Subject of Possible Rule Making: Animal euthanasia training program guidelines. The pharmacy quality assurance commission (commission) is considering amending WAC 246-945-503 and establishing new section(s) in chapter 246-945 WAC to establish regulatory requirements for animal euthanasia training programs seeking commission approval.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The commission is undergoing a process to replace policy, procedure, and guidance documents with rules where possible. One policy statement from October 2020 is titled "Euthanasia Training Program Guidelines for Animal Control Agencies and Humane Societies." This policy statement establishes guidelines for animal euthanasia training programs seeking to meet substantially equivalent training requirements as a commission-approved program. The policy statement does not provide enforceable standards or consistent criteria for program approval. Rule making is necessary to provide for uniform application, transparency, and enforceability of training program requirements. On February 5, 2026, the commission authorized rule making on animal euthanasia training program guidelines to consider replacing the policy statement.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Julia Katz, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-791-1167, TTY 711, email PharmacyRules@doh.wa.gov, website www.doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Interested parties can participate in the drafting of the proposed rules. The department of health will conduct at least one rules workshop. Rule-making notices will be delivered via the GovDelivery list. To receive notices, go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new. After signing in, click open the box labeled "Health Systems Quality Assurance." Next, click open the box labeled "Health Professions" and then click again on "Pharmacy Commission Newsletter." You may also check the box next to one or more of the other professions or facilities listed to receive information related to that specific topic.