Washington Administrative Code
The WAC codifies regulations of Washington state agencies and institutions of higher education and arranges them by subject or agency. WAC regulations (also referred to as “rules”) are established under the state Administrative Procedure Act, RCW 34.05.
Making Changes to WSU WAC Codes
The state Code Reviser publishes the Washington Administrative Code, including WAC Title 504. To create, revise, or delete a WSU WAC rule, follow these steps:
A University unit considering adding or repealing sections of WAC Title 504 or changing an existing section should review the current rules on the proposed subject in WAC Title 504
The unit seeking to add, repeal, or change sections of WAC Title 504 contacts the PRF Rules Coordinator and describes the planned change
The Rules Coordinator, or designee, provides an estimated timeline for completion of the rule change. Generally, the unit should assume that a WAC revision takes at least seven months to process, with exceptions for emergency and expedited rulemaking (see UPPM 10.35).
- Consult the Policy Drafting Tips and Digital Accessibility Guides
- If a proposed rule or revision has a potential impact on American Indian or Alaska Native Tribes, members, or land, also refer to UPPM 10.41 Policy on Tribal Engagement, Consultation, and Consent for Joint WSU-Tribal Research Activities and Projects
- Consider possible positive and negative impacts of the rule on various groups, communities, and individuals, including those from underrepresented populations, and ensure a broad range of input and views are solicited in the rule development process
- You can also work with PRF to create an initial draft
The responsible unit submits the draft WAC language to the Rules Coordinator at least six weeks prior to the submittal of the proposal to the Code Reviser. This allows time for editing and broader institutional review and approval, including presidential approval.
For most WAC revisions, the rulemaking process also requires publication of the proposal in the Washington State Register, a public hearing and comment period, and Board of Regents approval. The Rules Coordinator handles or facilitates these steps.
For more information, see UPPM 10.35 Internal Rule-Making Procedures.