PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
(Division of Child Support)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 388-14A-5000 through 388-14A-5007 are the rules dealing with distribution of child support payments. The Division of Child Support (DCS) is looking at clarifying these rules and adding provisions dealing with automated enforcement of interstate (AEI) payments. In addition, DCS is reviewing all existing distribution rules as part of its ongoing attempt to make them clearer.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 26.23.035, 74.08.090, 74.20A.188, 74.20A.310, 42 U.S.C. 666(a)14.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: RCW 26.23.035 requires DCS to have rules regarding the distribution of support payments. RCW 74.20A.188 deals with AEI cases; DCS seeks to clarify that payments received through AEI will be distributed according to the distribution rules and not to a specific case.
Process for Developing New Rule: DCS engages in modified collaborative rule making. Those persons wishing to participate in developing the new rules are encouraged to contact Nancy Koptur at the DSHS Division of Child Support (DCS) headquarters as soon as possible. DCS will post information regarding this rule development project and others on its web site, which can be found at www.wa.gov/dshs/dcs, or on the DSHS Economic Services Administration's regulatory improvement web site, which can be found at http://www-app2.wa.gov/dshs/esa/extpolicy/blue.asp. DSHS/DCS encourages the public to take part in developing the rules. After the rules are drafted, DSHS will file a copy with the Office of the Code Reviser with a notice of proposed rule making, and will send a copy to everyone currently on the mailing list and to anyone else who requests a copy.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting DCS Rules Coordinator, Nancy Koptur, Division of Child Support, P.O. Box 9162, Mailstop 45860, Olympia, WA 98507-9162, phone (360) 664-5065, e-mail nkoptur@dshs.wa.gov, 1-800-457-6202, fax (360) 664-5055, TTY/TDD (360) 664-5011.
April 12, 2001
Brian H. Lindgren, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit