Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department of social and health services (department) is considering amendments to WAC 388-76-10895 Emergency evacuation drills—Frequency and participation. Updates to other related rules may be required. As needed, amendments will also make changes required to improve clarity, update policy, or better align rule language with state and federal law or regulations.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department received a petition requesting a change in the requirement for adult family providers to conduct emergency evacuation drills from every "sixty days" to every "two months." The change will reduce the burden on adult family home providers who must count 60 calendar days from each drill to ensure they comply with the time frame. Requiring the drills every two months will allow adult family home providers to set a date on the calendar every other month.

Process for Developing New Rule: Negotiated rule making; and collaborative rule making. The department invites the public to give input on the draft language for proposed rule changes. More information is available by contacting the residential care services policy unit as provided below.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Colleen Jensen, P.O. Box 45600, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 564-999-3182, fax 360-438-7903, TTY 711 relay service, email rcspolicy@dshs.wa.gov.