PERMANENT RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
(Division of Child Support)
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: The division of child support (DCS) seeks to clarify the rules regarding the establishment of administrative child support orders. DCS believes that the statutory authority contained in chapter 74.20A RCW concerning the establishment of administrative child support orders does not give DCS the authority to establish child support orders which set off one parent's child support obligation against the other in the manner established in Marriage of Arvey, 77 Wn. App. 817, 894 P.2d 1346 (1995). DCS wishes to clarify that such set off should not be used in administrative child support orders entered by administrative law judges, either.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-14A-3200 and 388-14A-6300.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.08.090, 34.05.220 (1)(a), 74.20A.055.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 07-03-148 on January 23, 2007.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: February 28, 2007.
Jim Schnellman, Chief
Office of Administrative Resources
3812.4(2) See WAC 388-14A-8100 for rules on completing the worksheets under the WSCSS for cases where DCS is determining support for a child in foster care.
(3) DCS does not have statutory authority to set the child support obligations of both the noncustodial parent (NCP) and custodial parent (CP) in the same administrative proceeding.
(a) DCS orders can not set off the support obligation of one parent against the other.
(b) Therefore, the method set forth in Marriage of Arvey, 77 Wn. App 817, 894 P.2d 1346 (1995), must not be applied when DCS determines a support obligation.
(4) The limitations in this section apply to DCS staff and to administrative law judges (ALJs) who are setting child support obligations.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 34.05.220(1), 74.08.090, 74.20A.055, 74.20A.056. 06-16-073, § 388-14A-3200, filed 7/28/06, effective 8/28/06; 00-15-016 and 00-20-022, § 388-14A-3200, filed 7/10/00 and 9/25/00, effective 11/6/00. Formerly WAC 388-11-205.]
(2) In hearings held under this chapter to contest a
notice and finding of financial responsibility or a notice and
finding of parental responsibility or other notice or
petition, the ((administrative law judge (ALJ))) ALJ must
determine:
(a) The noncustodial parent's obligation to provide support under RCW 74.20A.057;
(b) The names and dates of birth of the children covered by the support order;
(c) The net monthly income of the noncustodial parent (NCP) and any custodial parent (CP);
(d) The NCP's share of the basic support obligation and any adjustments to that share, according to his or her circumstances;
(e) If requested by a party, the NCP's share of any special child-rearing expenses in a sum certain amount per month;
(f) The NCP's obligation to provide medical support under RCW 26.18.170;
(g) The NCP's accrued debt and order payments toward the debt in a monthly amount to be determined by the division of child support (DCS);
(h) The NCP's current and future monthly support obligation as a per month per child amount and order payments in that amount; and
(i) The NCP's total current and future support obligation as a sum certain and order payments in that amount.
(3) Having made the determinations required in subsection (2) above, the ALJ must order the NCP to make payments to the Washington state support registry (WSSR).
(4) The ALJ must allow DCS to orally amend the notice at the hearing to conform to the evidence. The ALJ may grant a continuance, when necessary, to allow the NCP or the CP additional time to present rebutting evidence or argument as to the amendment.
(5) The ALJ may not require DCS to produce or obtain information, documents, or witnesses to assist the NCP or CP in proof of defenses to liability. However, this rule does not apply to relevant, nonconfidential information or documents that DCS has in its possession.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 34.05.220(1), 74.08.090, 74.20A.160. 06-09-015, § 388-14A-6300, filed 4/10/06, effective 5/11/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 26.23.050, 34.05.220, 74.08.090, 74.20A.310. 05-14-102, § 388-14A-6300, filed 6/30/05, effective 7/31/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 26.23.050, 34.05.220, 74.20A.055, 74.20A.056, 45 CFR 303.11, 45 CFR 303.100. 01-03-089, § 388-14A-6300, filed 1/17/01, effective 2/17/01. Formerly WAC 388-11-100 and 388-11-210.]