Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is planning to amend chapter 388-14A WAC and other related rules as may be required regarding abatement of child support for certain incarcerated individuals as well as notice and service mailing requirements by the office of administrative hearings (OAH) and division of child support (DCS).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The Washington state legislature enacted SHB 2302 during the 2020 legislative session. This act makes a series of changes to child support statutes, including policy around abatement of child support for certain incarcerated individuals as well as other technical and housekeeping changes related to notice and service by OAH and DCS. This rule making is necessary to effectuate these statutory changes.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Not applicable.

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 Brady Horenstein at the DSHS/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 https://www.dshs.wa.gov/esa/division-child-support or on the DSHS economic services administration's policy review website, which can be found at https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/f2ws03esaapps/extpolicy/.

Rule-making forms and draft rules may also be found on the DSHS filings and rules page at https://www.dshs.wa.gov/office-of-the-secretary/filings-and-rulings.

DSHS/DCS encourages the public to take part in developing 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 Brady Horenstein, Division of Child Support, P.O. Box 9162, Mailstop 45860, Olympia, WA 98507-9162, phone 360-664-5291, fax 360-664-5342, TTY 1-800-833-6384, email Brady.Horenstein@dshs.wa.gov.