Background:

The Department of Social and Health Services (Department) operates a number of programs that provide a variety of social services to residents of the state. In carrying out the functions of these programs, the Department is required to serve certain notices on persons affected by the programs.

Child Protective Services.

The Department's Children's Administration is responsible for investigating and responding to allegations of child abuse or neglect. Upon completion of an investigation, the Department must notify the subject of the investigation of the Department's findings. The Department must provide the notification by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the subject's last known address. The certified mail notification requirement applies to both founded and unfounded findings.

Residential Habilitation Centers.

The Department's Developmental Disabilities Administration provides support and services to persons with developmental disabilities, including support in daily living activities, employment, rehabilitative therapies, and medical and nursing services. These services may be provided in residential habilitation centers (RHCs), which are state-operated facilities that provide housing and 24-hour supervision and care services.

The Department must determine whether the estate of a resident of a RHC is able to pay all or a portion of the cost of care, support, and treatment at the RHC. If the Department determines the resident's estate is able to pay, the Department must serve a notice and finding of financial responsibility on the guardian of the resident's estate, or if there is no guardian, on the resident's spouse or other representative. Service must be in the manner required for service of a summons in a civil action, or by certified mail, return receipt requested. The Department may modify or vacate a finding of financial responsibility, and this determination must be served in the same manner as the initial finding of financial responsibility.

Public Assistance.

The Department administers a variety of public assistance programs to provide assistance to low income individuals or families in need based on certain eligibility criteria. These programs provide financial, medical, social services, and food assistance to eligible clients, and include the Basic Food Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, State Family Assistance, and Medical Assistance Programs, among others.

A person who receives an overpayment of public assistance or food stamps owes a debt to the state for the amount of the overpayment. The Department must notify the person of the overpayment debt by either personal service or certified mail, return receipt requested. After service of the notice of debt, the Department may issue to any person or entity an order to withhold and deliver any property or earnings of the debtor that are in the possession of the person or entity. The order to withhold and deliver must be served in the manner required for service of a summons in a civil action, or by certified mail, return receipt requested. On or before the day the order is served, the Department must either mail a copy of the order to the debtor by certified mail, or serve the order on the debtor in the manner required for service of a summons in a civil action.

Child Support Enforcement.

Federal law requires states to have procedures for the suspension or restriction of a person's driver's license, professional and occupational license, and recreational and sporting license if the person owes past child support. Since 1997, all court and administrative orders that establish or modify support obligations must include a statement notifying the responsible parent that the privilege to obtain and maintain a license may not be renewed, or may be suspended, if the parent is not in compliance with a support order.

Under Washington's license suspension program, the Department may serve an obligated parent with a notice of noncompliance if the parent fails to pay his or her support when due. The Department serves the parent with a notice of the Department's intent to submit the parent's name to the Department of Licensing and other licensing entities for license suspension. This notice of noncompliance must be served by certified mail, return receipt requested. Personal service is required if the attempted service by certified mail is not successful.

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Summary of Bill:

Notice and service requirements applicable in certain programs administered by the Department are revised.

Child Protective Services.

When the Department finds that an allegation of child abuse or neglect is unfounded, the Department may send the required notification of the finding to the subject of the investigation through regular mail to the subject's last known address or by electronic mail. Notifications of founded findings of child abuse or neglect must continue to be sent via certified mail.

Residential Habilitation Centers.

When the Department modifies or vacates an initial finding of financial responsibility, the Department may serve the required notice of the determination by regular mail, rather than certified mail. Initial findings of financial responsibility must continue to be served by certified mail or in the manner required for service of a summons in a civil action.

Public Assistance.

An order to withhold and deliver a debtor's property for collection of an overpayment of public assistance or food stamps must be served by regular mail, or if the party consents, electronically. A copy of the order to withhold and deliver must be mailed to the debtor by regular mail, or if the debtor consents, served on the debtor electronically.

Child Support Enforcement.

The Department may use first-class mail, rather than certified mail, to send the notice of intent to certify a parent as a licensee who is not in compliance with a child support order, if the order establishing the support obligation includes a statement that the parent's licensing privileges may be suspended for noncompliance. The notice must be sent to the parent's last known mailing address on file with the Department. The notice is deemed served three days from the date it is deposited in the mail.