PROPOSED RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Juvenile Rehabilitation Services)
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 09-01-073.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The department is amending chapter 388-720 WAC, Collection of costs of support, treatment, and confinement of juveniles under RCW 13.40.220.
Hearing Location(s): Blake Office Park East, Rose Room, 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA 98503 (one block north of the intersection of Pacific Avenue S.E. and Alhadeff Lane. A map or directions are available at http://www.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rpau/docket.html or by calling (360) 664-6094), on October 27, 2009, at 10:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than October 28, 2009.
Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504-5850, delivery 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA 98503, e-mail DSHSRPAURulesCoordinator@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-6185, by 5:00 p.m., October 27, 2009.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jennisha Johnson, DSHS rules consultant, by October 13, 2009, TTY (360) 664-6178 or (360) 664-6094 or by e-mail at johnsjl4@dshs.wa.gov.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: This rule has not been updated since 2004.
It is necessary to revise this rule to more accurately reflect (1) current gross personal income levels used to calculate obligation to reimburse the department, and (2) current costs of institutional care for juveniles in legal custody of the department.
Other anticipated changes are intended to: (1) Clarify rule language; (2) allow use of additional information available to the department in establishing financial obligation; (3) revise percentage base of gross income used to calculate reimbursement obligation; (4) apply federal poverty guidelines to reimbursement calculations; and (5) to establish periodic recalculation of residential care cost, removing fixed cost of care from rule.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: See above.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 13.40.220(3).
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 13.40.220.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Department of social and health services, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Lee Mosley, JRA, 1115 Washington Street, Olympia, WA 98504-5720, (360) 902-8092; Implementation: Kathleen Gregory, OFR/FSA, 4450 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA 98503-2850, (360) 664-5549; and Enforcement: Pat Buker, OFR/FSA, 4450 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA 98503-2850, (360) 664-5473.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. No small business will be affected. This rule affects only individual persons who are determined to be financially obligated to reimburse the department for expenses related to the care and custody of a dependent juvenile.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii) exempts rules which concern "liability for care of dependents" from the requirement for a cost-benefit analysis.
September 17, 2009
Stephanie E. Vaughn
Rules Coordinator
4134.4(2) "Department" means the department of social and health services, state of Washington.
(3) "Gross income" means the total income from all sources, received by the parent, the juvenile, or other children of the parent remaining in the household, other than a step-child, as determined by the department.
(4) "Parent" means the parent of the juvenile or other person legally obligated to care for and support the juvenile, not including a stepparent.
(5) "Parents and dependents" means the juvenile's parent or parents, a stepparent living in the home who has no income, any child on whom the parent may claim a federal income tax deduction, not including the juvenile confined to the department, and any stepchild for whom the parent is the sole means of support)) "Department" means the department of social and health services, state of Washington.
"Dependent" means the juvenile's parent or parents, a registered domestic partner, a stepparent living in the home who has no income, any child, stepchild or adult family member on whom the parent may claim a federal income tax deduction, not including the juvenile confined to the department.
"Federal Poverty Guidelines" means the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the federal register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2).
"Gross income" means the total income, as determined by the department, from all sources, received by the legally obligated person, the legally obligated person's spouse or registered domestic partner, the juvenile, or other children or step-children of the legally obligated person remaining in the household. Child support received for the juvenile will be included as gross income; child support received for other children will not be counted as part of the legally obligated person's gross income.
"Juvenile" means a juvenile offender sentenced to confinement in the department, other than an offender for whom a parent is approved to receive adoption support under chapter 74.13 RCW.
"Legally obligated person", "financially obligated person" and "responsible person" mean the parent or parents of the juvenile or other person or persons, including registered domestic partners, legally obligated to care for and support the juvenile, including a stepparent.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 13.40.220. 00-22-019, recodified as § 388-720-0010, filed 10/20/00, effective 11/20/00; 94-15-009 (Order 3752), § 275-47-010, filed 7/8/94, effective 8/8/94.]
Reviser's note: The bracketed material preceding the section above was supplied by the code reviser's office.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 04-05-080, filed 2/17/04,
effective 3/19/04)
WAC 388-720-0020
Cost reimbursement schedule and ability
to pay.
((As provided for in RCW 13.40.220 the office of
financial recovery may negotiate payment schedules and the
methods used to satisfy costs of support, treatment and
confinement with parents and other legally obligated persons,
on behalf of the department. The results of the application
of this rule may be appealed as provided for in RCW 13.490.220
(4) and (6) and Part IV Adjudicative Proceedings, of chapter 34.05 RCW, Administrative Procedure Act.)) (1) A parent or
other legally obligated person shall pay a percentage of gross
income to reimburse the department for the cost of support,
treatment and confinement of the juvenile.
(2) Gross income, adjusted annually according to the published Federal Poverty Guidelines, shall form the basis to determine obligation to pay.
(3) Ability to pay ((will be)) and obligation to
reimburse are determined by ((the)) application of the
information provided by a parent or other legally obligated
person in the financial information statement and/or by other
information available to the department to the reimbursement
schedule below:
| (( |
Ordered for Reimbursement of Costs Number of Parents and Dependents Remaining in Household |
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Gross Income as Percentage of Federal Poverty Guideline | Dependents in Home | |||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 150 - 174% | 12% | 12% | 10% | 10% | 8% | 8% |
| 175 - 199% | 13% | 13% | 11% | 11% | 9% | 9% |
| 200 - 224% | 14% | 14% | 12% | 12% | 10% | 10% |
| 225 - 249% | 15% | 15% | 13% | 13% | 11% | 11% |
| 250 - 274% | 16% | 16% | 14% | 14% | 12% | 12% |
| 275 - 299% | 17% | 17% | 15% | 15% | 13% | 13% |
| 300 - 399% | 18% | 18% | 16% | 16% | 14% | 14% |
| 400%+ | 20% | 20% | 18% | 18% | 16% | 16% |
| Reimbursement Obligation: Assessed Percentage of Gross Income | ||||||
(((1))) (4) Within fifteen days of receipt of the
financial information statement, ((a parent or other)) the
legally obligated person shall complete, sign and mail the
statement to the department.
(5) Based on the statement, if returned, and on other
information available to it, the department shall determine
the ((parent's)) legally obligated person's gross income, the
number of parents or registered domestic partners and
dependents remaining in the household, and the reimbursement
obligation, and shall serve on the ((parent)) legally
obligated person a notice and finding of financial
responsibility.
(((2))) (6) If a ((parent or)) legally obligated person
fails to timely provide a financial statement and insufficient
information is available to the department to determine
ability to pay, the reimbursement obligation shall be
((twenty-three hundred dollars per month)) the current monthly
average (marginal) institutional cost of care as determined by
the department.
(((3) If the juvenile's parents or other legally
obligated person reside in separate households, each parent
shall be liable for reimbursement.
(4) The gross income of a parent shall be reduced by the amount the parent pays in spousal maintenance to the juvenile's parent, which is gross income to the receiving parent. The gross income of a parent or other legally obligated person shall be reduced by the amount of current child support paid for any child, including the juvenile offender. This credit shall be available when the support is paid to any section of the department or to any other person legally entitled to receive those support payments, pursuant to court order or administrative order for a child the parent did not claim as a dependent under the reimbursement schedule.
(5) Reimbursement)) (7) Assessed obligation for reimbursement may not exceed the institutional average daily rate (full cost of care) as determined by the department.
(((6))) (8) The reimbursement obligation commences the
day the juvenile enters the custody of the department,
regardless of when the notice and finding of financial
responsibility is received by the parent. ((A)) The monthly
reimbursement obligation shall be reduced on a pro rata basis
for any days in which the juvenile was not in the custody of
the department.
(((7))) (9) If the juvenile's parents or other legally
obligated persons reside in separate households, each shall be
liable for reimbursement.
(10) The gross income of a legally obligated person shall be reduced by the amount the person pays in spousal maintenance to the juvenile's parent, which is gross income to the receiving parent.
(11) The gross income of a legally obligated person shall be reduced by the amount of current child support paid for any child, including the juvenile offender. This credit shall be available when the support is paid to any section of the department or to any other person legally entitled to receive those support payments, pursuant to court order or administrative order for a child the legally obligated person did not claim as a dependent under the reimbursement schedule.
(12) The ((parent or other)) legally obligated person of
the juvenile shall be exempt from the payment of the cost of
the juvenile's care in the state facility if:
(a) The ((parent or other)) legally obligated person
receives adoption support or is eligible to receive adoption
support for the juvenile offender; or ((if))
(b) The ((parent, or other)) legally obligated person, or
such person's child, spouse, registered domestic partner, or
spouse's child((,)) or a dependent person in the household was
the victim of the offense for which the juvenile was committed
to the department.
(13) As provided for in RCW 13.40.220, the office of financial recovery, on behalf of the department, may negotiate with legally obligated persons the payment schedules and methods used to satisfy costs of support, treatment and confinement.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 13.40.220. 04-05-080, § 388-720-0020, filed 2/17/04, effective 3/19/04; 00-22-019, recodified as § 388-720-0020, filed 10/20/00, effective 11/20/00; 96-24-075, § 275-47-020, filed 12/2/96, effective ½/97; 94-15-009 (Order 3752), § 275-47-020, filed 7/8/94, effective 8/8/94.]
(1) Person receiving the notice and finding of financial responsibility is a parent of the juvenile; and
(2) Department correctly:
(a) Determined the parent's gross income and the number of parents and dependents; and
(b) Calculated the reimbursement obligation in accordance with the reimbursement schedule as described under WAC 388-720-0020)) (1) A legally obligated person may submit a modified financial statement upon a change in gross income or in the number of persons residing in the household only if the change decreases the reimbursement obligation by one hundred dollars per month or more. A decrease may be granted only from the date on which the request for modification is made, and may not be applied retroactively.
(2) A legally obligated person shall file a financial statement modification if a change in gross income or the number of persons residing in the household increases the reimbursement obligation by one hundred dollars per month or more. An increase may be applied retroactively from the date of the change in income.
(3) The department will issue a new notice and finding of financial responsibility upon receipt of a modified financial statement as defined in subsections (1) or (2) of this section. The department may also issue a new notice based upon its own review of information available to it if the conditions of subsection (1) or (2) of this section are met.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 13.40.220. 00-22-019, amended and recodified as § 388-720-0030, filed 10/20/00, effective 11/20/00; 94-15-009 (Order 3752), § 275-47-030, filed 7/8/94, effective 8/8/94.]
Reviser's note: The bracketed material preceding the section above was supplied by the code reviser's office.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 3752 [WSR 00-22-019], filed
10/20/00, effective 11/20/00)
WAC 388-720-0040
((Modifications)) Hearing.
(1) ((A
parent may modify the parent's financial statement upon a
change in gross income or in the number of persons residing in
the household only if the change decreases the reimbursement
obligation by one hundred dollars per month or more. A
decrease may be granted only from the date on which the
request for modification is made, and may not be applied
retroactively)) A legally obligated person may request a
hearing pursuant to RCW 13.40.220(6) and chapter 34.05 RCW to
contest a notice and finding of financial responsibility
issued by the department.
(2) ((A parent shall file a financial statement
modification if a change in gross income or the number of
persons residing in the household increases the reimbursement
obligation by one hundred dollars per month or more. An
increase may be applied retroactively.
(3) The department will issue a new notice and finding of financial responsibility upon receipt of a modified financial statement as defined in subsections (1) or (2) of this section. The department may also issue a new notice based upon its own review if the conditions of subsection (1) or (2) of this section are met)) The sole issues which may be considered at the hearing are whether the:
(a) Person receiving the notice and finding of financial responsibility is a person financially obligated for the care and support of the juvenile; and
(b) Department, as described under WAC 388-720-0020 correctly:
(i) Determined the legally obligated person's gross income and determined the number of parents in the household, including registered domestic partners, and dependents;
(ii) Determined exemptions; and
(iii) Calculated the reimbursement obligation in accordance with the reimbursement schedule as described under WAC 388-720-0020.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 13.40.220. 00-22-019, recodified as § 388-720-0040, filed 10/20/00, effective 11/20/00; 94-15-009 (Order 3752), § 275-47-040, filed 7/8/94, effective 8/8/94.]
Reviser's note: The bracketed material preceding the section above was supplied by the code reviser's office.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 03-01-044, filed 12/10/02,
effective 1/10/03)
WAC 388-720-0050
Powers of the administrative law judge.
The administrative law judge ((in the final order rendered))
after the hearing conducted in accordance with WAC
((388-720-0030)) 388-720-0040, in the final order rendered
shall:
(1) Include the name and age of the juvenile ((in that
final order)). ((The administrative law judge shall also
indicate))
(2) Include the ((parent's or other)) legally obligated
person's monthly ((liability)) obligation amount for the
period of the juvenile's confinement beginning with the date
the child enters the custody of the department. ((The
administrative law judge shall))
(3) Not establish ((in the final order)) any amount
constituting a repayment figure of any accrued obligation of
the ((parent but shall indicate)) legally obligated person.
(4) State ((in the final order)) that any accrued
obligation shall be paid by the ((parent)) legally obligated
person to the department's office of financial recovery (OFR)
and that OFR will be responsible for determining the method of
repayment of the parent's accrued obligation.
((The administrative law judge shall also)) (5) Include a
statement ((in the final order)) that the ((parent's))
responsible person's financial obligation is collectible by
OFR and that should the ((parent)) legally obligated person
fail to comply with any payment plan entered into by OFR and
the ((parent)) legally obligated person, or the ((parent))
legally obligated person fails to pay the amount set out in
the final order, OFR shall be authorized to take legal
collection action to recover the amounts due from the
((parent)) legally obligated person. Legal collection action
can include, but is not limited to:
(((1))) (a) The filing of liens against the real and
personal property of the ((parent)) responsible person; or
(((2))) (b) The issuance of a garnishment order against
the wages, bank accounts, or other property of the responsible
persons.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 34.05.020, 13.40.220. 03-01-044, § 388-720-0050, filed 12/10/02, effective 1/10/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 13.40.220. 00-22-019, amended and recodified as § 388-720-0050, filed 10/20/00, effective 11/20/00; 96-24-075, § 275-47-050, filed 12/2/96, effective 1/2/97.]