(1) An administrative hearing on a notice of retained support is limited to the determination of the ownership of the amounts claimed in the notice or the reasonableness of a repayment agreement offered to a public assistance recipient for recovering child support under RCW 74.20A.270 and WAC 388-14A-5505.

(2) The department has the burden of proof to establish ownership of the support money claimed, including but not limited to amounts not yet disbursed or spent.

(3) The administrative law judge (ALJ) must allow the division of child support (DCS) to orally amend the notice of retained support at the hearing to conform to the evidence. The ALJ may grant a continuance, if necessary, to allow the debtor additional time to present evidence or argument in response to the amendment.

(4) The ALJ serves a copy of the initial decision on DCS and the debtor or the debtor's representative by first class mail to the last address provided by each party.

(5) If the debtor fails to appear at the hearing, the ALJ, upon a showing of valid service of the notice of retained support, enters an initial decision and order declaring that the amount of the support money claimed in the notice, is subject to collection action under chapter 74.20A RCW.