DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

[Filed April 2, 2025, 10:12 a.m., effective May 3, 2025]

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

Purpose: Definition of veteran; updating WAC 246-12-530 and 246-12-560. The department of health has adopted changes to replace the term "honorable discharge" with "qualifying discharge."

In 2024, the Washington legislature passed 2SHB 2014 (chapter 146, Laws of 2024). This bill amended language adding the term "qualifying discharge" to various benefit programs for veterans, replacing references to "honorable discharge." These terms used in WAC 246-12-530 and 246-12-560 have been updated to align rule language with statute.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-12-530 and 246-12-560.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 43.70.280.

Other Authority: 2SHB 2014 (chapter 146, Laws of 2024).

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 24-24-083 on December 2, 2024.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: April 2, 2025.

Kristin Peterson, JD

for Jessica Todorovich, MS

Acting Secretary of Health

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 14-10-025, filed 4/28/14, effective 5/29/14)

WAC 246-12-530How to return to active status from military status.

(1) To change the status of a credential from military status to active status, the practitioner must submit to the department:

(a) Written notification of the change in ((his or her))their service status;

(b) An official copy of the practitioner's discharge papers (DD214);

(d) The current substance abuse monitoring surcharge, if required by the profession as part of the renewal fee.

(2) The practitioner must request the military status credential be changed from military status to active status within six months of ((honorable))qualifying discharge by meeting the requirements of subsection (1) of this section.

(3) A practitioner who does not comply with subsection (2) of this section will be subject to late fees as required by WAC 246-12-040.

(4) Continuing education requirements will apply after the first post-discharge renewal.

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 14-10-025, filed 4/28/14, effective 5/29/14)

WAC 246-12-560How to return to active status from inactive military-related status.

(1) A practitioner in inactive military-related status can return ((his or her))their credential to active status at any time.

(2) To change a credential from an inactive military-related status to active status the practitioner must:

(a) Pay the appropriate current active renewal fee;

(b) Pay the current substance abuse monitoring surcharge, if required by the profession as part of renewal;

(3) If the practitioner requests a change to active status after ((his or her))their spouse or registered domestic partner is discharged, ((he or she))they must submit an official copy of the discharge papers (DD214) showing that ((his or her))their spouse or registered domestic partner ((was honorably discharged))has received a qualifying discharge within the previous six months.

(4) The credential must be changed from inactive military-related status to active status within six months of the military personnel's ((honorable))qualifying discharge by meeting the requirements of subsections (2) and (3) of this section.

(5) A practitioner who does not comply with subsection (3) of this section will be subject to late fees as required by WAC 246-12-040.

(6) After returning a credential to active status, applicable continuing education requirements will apply during the following renewal.