Purpose: The Division of Child Support (DCS) is clarifying the rules regarding the contents of administrative child support orders, especially to reenact a prior requirement that each administrative support order set a noncustodial parent's support obligation as a sum certain amount, with an amount per month for each child covered by the order. DCS also is clarifying that the support order must contain the date of birth for every child covered by the order so that the parents are able to determine when the child support obligation ends.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-14A-3600 and 388-14A-6300.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 26.23.050, 34.05.220, 74.08.090, 74.20A.310.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 05-11-079 on May 17, 2005.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: June 27, 2005.

Andy Fernando, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

     (a) An agreed settlement is signed only by the parties (((DCS, the custodial parent and the noncustodial parent))) to the dispute.

     (b) A consent order must be signed by the parties and by an administrative law judge (ALJ) provided that:

     (i) In a telephone hearing, the ALJ may sign on behalf of any party if that party gives their consent on the record; and

     (ii) The ALJ approves a consent order without requiring testimony or a hearing, unless entry of the order would be unlawful.

     (2) An agreed settlement or consent order is final and enforceable on:

     (a) The date the last party signs the agreed settlement, if all parties signed the agreed settlement;

     (b) The date the ALJ signs the consent order; or

     (c) If the ALJ defaults one of the parties to the proceeding, the latest of the following dates:

     (i) The date the ALJ signed the consent order;

     (ii) The date the last party signed the agreed settlement; or

     (iii) The date the order of default is final. See WAC 388-14A-6110 and 388-14A-6115 to determine whether the ALJ issues an initial order or a final order.

     (3) A party to a consent order or an agreed settlement may:

     (a) Not petition for review of the settlement or order under WAC 388-02-0560;

     (b) Petition for modification under WAC 388-14A-3925; and

     (c) Petition to vacate the settlement or consent order under WAC 388-14A-3700. However, the ALJ may only vacate a settlement or consent order after making a finding of fraud by a party, or on any other basis that would result in manifest injustice.

     (4) If a hearing has been scheduled, DCS files a copy of the agreed settlement or consent order with the office of administrative hearings (OAH), and OAH issues an order dismissing the hearing. There are no hearing rights on the order dismissing the hearing.

     (5) An agreed settlement or consent order entered under this section must comply with the requirements of WAC 388-14A-6300 if the dispute concerns a notice and finding of financial responsibility or a notice and finding of parental responsibility or other notice or petition to determine the amount of a support obligation.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 34.05.220(1), 74.08.090, 74.20A.056, 74.20A.310, 26.26.315, 26.26.320, 26.26.330, 26.26.335, 74.20A.055, 2002 c 302, and 2002 c 199. 03-17-013, § 388-14A-3600, filed 8/12/03, effective 9/12/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 34.05.220(1). 01-24-082, § 388-14A-3600, filed 12/3/01, effective 1/3/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 34.05.220(1), 74.20A.055, 74.20A.056. 01-03-089, § 388-14A-3600, filed 1/17/01, effective 2/17/01. Formerly WAC 388-11-150 and 388-11-430.]

     (2) In hearings held under this chapter to contest a notice and finding of financial responsibility or a notice and finding of parental responsibility or other notice or petition, the administrative law judge (ALJ) must determine:

     (a) The noncustodial parent's obligation to provide support under RCW 74.20A.057;

     (b) The names and dates of birth of the children covered by the support order;

     (c) The net monthly income of the noncustodial parent (NCP) and any custodial parent (CP);

     (((c))) (d) The NCP's share of the basic support obligation and any adjustments to that share, according to his or her circumstances;

     (((d))) (e) If requested by a party, the NCP's share of any special child-rearing expenses in a sum certain amount per month;

     (((e))) (f) The NCP's obligation to provide medical support under RCW 26.18.170;

     (((f))) (g) The NCP's accrued debt and order payments toward the debt; ((and))

     (((g))) (h) The NCP's current and future monthly support obligation as a per month per child amount and order payments in that amount; and

     (i) The NCP's total current and future support obligation as a sum certain and order payments in that amount.

     (((2))) (3) Having made the determinations required in subsection (2) above, the ALJ must order the NCP to make payments to the Washington state support registry (WSSR).

     (4) The ALJ must allow the division of child support (DCS) to orally amend the notice at the hearing to conform to the evidence. The ALJ may grant a continuance, when necessary, to allow the NCP or the CP additional time to present rebutting evidence or argument as to the amendment.

     (((3))) (5) The ALJ may not require DCS to produce or obtain information, documents, or witnesses to assist the NCP or CP in proof of defenses to liability. However, this rule does not apply to relevant, nonconfidential information or documents that DCS has in its possession.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 26.23.050, 34.05.220, 74.20A.055, 74.20A.056, 45 CFR 303.11, 45 CFR 303.100. 01-03-089, § 388-14A-6300, filed 1/17/01, effective 2/17/01. Formerly WAC 388-11-100 and 388-11-210.]

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