PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: New sections and/or amendments in chapter 388-14A WAC, to implement changes in the federal regulations concerning establishing and enforcing intergovernmental child support obligations. The federal rules being implemented in this rule-making order are 45 C.F.R. Parts 301.1, 302.36, 303.7, 303.11, 305.63, and 308.2.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 26.23.120, 34.05.350 (1)(b), 43.20A.550, 74.04.055, 74.08.090, 74.20.040(9), 74.20A.310.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The division of child support (DCS) must adopt rules to implement the federal regulations as part of its state plan under Title IV-D of the federal Social Security Act. Failure to adopt the rules could lead to a violation of the state plan requirements, which would jeopardize funding for the child support program and the TANF block grant.
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/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 http://www.dshs.wa.gov/dcs/, or on the DSHS economic services administration's policy review web site, which can be found at https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/f2ws03esaapps/extpolicy/. 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 Nancy Koptur, DCS Rules Coordinator, Division of Child Support, P.O. Box 9162, Mailstop 45860, Olympia, WA 98507-9162, e-mail nkoptur@dshs.wa.gov or nancy.koptur@dshs.wa.gov, phone (360) 664-5065, toll-free 1-800-457-6202, fax (360) 664-5342, TTY/TDD (360) 664-5011.
March 25, 2011
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator