Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 296-15 WAC, Workers' compensation self-insurance rules and regulations. Obligations and liabilities of decertified self-insured employer groups and counties, cities, or municipalities.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The purpose of this rule making is to implement HB 1275, which established the department of labor and industries' (L&I) authority to ensure payment is received from a self-insured group or municipal employer after their self-insurer certification is withdrawn.

These rules will ensure funds are available for the continuity of benefits for injured workers if their self-insured employer becomes decertified. This will include rules regarding the continued obligations of decertified self-insured employers and the methods of how the self-insured employer shall meet financial obligations.

Process for Developing New Rule: Parties interested in these rules may contact the individual listed below. The public may also participate by commenting after amendments are proposed by providing written comments and/or testimony during the public hearing and comment process. Public hearings will be held after the proposed language is filed.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Starla Treznoski, L&I, Insurance Services, Self-Insurance, P.O. Box 44890, Olympia, WA 98504-4890, phone 360-902-5668, fax 360-902-6977, email Starla.Tresznoski@Lni.wa.gov[Starla.Treznoski@Lni.wa.gov]; or Caroline Roberts, L&I, Insurance Services, Self-Insurance, P.O. Box 44890, Olympia, WA 98504-4890, phone 360-902-6871, fax 360-902-6977, email Caroline.Roberts@Lni.wa.gov.

Additional comments: For more information on L&I rule making, visit the rule-making activity web page at https://www.lni.wa.gov/rulemaking-activity/.