Date of Adoption: March 1, 2002.

     Purpose: The Division of Child Support (DCS) is amending the rules regarding mailing by the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) by certified mail. Sending the Notice of Hearing, Initial Decision and other OAH forms by first class mail would result in substantial savings for DCS.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-14A-3130, 388-14A-3925, 388-14A-5520, 388-14A-5525, and 388-14A-5530.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 34.05.220(1), 74.08.090, 74.20A.055, 74.20A.056.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 02-03-096 on January 18, 2002.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 5, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 5, Repealed 0.
     Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

March 1, 2002

Brian H. Lindgren, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

     (2) If either parent makes a timely request for hearing, the division of child support (DCS) submits the hearing request to the office of administrative hearings (OAH) for scheduling.

     (3) OAH sends a notice of hearing by ((certified)) first class mail to all parties at their address last known to DCS, notifying each party of the date, time and place of the hearing. DCS, the noncustodial parent, and the custodial parent are all parties to the hearing.

     (4) A timely request for hearing stops the support establishment notice from becoming a final order, so DCS cannot collect on the notice. However, in appropriate circumstances, the administrative law judge (ALJ) may enter a temporary support order under WAC 388-14A-3850.

     (5) A hearing on an objection to a support establishment notice is for the limited purpose of resolving the NCP's accrued support debt and current support obligation. The NCP has the burden of proving any defenses to liability.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 34.05.220(1), 74.08.090, 74.20A.055, 74.20A.056. 00-15-016 and 00-20-022, § 388-14A-3130, filed 7/10/00 and 9/25/00, effective 11/6/00. Formerly WAC 388-11-135 and 388-11-400.]

     (a) Any circumstances that have changed; and

     (b) The proposed new support amount.

     (2) The petitioning party must file the request for modification with DCS.

     (3) DCS serves a copy of the request for modification and notice of hearing on all other parties((:

     (a) By first class mail, if the parties have been advised in a court or administrative order of the requirement to keep DCS advised of their addresses; or

     (b) By certified mail, return receipt requested or personal service if the support order does not require the parties to tell DCS their address)) by first class mail at their address last know to DCS.

     (4) DCS, the administrative law judge (ALJ), or the department review judge:

     (a) Prospectively modifies orders according to the terms of chapter 26.19 RCW and RCW 74.20A.059; and

     (b) May only modify an order issued by a tribunal in another state according to the terms of RCW 26.21.580.

     (5) If the nonpetitioning party fails to appear at the hearing, the ALJ issues a default order based on the Washington state child support schedule and the worksheets submitted by the parties, considering the terms set out in the request for modification.

     (6) If the petitioning party fails to appear at the hearing, the ALJ enters an order dismissing the petition for modification.

     (7) If the petition for modification does not comply with the requirements of subsection (1)(a) and (b) of this section, the ALJ may:

     (a) Dismiss the petition; or

     (b) Continue the hearing to give the petitioning party time to amend according to WAC 388-14A-3275 or to complete the petition.

     (8) The ALJ may set the effective date of modification as the date the order is issued, the date the request was made, or any time in between. If an effective date is not set in the order, the effective date is the date the modification order is entered.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 26.23.050, 74.20A.055, 74.20A.059. 01-03-089, § 388-14A-3925, filed 1/17/01, effective 2/17/01. Formerly WAC 388-11-140.]

     (2) The notice of retained support does not become final until there is a final administrative order.

     (3) If the objection is timely, the department serves the notice of hearing on the appellant or the appellant's representative by ((certified)) first class mail ((or another method showing proof of receipt)).

     (4) The department must notify the appellant that it is the appellant's responsibility to notify the department of the appellant's mailing address at the time the application is filed and also of any change of address after filing the application. Mailing by ((certified mail, return receipt requested,)) first class mail to the last address provided by the appellant constitutes service under chapters 74.20A and 34.05 RCW.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 34.05.220. 01-03-089, § 388-14A-5520, filed 1/17/01, effective 2/17/01. Formerly WAC 388-13-060.]

     (2) The department has the burden of proof to establish ownership of the support money claimed, including but not limited to amounts not yet disbursed or spent.

     (3) The administrative law judge (ALJ) must allow the division of child support (DCS) to orally amend the notice of retained support at the hearing to conform to the evidence. The ALJ may grant a continuance, if necessary, to allow the debtor additional time to present evidence or argument in response to the amendment.

     (4) The ALJ serves a copy of the initial decision on DCS and the debtor or the debtor's representative by ((certified)) first class mail to the last address provided by each party ((or by another method showing proof of receipt)).

     (5) If the debtor fails to appear at the hearing, the ALJ, upon a showing of valid service of the notice of retained support, enters an initial decision and order declaring that the amount of the support money claimed in the notice, is subject to collection action under chapter 74.20A RCW.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 34.05.220. 01-03-089, § 388-14A-5525, filed 1/17/01, effective 2/17/01. Formerly WAC 388-13-070 and 388-13-110.]

     (2) A copy of the objection must be served by ((certified mail, return receipt requested, or by service in the manner of a summons in a civil action)) first class mail on the district field office of DCS.

     (3) The filing of the petition does not stay any collection action that DCS has taken, but the debtor may petition the secretary or the secretary's designee for an order staying collection action pending final decision of the secretary or the secretary's designee or the courts on an appeal made under chapter 34.05 RCW.

     (4) Any money held or taken by collection action before any such stay and any support money claimed by the department, including amounts to be received in the future, to which the department may have a claim, must be held in trust pending the final decision and appeal, if any, to be disbursed in accordance with the final decision.

     (5) If someone files a petition for a hearing, the department serves the notice of hearing on the appellant, the appellant's attorney, or other designated representative by ((certified mail or other method showing proof of receipt)) first class mail.

     (6) The department notifies the appellant that the appellant must notify the department of the appellant's mailing address at the time the petition is filed and also of any change of address after filing the petition. Mailing by ((certified mail, return receipt requested,)) first class mail to the last address provided by the appellant constitutes service under chapters 74.20A and 34.05 RCW.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 34.05.220. 01-03-089, § 388-14A-5530, filed 1/17/01, effective 2/17/01. Formerly WAC 388-13-050.]

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