Rule-Making Activities

Adopted Rule Revisions: In March 2021, the State Board of Health adopted revisions to this rule with an original effective date of January 31, 2022. In late 2021, at the request of the Department of Health, the Board delayed the effective date for rule revisions to January 1, 2023. Before adopted revisions become effective on January 1, 2023, regulated entities should follow existing requirements in 246-101 WAC.

More information about the Notifiable Conditions rulemaking can be found on the Board's rulemaking webpage. Please direct any questions to notifiableconditions@sboh.wa.gov.

This webpage provides information on the permanent rule making for the full Notifiable Conditions chapter.

Find information about the COVID-19 emergency rule, including the rule language.

Informal Public Comment Period on Draft Rules

The Washington State Board of Health and Washington State Department of Health previously filed a Supplemental CR-102, Proposed Rule for chapter 246-101 WAC. The Board elected to delay its decision to adopt the proposed rules at the August 2020 meeting. At its November 2020 meeting, the Board directed staff to work with subject matter and community experts, local health jurisdictions, and the regulated community to develop proposed language that would incorporate race, ethnicity, and language as reportable data components for all notifiable conditions. The Board also directed staff to withdraw the Supplemental CR-102 in anticipation of filing a new CR-102. You can find meeting materials from past Board meetings and information on future meetings here on the State Board of Health website at SBOH.WA.GOV.

The Board, in collaboration with Department, filed a new CR-102, Proposed Rule, for chapter 246-101 WAC on February 2, 2021. The CR-102 announced to the public that a rule was being proposed and included the proposed rule language. On March 10, 2021, the Board adopted amendments to chapter 246-101 WAC. The updated rules will take effect January 31, 2022.

Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050, RCW 70.104.055, and RCW 43.70.545

Scope of Rule Making

Chapter 246-101 WAC outlines requirements for reporting information that is necessary for public health officials to protect the public's health by tracking communicable diseases and other conditions. The Board of Health and the Department of Health (department) filed a CR-101 (WSR 18-11-089), Preproposal Statement of Inquiry, on May 18, 2018, for chapter 246-101 WAC and WAC 246-100-011. The CR-101 announced to the public that the board and department were considering updating the rules regarding:

  • Adding notification and specimen submission requirements for new conditions and conditions currently identified as "other rare diseases of public health significance"
  • Changing notification and specimen submission requirements for existing conditions
  • Clarifying notification requirements for suspected cases
  • Requiring electronic lab notification
  • Revising reporting requirements for veterinarians and the Washington State Department of Agriculture
  • Updating statutory references in the rules
  • Updating references to the 2006 Security and Confidentiality Guidelines developed by the CDC to the most recent publication
  • Harmonizing definitions between WAC 246-100-011 and chapter 246-101 WAC
  • Improving clarity and usability of the rules

The Board did not adopt all of the changes considered and outlined in the CR-101.
Adopted Rules (PDF)

Technical Advisory Committee Meetings

The board and department convened a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to provide input on the rule change recommendations. The TAC met four times. Below are summaries of the TAC meetings and recommendations for the draft rules:

  1. June 2018 Meeting Summary (PDF)
  2. July 2018 Meeting Summary (PDF)
  3. September 2018 Meeting Summary (PDF)
  4. October 2018 Meeting Summary (PDF)

Contact information

You can receive rule notices by email. Sign up now for the rule-making email list.

For more information about our rule-making activities, contact Alexandra Montaño at Alexandra.Montaño@doh.wa.gov or 360-236-4205.