WSR 98-19-122
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
(Division of Child Support)
[Filed September 23, 1998, 10:21 a.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The Division of Child Support (DCS) seeks to revise its procedures for preparing and serving and support establishment notice under RCW 74.20A.055 or 74.20A.056.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 34.05.220(1), 74.08.090, 74.20A.055, 74.20A.056.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: After the Division of Child Support enacted changes to the WAC regarding procedures for preparing and serving support establishment notices so as to give the physical custodian of the child full party status, DCS staff requested that the procedures be revised. DCS commissioned a quality improvement team to look at the process and the QIT has come up with suggestions on how the preparation and service of the support establishment notice can be streamlined, revised and improved. DCS believes the new method will be more efficient and easier to understand, and will result in better customer service for both custodial and noncustodial parents.
Process for Developing New Rule: The Division of Child Support (DCS) plans to use a modified form of collaborative rule making utilizing quality principles. Those persons wishing to participate in developing the new rules are encouraged to contact Nancy Koptur, DCS rules coordinator, at the 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/esarules/dcs.htm. DCS intends to utilize public meetings and/or focus groups to achieve stakeholder input and participation. 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, phone (360) 664-5065, fax (360) 664-5055, TTY/TDD (360) 664-5011, e-mail nkoptur@dshs.wa.gov.
September 22, 1998
Marie Myerchin-Redifer, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit