Rules in Progress
The rules writing process is open to the public. The public is welcome to take part in helping us write rules. Rules are also known as regulations, Washington Administrative Code, or WAC. The rule-making process includes public notices and workshops, and usually a public hearing before a rule becomes final.
To receive information about rule making and other topics related to substance use disorder professionals, subscribe for updates at the bottom of the page.
Current rules in progress
1. Health Equity Continuing Education Draft Rules
The Department of Health has proposed draft changes to chapter 246-811 WAC to add the health equity continuing education requirements for substance use disorder professionals as required in ESSB 5229. The department filed filed WSR 23-23-034 with the final rule language (PDF) which will go into effect on January 1, 2024. This final rule language is based on the comments received from the meeting and in writing, which includes:
- adding a new section specific to health equity,
- updating the continuing education requirements to include the health equity training, and
- removing outdated language around the suicide prevention training.
2. Draft Rules for changes to the National Certification, professions approved for the alternative path, and removing the HIV/AIDS training for the probationary license.
The department has scheduled a hearing for November 20, 2023, at 2 p.m. to implement changes in WAC 246-811 around rules being developed to modify the substance use disorder professional (SUDP) credentialing requirements for individuals with a national certification, adding pharmacists to the list of professions that are eligible for the alternative path to SUDP certification, and cleaning up the probationary license requirements to remove the outdated HIV/AIDS 4-hour training. See WSR 23-20-120 for more information (PDF).
Register for the workshop:
Zoom webinar on November 20, 2023 at 2 p.m. This will be a virtual public hearing, without a physical meeting space.
Register in advance for this webinar.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Submit written comments by November 20, 2023, at 2 p.m. This will be a virtual public hearing, without a physical meeting space.
- The department’s online rules comment webpage
- The U.S. Mail: Ted Dale, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852
- Attend the online rules hearing on November 20, 2023, at 2 p.m.
Please email the program manager if you have any questions.
Important Information for the Rules Hearing:
- In order to give verbal testimony during the online rules hearing, you will need to access the meeting using your computer, laptop, or device. Your computer, laptop, or device must have speakers, and microphone in order to give verbal testimony.
- If you select to use only your phone, an option given during registration, Zoom will automatically enter you into the meeting in ‘listen-only’ mode. The application cannot unmute individual callers who select to use only their phone to access the meeting.
After November 20, the department will:
- review all submitted comments and testimony
- determine if the proposed rules can move forward as written or require any changes (based on comments / testimony)
- provide responses to all submitted comments / testimony