HB 353 - ADOPTION BY REFERENCE IN REGULATIONS BRUCE CAMPBELL, staff to Representative Pete Kelly, informed committee members he prepared a committee substitute after several concerns were discussed by committee members at a previous meeting. SENATOR ELLIS moved to adopt SCSCSHB 353(HES), version F, as the working document of the committee. There being no objection, the motion carried. MR. CAMPBELL explained the changes made in the committee substitute. On page 1, line 11, language was added allowing this process to be applied when a regulation references a regulation adopted by another state agency. For example, DHSS regulations require that child care centers meet fire marshall codes. The fire marshall regulations regarding fire codes change when codes are updated. Rather than require DHSS to repromulgate its regulations regarding fire codes in child care centers when the code is updated, HB 353 will allow the new code regulations to be adopted by reference. On page 3 an additional U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' reference document was added, entitled "The Relative Value Units Used in the Medicare Program for the Determination of Fee Schedules." Number 190 SENATOR LEMAN asked if Mr. Campbell decided the inclusion of Amendment #1, proposed at the last meeting, was inappropriate in the committee substitute. MR. CAMPBELL responded Amendment #1 is moving independently as SB 305, and is now in the House Labor and Commerce Committee. He stated had it been included, two bills that do the same thing will be enacted. SENATOR GREEN asked if, when new legislation is being drafted, a search through the regulations to cross-reference any tangential connection could create a conflict. MR. CAMPBELL said he did not think so because regulations are not normally quoted in statute. If DHSS cross references the fire marshall code in its regulations on child care centers, then DHSS should be able to amend the regulations so that it can use the updated fire marshall code without re-promulgating regulations which can take six months. CHAIRMAN WILKEN asked the committee's wishes on HB 353. There being no motion to moved HB 353, CHAIRMAN WILKEN announced HB 353 would be taken up again by the committee on Monday, April 27.