11-15-094

WSR 11-15-094

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)

[ Filed July 20, 2011, 9:58 a.m. ]

     Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department will be proposing changes and additions to chapter 388-310 WAC, WorkFirst; chapter 388-400 WAC, Program summary; chapter 388-412 WAC, Benefits issuances; chapter 388-450 WAC, Income; chapter 388-460 WAC, Payees on benefit issuances; and any other related WACs necessary to comply with ESSB 5921, signed by the governor on June 15, 2011, as it relates to the temporary assistance for needy families (TANF)/WorkFirst program.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.08.090, 74.08.025, 74.08.580, chapters 74.08A and 74.12 RCW.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department is proposing the above rules changes in accordance with the following ESSB 5921 provisions:

?	Temporarily suspend WorkFirst participation requirements for families with a child under age of two, or two or more children under six (section 2).
?	Establish income eligibility criteria for TANF benefits for a child, other than a foster child, who lives with caregiver other than his or her parents (section 4).
?	Implement TANF permanent disqualification for adults who are terminated due to WorkFirst noncompliance sanctions three or more times since March 1, 2007 (section 7(4)).
?	Allow TANF recipients' "work activities" to include voluntary service at a child care or preschool facility licensed under chapter 43.215 RCW, or elementary school in which his or her child is enrolled (section 8(6)).
?	Include parent education services or programs that support development of appropriate parenting skills, life skills, and employment-related competencies (section 8(16)).
?	Assign protective payees to persons violating EBT card use restrictions so EBT cards will be used for benefit program purpose (section 14).

     Process for Developing New Rule: DSHS welcomes the public to take part in developing the rules. Anyone interested should contact the staff person identified below. At a later date, DSHS will file a proposal with the office of the code reviser with a notice of proposed rule making. A copy of the proposal will be sent to everyone on the mailing list and to anyone who requests a copy.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Aurea Figueroa-Rogers, Program Manager, Community Services Division, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone [phone], fax [phone], e-mail [e-mail].

July 20, 2011

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator