WSR 02-23-048

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Management Services Administration)

[ Filed November 15, 2002, 10:50 a.m. ]

     Date of Adoption: November 15, 2002.

     Purpose: Amending WAC 388-02-0215 What is the authority of the ALJ? The department is amending the rule to clarify agency hearing procedures concerning the types of cases where the DSHS Board of Appeals (BOA) may review an initial order entered by an administrative law judge (ALJ). The amended rule provides that BOA may review an initial order by an ALJ for any DSHS case where the request for a hearing was received by the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) on or before November 14, 2002. This amendment assures that individuals and entities that requested a hearing by this date will have the same review options that were available before the rule was amended by WSR 02-21-061.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-02-0215.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 34.05.020.

     Other Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, Parts IV and V.

     Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest; and that state or federal law or federal rule or a federal deadline for state receipt of federal funds requires immediate adoption of a rule.

     Reasons for this Finding: Recently adopted revisions to chapter 388-02 WAC (WSR 02-21-061, effective November 15, 2002) make it necessary for the department to adopt this emergency rule to preserve the due process rights of DSHS clients, providers, licensees and applicable others who request a fair hearing or adjudicative proceeding on or before November 14, 2002.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
     Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

November 13, 2002

Brian H. Lindgren, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

3187.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 02-21-061, filed 10/15/02, effective 11/15/02)

WAC 388-02-0215   What is the authority of the ALJ?   (1) The ALJ must hear and decide the issues de novo (anew) based on what is presented during the hearing.

     (2) As needed, the ALJ may:

     (a) Determine the order for presenting evidence;

     (b) Issue subpoenas or orders directing witnesses to appear or bring documents;

     (c) Rule on objections, motions, and other procedural matters;

     (d) Rule on an offer of proof made to admit evidence;

     (e) Admit relevant evidence;

     (f) Impartially question witnesses to develop the record;

     (g) Call additional witnesses and request exhibits to complete the record;

     (h) Give the parties an opportunity to cross-examine witnesses or present more evidence against the witnesses or exhibits;

     (i) Keep order during the hearing;

     (j) Allow or require oral or written argument and set the deadlines for the parties to submit argument or evidence;

     (k) Permit others to attend, photograph or electronically record hearings, but may place conditions to preserve confidentiality or prevent disruption;

     (l) Allow a party to waive rights given by chapters 34.05 RCW or 388-02 WAC, unless another law prevents it;

     (m) Decide whether a party has a right to a hearing;

     (n) Issue protective orders;

     (o) Consider granting a stay if authorized by law or DSHS rule; and

     (p) Take any other action necessary and authorized under these or other rules.

     (3) The ALJ administers oaths or affirmations and takes testimony.

     (4) The ALJ enters an initial order in those cases where the parties may request review of an initial order by a review judge. Cases where the parties may request review of an initial order by a review judge are those relating to:

     (a) Adult family home licenses under chapter 388-76 WAC;

     (b) Boarding home licenses under chapter 388-78A WAC;

     (c) Resident protection program findings under WAC 388-97-077;

     (d) Nursing home licenses under WAC 388-97-550 through 388-97-695;

     (e) Self-directed care under RCW 74.39A.050(9) and WAC 388-71-0150 and 388-71-0155;

     (f) Termination of provider for placing clients in imminent jeopardy under RCW 74.39A.095(7) and WAC 388-71-0551;

     (g) Termination of provider due to inadequate performance or inability to deliver quality care under RCW 74.39A.095(7) and WAC 388-71-0540 and 388-71-0551;

     (h) Denial of contract to provider due to inability of provider to appropriately meet the care needs of clients under RCW 74.39A.095(8) and WAC 388-71-0546;

     (i) Denial or termination of a contract to a provider due to a disqualifying crime or lack of character, competence, or suitability to maintain the health, safety, and well-being of clients under RCW 43.20A.710 and WAC 388-71-0540;

     (j) Social service eligibility under WAC 388-71-0400 through 388-71-0480, 388-71-0202, and 388-71-0203;

     (k) Domestic violence perpetrator treatment program certification under chapter 388-60 WAC;

     (l) Licensing or certification of child foster care homes, programs, facilities, and agencies under chapter 74.15 RCW and chapters 388-148 and 388-160 WAC;

     (m) Child protective services findings of abuse and neglect under RCW 26.44.125 and chapter 388-15 WAC;

     (n) Adoption support under WAC 388-27-0120 through 388-27-0390, for which a hearing has been held under WAC 388-27-0365;

     (o) Child day care licenses under chapter 74.15 RCW and chapters 388-150, 388-151, and 388-155 WAC;

     (p) Background checks of protective payees under WAC 388-460-0025, for which a hearing has been held under WAC 388-460-0070;

     (q) Background checks of child care providers and other persons under WAC 388-290-0143, for which a hearing has been held under WAC 388-290-0260 as part of the working connections child care program;

     (r) Background checks of persons acting in the place of a parent under WAC 388-454-0006, for which a hearing has been held under WAC 388-472-0005 (1)(j);

     (s) Claims of good cause for not cooperating with the division of child support under WAC 388-422-0020;

     (t) Parent address disclosure under WAC 388-14A-2114 through 388-14A-2140;

     (u) Chemical dependency treatment provider certification under chapter 388-805 WAC;

     (v) Community residential services and support certification, for which a hearing has been held under WAC 388-820-920;

     (w) Denial or termination of eligibility for services under WAC 388-825-100, for which a hearing has been held under WAC 388-825-120 (1)(a);

     (x) Development or modification of an individual service plan under WAC 388-825-050, for which a hearing has been held under WAC 388-825-120 (1)(b);

     (y) Authorization, denial, reduction, or termination of services under WAC 388-825-100, for which a hearing has been held under WAC 388-825-120 (1)(c);

     (z) Licensed community facilities under RCW 74.15.210 and WAC 388-730-0090;

     (aa) Community mental health and involuntary treatment program licenses under WAC 388-865-0480;

     (bb) Medical, dental, or transportation services, for which a hearing has been held under WAC 388-526-2610;

     (cc) Medical provider overpayments, for which a hearing has been held under WAC 388-502-0230(5) or 388-502-0240(17); or

     (dd) Other cases for which a right to a hearing exists, if a request for a hearing was received by OAH or DSHS on or before November 14, 2002, and other rules do not require the ALJ to enter a final order.

     (5) The ALJ makes the final decision and enters the final order in all cases except those cases set forth in subsection (4) of this section.

     (6) A review judge has the same authority as an ALJ when presiding at a hearing.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 34.05.020 and chapter 34.05 RCW, Parts IV and V, 2002 c 371, § 211. 02-21-061, § 388-02-0215, filed 10/15/02, effective 11/15/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 34.05.020. 00-18-059, § 388-02-0215, filed 9/1/00, effective 10/2/00.]

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