Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is proposing new sections and/or amendments in chapter 388-14A WAC regarding the disbursement of child support payments.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 26.23.035.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The DSHS division of child support (DCS) seeks to increase the efficient administration of the program by establishing procedures whereby distribution of child support payments will be done by electronic funds transfer (EFT) or by disbursement to a stored value card (the DCS card) instead of by checks. This will decrease the length of time it takes to process payments once they have been received by DCS and will get the funds to the family more quickly. DCS will still provide disbursement by check to those custodial parents who choose not to utilize EFT or the stored value card.

     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 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.

January 3, 2006

Andy Fernando, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit