Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department may propose to amend WAC 388-478-0020 Payment standards for TANF, SFA and RCA, 388-478-0035 Maximum earned income limits for TANF, SFA and RCA, 388-436-0050 Determining financial need and benefit amount for CEAP, and any other related WACs.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.08.090, 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 to reduce payment standards and maximum earned income limits by fifteen percent in response to a reduced appropriation as part of HB 3225 passed by the legislature in the special session of December 11, 2010. These reductions are necessary to achieve a balanced WorkFirst budget for the current fiscal year and the 2011-13 biennium which will help to prevent deeper cuts later.

     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 (360) 725-4623, fax (360) 725-4904, e-mail Aurea.Figueroa-Rogers@dshs.wa.gov.

January 3, 2011

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator

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