The Department would like to propose the creation of a new Food Business Support Period for when turnaround times for new food establishment plan review exceed 20 weeks.

The Food Business Support Period would activate when the oldest application in the unassigned plan review queue is 140 calendar days (20 weeks) or older, and would deactivate when the oldest application in the unassigned plan review queue is 84 days (12 weeks) or newer.

Applications in the queue and applications submitted to the Department from businesses in good standing during an active Food Business Support Period would be eligible for a Food Business Support Incentive.  The incentive would equal the sum of the temporary event permits obtained in the period between 84 calendar days from date of application and the first decision letter sent by plan review staff.  The incentive would take the form of a credit toward the business’ first annual operating permit, and would not exceed the amount owed for the annual permit. 

RCW 70.05.060 (7) Establish fee schedules for issuing or renewing licenses or permits or for such other services as are authorized by the law and the rules of the state board of health: PROVIDED, That such fees for services shall not exceed the actual cost of providing any such services.