Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.20A.350(14).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Although RCW 74.20A.350 sets forth the requirements for establishing and enforcing fines for noncompliance, DCS feels that adopting rules will more clearly explain to affected parties how they must comply and what procedures will be used by DCS in serving notices of noncompliance and having hearings on those notices.

Process for Developing New Rule: Those persons wishing to participate in developing the new rules are encouraged to contact Nancy Koptur at the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Division of Child Support (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 www.wa.gov/dshs/dcs/csrc.html, or on the DSHS Economic Services Administration's regulatory improvement web site, which can be found at www.wa.gov/dshs/esaregimp. 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 the DCS Rules Coordinator, Nancy Koptur, Division of Child Support, P.O. Box 9162, Mailstop 45860, Olympia, WA 98507-9162, phone (360) 664-5065, e-mail nkoptur@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-5055, TTY/TDD (360) 664-5011.

July 17, 1998

Edith M. Rice, Chief

Office of Legal Affairs