Current Rulemakings
The Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) are committed to taking action to help prevent the spread of communicable diseases in TWH sites. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, DOH and L&I continued to review new information, data, and science as it became available to determine necessary requirements to protect TWH occupants from COVID-19 and similar airborne infectious disease hazards which was used to adopt a series of emergency rules. Based on this information and gauging the effectiveness of the nine emergency rules, DOH and L&I identified proposed amendments to the permanent rules to protect occupants.
On April 12, 2023, DOH and L&I held a two-week informal comment period to engage with interested parties to review and comment on the draft rule amendments. Both agencies reviewed the comments and made clarifying changes to the rule based on feedback.
On May 2, 2023, DOH and L&I filed a CR-102 Proposed Rule Making WSR 23-10-093 (PDF) and WSR 23-10-092 (PDF) respectively.
Additional Rule Documents:
Proposed Rule Language, English (PDF)
Proposed Rule Language, Spanish (PDF)
Small Business Economic Impact Statement (PDF)
Significant Legislative Rule Analysis (PDF)
Summary of Changes Fact Sheet (PDF)
Camp Management Plan DRAFT (PDF)
Public Hearing and Comment Period
DOH and L&I will conduct three in-person public hearings in communities around the state and one virtual public hearing, to receive comments. A pre-hearing overview will occur one hour prior to the start of each public hearing. The pre-hearing overview will provide a summary of the proposed rule language, and answer questions from the public prior to the start of the formal hearing.
Spanish interpretation services will be provided at all of the public hearings, including the virtual public hearing on Tuesday, June 20, 2023.
Public Hearing Dates and Locations
Date: June 20, 2023
Pre-Hearing Overview: 2:00 p.m.
Hearing Time: 3:00 p.m.
Zoom Link: https://lni-wa-gov.zoom.us/j/85754270385?pwd=T25qTldCS3UzVi9nU3J5ZG0vQTMzZz09
Password (if prompted): TWhouse@2
By Phone: 253-205-0468 or 253-215-8782
Meeting ID: 857 5427 0385
Passcode: 355402565
Date: June 26, 2023
Pre-Hearing Q&A: 2:00 p.m.
Hearing Time: 3:00 p.m.
WSU Mount Vernon NWREC
16650 State Route 536, Mount Vernon, Washington
Date: June 27, 2023
Pre-Hearing Q&A: 2:00 p.m.
Hearing Time: 3:00 p.m.
Pybus Public Market
3 North Worthen Street, Wenatchee, Washington 98801
Date: June 28, 2023
Pre-Hearing Q&A: 1:00 p.m.
Hearing Time: 2:00 p.m.
Red Lion Hotel Columbia Center
1101 North Columbia Center Blvd, Kennewick, Washington 99336
Submit Comments by July 7
DOH and L&I encourages the submittal of written comments. Send your comments by 5:00 p.m. on July 7, 2023.
Submit written comments one of these three ways:
Agency Comment Page: DOH Rules Comment
By Email: tempworkerrule@doh.wa.gov AND Cynthia.Ireland@lni.wa.gov
By United Stated Postal Service:
Nina Helpling, Department of Health, PO Box 47820, Olympia, WA 98504-7820
AND
Cynthia Ireland, Department of Labor & Industries, PO Box 44620, Olympia WA 98504-4620
Agency Contacts
Department of Health
Rule Support: Nina Helpling, Rules Coordinator, 360-236-3065
Technical Support: Juan C. Gamez Briceno, Temporary Worker Housing Section Manager, 360-628-6620
Department of Labor and Industries
Rule Support: Cynthia Ireland, Administrative Regulations Analyst, 360-791-5048
Technical Support: Doug Hartfield, Agricultural Technical Specialist
Rules Website: Temporary Worker Housing in Agriculture Rulemaking