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is planning to amend WAC 388-400-0060 Who is eligible for aged, blind or disabled (ABD) cash assistance?, 388-400-0070 Who is eligible for referral to the housing and essential needs (HEN) program?, 388-447-0001 What are the incapacity requirements for referral to the housing and essential needs (HEN) program?, 388-447-0040 Progressive evaluation process step II—How does the department determine the severity of mental impairments?, 388-447-0060 Progressive evaluation process step IV—How does the department determine the severity of multiple impairments?, and other related rules as may be required.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050, 74.040.055 [74.04.055], 74.04.057, 74.08.090.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: These amendments are necessary to comply with changes mandated by ESHB 2667 (2018 legislative session). These amendments expand eligibility criteria for a referral to the HEN program and clarify the eligibility process to support this change.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

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 Erik Peterson, P.O. Box 45440, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone 360-725-4622, email peterej@dshs.wa.gov.

March 15, 2018

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator