PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Health and Rehabilitation Services)
(Mental Health Division)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 275-54 WAC, Juvenile involuntary treatment; chapter 275-55 WAC, Voluntary admission -- Involuntary commitment, treatment and/or evaluation or mentally ill persons; and chapter 275-57 WAC, Community mental health programs, are being rewritten in clear language format and combined. The rewritten rules will be renumbered into Title 388 WAC.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 71.05.560, 71.05.690, 71.05.215, 71.24.035, 71.34.800, 43.20B110 [43.20B.110], 43.20B.335, 9.41.047.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Compliance with the executive order on regulatory improvement; integration of rules about the administration of community mental health programs, including services to children and adults, in both outpatient and inpatient settings, on both voluntary and involuntary basis to be consistent with the integrated system that has been evolving since the creation of the regional support networks; streamlining the rules by eliminating duplication, inconsistency and conflict; and incorporating WAC 440-44-090 and chapter 275-16 WAC, Liability for costs of care and hospitalization of the mentally ill.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Department of Health registers, licenses and certifies people who provide mental health treatment, has law on confidentiality, and licenses some facilities that provide mental health services. Drafts of the rule will be shared with the Department of Health, and meetings held if necessary.
Process for Developing New Rule: The draft will be broadly circulated for stakeholder review and comment. It will be revised as necessary, following reviewer comment. To receive a copy of the draft rules contact the staff person below.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Dorene Buckles, Mental Health Division, P.O. Box 45320, Olympia, WA 98504, phone (360) 902-0822, e-mail Buckles@dshs.wa.gov.
March 27, 2000
Marie Myerchin-Redifer, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit