WSR 18-12-020

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed May 24, 2018, 3:28 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-490 WAC, Vital statistics, the department of health (department) is considering adding a section(s) to the chapter to include requirements for filing acknowledgments, denials, and rescissions of parentage; and information to identify the correct subject of a record to process an establishment of parentage court order. WAC 246-491-990 Vital records fees, the department is considering amending the section to create a new fee for filing parentage and rescissions, and clarify existing fees.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: SB 6037 (chapter 6, Laws of 2018) Uniform Parentage Act.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The Uniform Parentage Act allows parents to file voluntary acknowledgments, denials, and rescissions of parentage with the department. The department is considering adopting new rules to create processes and requirements for filing voluntary acknowledgments, denials, and rescissions of parentage; and information to identify the correct subject of a record to process an establishment of parentage court order; and to establish a new fee for filing parentage and rescissions, and clarify existing fees. Through rule making, the department can establish formalized processes and enforceable standards for establishing parentage on birth records.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Division of child support in the department of social and health services, and office of the administrator of the courts.

Process for Developing New Rule: The department will use a collaborative rule-making process to develop the proposed rules.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Katitza Holthaus, P.O. Box 47814, Olympia, WA 98504-7814, phone 360-236-4311, fax 360-753-4135, TTY 360-833-6388 or 711, email katitza.holthaus@doh.wa.gov, web site http://www.doh.wa.gov/AboutUs/RuleMaking.

Additional comments: Interested parties can participate in the drafting of the proposed rule. The department will use existing listserv and other known contact information to inform stakeholders of opportunities to provide input on propose[d] rule language. To be included on an interested parties list contact Katitza Holthaus.

May 24, 2018

John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH

Secretary