Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 14 of the administrative procedures and requirements for credentialed health care providers, the department of health (department) is considering amending Part 14 (WAC 246-12-601 through 246-10-650) and possibly adding new sections to Part 14 to establish in rule the minimum standards for advanced suicide prevention trainings as required by ESHB 2411. The advanced training standards would apply to licensed psychologists, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, independent clinical social workers, social worker associates-independent clinical, advanced social workers, and social worker associates-advanced.

The intent of ESHB 2411 is to ensure that health care professionals have current, evidence-based information about identification and treatment of individuals at risk for suicide. Under ESHB 2411, the department must create minimum standards for advanced six-hour suicide prevention trainings, working in consultation with experts in the field of suicide prevention. Once completed, qualifying trainings will be listed on the department's suicide prevention training model list and required for psychologists, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, and social workers.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: ESHB 2411 requires the department to create minimum standards for new, advanced six-hour suicide prevention trainings. Part 14 of chapter 246-12 WAC contains minimum standards for the current suicide prevention trainings; amending and adopting new sections of rule in Part 14 will allow the department to permanently adopt minimum standards for the new trainings, while colocating the new section with existing rule on similar trainings.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting U. James Chaney, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-236-2831, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 711, email ulysses.chaney@doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Rule-making notices will be delivered via GovDelivery to various health profession lists. Notices for this rule making will be the same regardless of the GovDelivery list they are sent through. To receive notices, interested persons may sign up for any or all of the lists. Please go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new. After signing in, please click open the box labeled "Health Systems Quality Assurance." Next, click open the box labeled "Health Professions." From there, you may check the box next to one or more of the professions listed.