WSR 26-13-025
PROPOSED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing)
[Filed June 8, 2026, 5:49 p.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 26-07-025.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Chapter 388-818 WAC, office of the deaf and hard of hearing telecommunication equipment distribution program update.
Hearing Location(s): On August 4, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., virtually via Teams or call in. See the department of social and health services (DSHS) website at https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sesa/rpau/proposed-rules-and-public-hearings for the most current information.
Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than August 5, 2026.
Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504, email DSHSRPAURulesCoordinator@dshs.wa.gov, beginning noon on June 17, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. on August 4, 2026.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Shelley Tencza, rules consultant, phone 360-664-6036, TTY 711 relay service, email shelley.tencza@dshs.wa.gov, by 5:00 p.m. on July 21, 2026.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The proposed changes are primarily to remove the sliding fee scale, establish an income cap, revise the age of eligibility, and correct outdated terminology.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: See above.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: DSHS, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation, and Enforcement: Kelly Robison, 800 N.E. 136th Avenue, #220, Vancouver, WA 98684, 360-819-0913.
A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW
28A.305.135.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW
34.05.328. These rules are exempt under RCW
34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii), which states in part "rules of the department of social and health services relating only to client medical or financial eligibility and rules concerning liability for care of dependents …"
This rule proposal, or portions of the proposal, is exempt from requirements of the Regulatory Fairness Act because the proposal:
Explanation of exemptions: These amendments do not impact small businesses, they only impact DSHS customers.
Scope of exemption for rule proposal:
Is fully exempt.
June 3, 2026
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator
Reviser's note: The material contained in this filing exceeded the page-count limitations of WAC 1-21-040 for appearance in this issue of the Register. It will appear in the 26-14 issue of the Register.