Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is amending WAC 388-444-0005 Am I required to work or look for work in order to be eligible for Basic Food?, 388-444-0055 What are the penalties if I refuse or fail to meet Basic Food work requirements?, 388-444-0065 Am I eligible for Basic Food if I quit my job?, 388-444-0070 What is good cause for quitting my job?, 388-444-0075 What are the penalties if I quit a job without good cause?, and any other related rules.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.08A.120, 74.08A.903, 74.04.500, and 74.04.515.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The community services division is proposing to amend rules under WAC 388-444-0005, 388-444-0055, 388-444-0065, 388-444-0070, and 388-444-0075 to update Basic Food work requirement rules to be consistent with federal regulations, and Washington approved Basic Food state plan.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) enforces the provisions of the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) as enacted in the 2008 Food and Nutrition Act and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations. The department will develop amendments to Basic Food work requirement rules that are consistent with the act, federal regulations, and our approved Basic Food state plan.

     The state legislature authorizes the department to administer the SNAP and food assistance program for legal immigrants under RCW 74.04.500, 74.04.510, and 74.08A.120.

     DSHS incorporates regulations from the federal agencies, exercises state options, and implements approved waivers of federal regulatory requirements by adopting administrative rules for food assistance programs administered under the Washington Basic Food program.

     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 Bob Thibodeau, Program Manager, Economic Services Administration, Community Services Division, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone (360) 725-4634, fax, (360) 725-4905, e-mail thiborl@dshs.wa.gov.

January 22, 2013

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator