WSR 06-09-014

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)

[ Filed April 10, 2006, 4:33 p.m. ]

     Subject of Possible Rule Making: New sections and/or amendments in chapter 388-14A WAC to enable the division of child support (DCS) to comply with chapter 26.21A RCW, the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, which is effective January 1, 2007, under HB 3048, which was passed in the 2006 legislative session (chapter 96, Laws of 2006).

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 34.05.220(2), 43.20A.550, 74.04.055, 74.08.090, 74.20.040, 74.20A.310.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The Washington state legislature has adopted the updated Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) as chapter 26.21A RCW, effective January 1, 2007. DCS anticipates that new and amended rules will be required in order to allow the Washington child support program to comply with UIFSA under our state plan under Title IV-D of the federal Social Security Act.

     Process for Developing New Rule: DCS engages in modified collaborative rule making. Those persons wishing to participate in developing the new rules are encouraged to contact Nancy Koptur 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, or on the DSHS economic services administration's policy review web site, which can be found at http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/esa/extpolicy/. 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, e-mail nkoptur@dshs.wa.gov, toll-free 1-800-457-6202, fax (360) 664-5055, TTY/TDD (360) 664-5011.

April 5, 2006

Andy Fernando, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

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