Office of the Code Reviser



Order Typing Service (OTS)

OTS is a cooperative effort between the office of the code reviser and state rule-making agencies to prepare new, amendatory, and repealed rules with minimum effort. This service is provided at no charge to rule-making agencies for their convenience in preparing their proposed and adopted rules.

It is not mandatory to use OTS.

OTS follows the guidelines in the Instructions​ on Style for the WAC. There are slight differences between the WAC and RCW as to word usage. Please check with OTS if there are questions on word usage.

How do I request OTS to begin work?

   Existing sections:

  • E-mail or phone to request specific WAC section(s) or chapter(s).
  • You will be sent a Word document of the current section(s) or chapter(s).
     
  • Make any edits using the Track Changes Tool and use strike-through (to remove existing language) in red and underscoring (to add language) in blue. Please strike through the existing language first and then add the new language second.​​​

including  include  RIGHT                      WAC 220-500-020220-500-021 RIGHT

​Includinge   WRONG                               WAC 220-500-0205  WRONG

  • Send back the Word document to OTS@leg.wa.gov.​

  • We will make the edits and then you will receive three ​OTS documents.
  • The OTS Word document is for your review and is used in drafting any additional edits if necessary.
     
  • The certified pdf of your OTS document is for filing with the Washington State Register. The words “For Filing" have been added to the document name for clarity.
     
  • The noncertified pdf of your OTS document is for agency use only.

   New chapters or new sections:

  • All new chapters should have:
  • A unique WAC number assigned by the agency. Do not use a number that exists or has previously existed. Agencies should decide where in their title the new chapter should be placed and assign a new number accordingly.
  • A chapter caption.
  • All new sections should have:
  • A unique WAC number assigned by the agency. Do not use a number that exists or has previously existed. Agencies should decide where in their chapter the new section should be placed and assign a new number accordingly.
  • A caption.
  • Text.

   Repealed sections:

  • Provide the WAC section or chapter number (text not needed).

How do I make changes to an existing OTS document?

  • Request the existing OTS document (not WAC sections) from OTS@leg.wa.gov.
  • You will be sent a Word version of the WSRD document.
  • Use the guidelines above in “existing sections," but use the color feature in the track change tool to note any edits.

How much time does it take to use the OTS service?

  • OTS has a two-week turnaround time.
  • OTS operates on a “first-come, first-served" basis.
  • Small orders usually take one week or less, but at times the workload is quite heavy and even small orders may take up to two weeks.
  • Large orders consisting of extensive changes and/or many pages may take three weeks or more to process.

Whom do I contact for questions?

​Pam Kirschbaum​
360-786-6672
​P.O. Box 40551​​
Olympia, WA 98504-0551
OTS@leg.wa.gov