October 3, 2013
ALTSA: ALF #2013-020
FORMAL PHASE OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 388-78A WAC
Dear Assisted Living Facility Administrator and Interested Parties:
In July 2013, the Department began the rulemaking process to amend sections of Chapter 388-78A Washington Administrative Code (WAC) to comply with and be consistent with federal regulations and newly passed state law Senate Bill 5077 Gender-Neutral Terms; House Bill 1629 Concerning credentialing and continuing education requirements for long-term services; and Senate Bill 5510 Vulnerable Adults—Abuse passed in the 2011-2012 legislative session. The scope of this rulemaking is limited to comply with and be consistent with newly passed state laws.
Recently, the Department filed the CR-102, a more formal phase of the rule making process. The CR-102, including proposed rule language, is available on the ADSA website at:http://www.adsa.dshs.wa.gov/professional/bh.htm under the heading, "Assisted Living Facility Rule Filings".
You may either submit comments in person at the public hearing listed below or in writing to the Department's Rules and Policies Assistance Unit (RPAU). The formal hearing for the proposed rules is scheduled:
Date: November 26, 2013 Time: 10: 00 a.m.
Location: Office Building 2 (DSHS Headquarters)
1115 Washington
Olympia, WA 98504
You must submit written comments by 5:00 p.m. on November 26, 2013 to the following address or by email to Jennisha Johnson at DSHSRPAURulesCoordinator@dshs.wa.gov
DSHS Rules Coordinator/RPAU
PO Box 45850
Olympia WA, 98504-5850
Directions to Office Building 2 can be found: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rpau/RPAU-OB-2directions.html. Public parking is available at 11th and Jefferson.
If you have any questions about the proposed rules, please contact Jeanette K. Childress, Assisted Living Facility Policy Program Manager at (360) 725-2591 or email at childjk@dshs.wa.gov.
Sincerely,
E. Irene Owens, Interim Director
Residential Care Service