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Washington Administrative Code (Last Updated: November 23, 2016) |
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Title 480. Utilities and Transportation Commission |
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Chapter 480-07. Procedural rules. |
Section 480-07-930. Declaratory orders under RCW 34.05.240.
Latest version.
- (1) Petition. Any interested person may petition the commission for a declaratory order with respect to the applicability to specified circumstances of a rule, order, or statute enforceable by the commission, as provided by RCW 34.05.240.(a) Format. Petitions for declaratory orders under RCW 34.05.240 must conform in style and substance to the requirements for other forms of adjudicative pleading as specified in Part III, subpart A of this chapter.(b) Relationship with adjudications. The commission will dismiss a petition for declaratory order when issues in the petition are at issue in a pending adjudication. The commission will reject a single pleading that seeks a declaratory order or, in the alternative, an adjudicative order. The filing party must choose which process it deems appropriate.(2) Notice. The commission will give notice of any petition for declaratory order within fifteen days after the commission receives the petition. The notice will be served on all persons who are required by law to be given notice and on any other person to whom the commission deems notice to be desirable.(3) Response. Any person may respond to a petition for declaratory order by filing an answer within twenty days after the petition is filed or at such other time as the commission may establish by notice. The commission will not enter a declaratory order under RCW 34.05.240 if any person asserts in response to a petition for declaratory order filed pursuant to RCW 34.05.240 that their rights might be substantially prejudiced by entry of a declaratory order, supports such assertion by sworn affidavit demonstrating the potential for substantial prejudice, and does not consent in writing to the determination of the matter by a declaratory order proceeding under RCW 34.05.240.(4) Conversion of proceeding. The commission may convert the form of a declaratory order proceeding as provided under RCW 34.05.070 and conduct the matter as an adjudicative proceeding under Part III, subpart A of this chapter.(5) Commission action on petition. Within thirty days after it receives a petition for declaratory order, the commission will:(a) Enter a declaratory order;(b) Notify the petitioner that the commission will not enter a declaratory order under RCW 34.05.240, and state reasons for its action;(c) Set a specified time, no later than ninety days after the day the petition was filed, by which the commission will enter a declaratory order; or(d) Set a reasonable time and place for a hearing. If a hearing is held on a petition for declaratory order under RCW 34.05.240, it must be held no more than ninety days after receipt of the petition. If a hearing is held, the commission will give at least seven days' notice to the petitioner, to all persons to whom notice is required by law, and to any other person it deems desirable. The notice will include the time, place, and a statement of the issues involved.(6) Extension of time. The commission may for good cause extend the times specified in subsection (5)(c) and (d) of this section.(7) Commission action after hearing. If a hearing is held as provided in subsection (5)(d) of this section, the commission will within a reasonable time:(a) Enter a declaratory order; or(b) Notify the petitioner that the commission will not enter a declaratory order and state the reasons for its action.(8) Service. The commission will serve its order or notice upon all persons who are required to receive notice under subsection (2) of this section.