Subject of Possible Rule Making: The Division of Child Support (DCS) seeks to establish rules and procedures for enforcing medical child support obligations using the National Medical Support Notice. Affected sections: WAC 388-14A-4100, 388-14A-4110, 388-14A-4120, 388-14A-4130; possible new sections and possible amendments and repeal of related sections as necessary. (Note, this CR-101 is being filed in conjunction with emergency rules effective March 22, 2004.)

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.08.090, 74.20A.310, 26.18.170; section 401 of HR 3130, Child Support Performance and Incentives Act of 1998; 45 C.F.R. 303.31.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The federal government has created a new National Medical Support Notice and has required state child support enforcement agencies to use the notice when enforcing medical support obligations.

     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 website, which can be found at www.wa.gov/dshs/dcs, or on the DSHS Economic Services Administration's regulatory improvement website, 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. At a later date, DSHS will file proposed rules with the Office of the Code Reviser with a notice proposed rule making, and will send the proposal 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 Nancy Koptur, DCS Rules Coordinator, Division of Child Support, P.O. Box 9162, Mailstop 45860, Olympia, WA 98507-9162, phone (360) 664-5065 or 1-800-457-6202, fax (360) 664-5209, e-mail nkoptur@dshs.wa.gov, TTY/TDD (360) 664-5011.

March 9, 2004

Brian H. Lindgren, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit