Washington State Register, Issue 08-23
WSR 08-22-028
WSR 08-22-028
Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504, delivery 4500
10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA 98503, e-mail DSHSRPAU
RulesCoordinator@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-6185, by
noon on December 23, 2008.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jennisha Johnson, DSHS rules consultant, by December 9, 2008,
TTY (360) 664-6178 or (360) 664-6094 or by e-mail at
johnsjl4@dshs.wa.gov.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects,
Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: DCS is adopting
new and amended sections of chapter 388-14A WAC to
implement state legislation that implements the federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA). These new and amended
WAC sections will implement RCW 26.23.035 and 74.20.330. These statutes will affect the public assistance assignment and the rules concerning the distribution of child support collections. These changes took effect on October 1,
2008. The overall effect of these rules will be to direct more
money to families.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: Efficiency and clarity.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: Sections 2 and 6,
chapter 143, Laws of 2007.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 26.23.035 and
74.20.330.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state
court decision.
Name of Proponent: Department of social and health
services, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting,
Implementation and Enforcement: Onika Garvin, DCS HQ,
P.O. Box 9162, Olympia, WA 98507-9162, (360) 664-5230.
No small business economic impact statement has been
prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. This rule does not have
an economic impact on small businesses. It only affects individuals who have support obligations or individuals who are
owed child support.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW
34.05.328. The rule does meet the definition of a significant
legislative rule but DSHS/DCS rules relating to the care of
dependent children are exempt from preparing further analysis under RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii).
October 27, 2008
Stephanie E. Schiller
Rules Coordinator
PROPOSED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
(Division of Child Support)
[Filed October 28, 2008, 2:16 p.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 0806-089.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The
department is adding new sections and/or making amendments to chapter 388-14A WAC. The division of child support (DCS) is adopting new and amended sections to implement state legislation which implements the federal Deficit
Reduction Act of 2005. The state law was signed by the governor on April 20, 2007, as chapter 143, Laws of 2007, with
an effective date of July 22, 2007. The changes to the public
assistance assignment and to the distribution of child support
collections with which these new and revised rules are concerned were effective October 1, 2008. Emergency rules
with an effective date of October 1, 2008, were filed in order
to keep the DCS in compliance with the state plan pending
enactment of the permanent rules.
Amending WAC 388-14A-1020 What definitions apply
to the rules regarding child support enforcement?, 388-14A2036 What does assigning my rights to support mean?, 38814A-2037 What are permanently assigned arrears?, 38814A-2038 What are temporarily assigned arrears?, 388-14A5000 ((How does the division of child support distribute support payments)) What is the difference between distribution
and disbursement of child support collections?, 388-14A5001 What procedures does DCS follow to distribute support
((payments)) collections?, 388-14A-5002 How does DCS
distribute support ((money)) collections in a nonassistance
case?, 388-14A-5003 How does DCS distribute ((money))
support collections in an assistance case?, 388-14A-5004
How does DCS distribute ((money)) support collections in a
former assistance case?, 388-14A-5005 How does DCS distribute ((intercepted)) federal ((income)) tax refund((s)) offset collections?, 388-14A-5006 How does DCS distribute
support ((money)) collections when the paying parent has
more than one case?, 388-14A-5010 How does the division
of child support ((handle)) distribute ((intercepted)) federal
((income)) tax refund((s)) offset collections from ((a)) joint
returns? and 388-14A-5100 ((What kind of distribution
notice does the division of child support send)) How does the
division of child support notify the custodial parent about
support collections?; and new sections WAC 388-14A-2039
What are conditionally assigned arrears? and 388-14A-5015
What is a pass-through payment?
Hearing Location(s): Blake Office Park East, Rose
Room, 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA 98503 (behind
Goodyear Courtesy Tire) (one block north of the intersection
of Pacific Avenue S.E. and Alhadeff Lane. A map or directions are available at http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rpau/
docket.html or by calling (360) 664-6094), on December 23,
2008, at 10:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than December
24, 2008.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 08-12-029,
filed 5/29/08, effective 7/1/08)
WAC 388-14A-1020 What definitions apply to the
rules regarding child support enforcement? For purposes
of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
"Absence of a court order" means that there is no court
order setting a support obligation for the noncustodial parent
(NCP), or specifically relieving the NCP of a support obligation, for a particular child.
"Absent parent" is a term used for a noncustodial parent.
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"Accessible coverage" means health insurance coverage which provides primary care services to the children with
reasonable effort by the custodian.
"Accrued debt" means past-due child support which
has not been paid.
"Administrative order" means a determination, finding, decree or order for support issued under RCW 74.20A.055, 74.20A.056, or 74.20A.059 or by another state's agency
under an administrative process, establishing the existence of
a support obligation (including medical support) and ordering
the payment of a set or determinable amount of money for
current support and/or a support debt. Administrative orders
include:
(1) An order entered under chapter 34.05 RCW;
(2) An agreed settlement or consent order entered under
WAC 388-14A-3600; and
(3) A support establishment notice which has become
final by operation of law.
"Agency" means the Title IV-D provider of a state. In
Washington, this is DCS.
"Agreed settlement" is an administrative order that
reflects the agreement of the noncustodial parent, the custodial parent and the division of child support. An agreed settlement does not require the approval of an administrative law
judge.
"Aid" or "public assistance" means cash assistance
under the temporary assistance for needy families (TANF)
program, the aid ((for)) to families with dependent children
(AFDC) program, federally-funded or state-funded foster
care, and includes day care benefits and medical benefits provided to families as an alternative or supplement to TANF.
"Alternate recipient" means a child of the employee or
retiree named within a support order as being entitled to coverage under an employer's group health plan.
"Annual fee" means the twenty-five dollar annual fee
charged between October 1 and September 30 each year,
required by the federal deficit reduction act of 2005 and
RCW 74.20.040.
"Applicant/custodian" means a person who applies for
nonassistance support enforcement services on behalf of a
child or children residing in their household.
"Applicant/recipient," "applicant," and "recipient"
means a person who receives public assistance on behalf of a
child or children residing in their household.
"Arrears" means the debt amount owed for a period of
time before the current month.
"Assistance" means cash assistance under the state program funded under Title IV-A of the federal Social Security
Act.
"Assistance unit" means a cash assistance unit as
defined in WAC 388-408-0005. An assistance unit is the
group of people who live together and whose income or
resources the department counts to decide eligibility for benefits and the amount of benefits.
"Birth costs" means medical expenses incurred by the
custodial parent or the state for the birth of a child.
"Conditionally assigned arrears" means those temporarily assigned arrears remaining on a case after the period of
public assistance ends.
Proposed
"Conference board" means a method used by the division of child support for resolving complaints regarding DCS
cases and for granting exceptional or extraordinary relief
from debt.
"Consent order" means a support order that reflects the
agreement of the noncustodial parent, the custodial parent
and the division of child support. A consent order requires the
approval of an administrative law judge.
"Court order" means a judgment, decree or order of a
Washington state superior court, another state's court of comparable jurisdiction, or a tribal court.
"Current support" or "current and future support"
means the amount of child support which is owed for each
month.
"Custodial parent or CP" means the person, whether a
parent or not, with whom a dependent child resides the
majority of the time period for which the division of child
support seeks to establish or enforce a support obligation.
"Date the state assumes responsibility for the support
of a dependent child on whose behalf support is sought"
means the date that the TANF or AFDC program grant is
effective. For purposes of this chapter, the state remains
responsible for the support of a dependent child until public
assistance terminates, or support enforcement services end,
whichever occurs later.
"Delinquency" means failure to pay current child support when due.
"Department" means the Washington state department
of social and health services (DSHS).
"Dependent child" means a person:
(1) Seventeen years of age or younger who is not selfsupporting, married, or a member of the United States armed
forces;
(2) Eighteen years of age or older for whom a court order
requires support payments past age eighteen;
(3) Eighteen years of age or older, but under nineteen
years of age, for whom an administrative support order exists
if the child is participating full-time in a secondary school
program or the same level of vocational or technical training.
"Disbursement" means the amount of child support
distributed to a case that is paid to the family, state, other
child support enforcement agency in another state or foreign
country, Indian tribe, or person or entity making the payment.
"Disposable earnings" means the amount of earnings
remaining after the deduction of amounts required by law to
be withheld.
"Distribution" means how a collection is allocated or
split within a case or among multiple cases.
"Earnings" means compensation paid or payable for
personal service. Earnings include:
(1) Wages or salary;
(2) Commissions and bonuses;
(3) Periodic payments under pension plans, retirement
programs, and insurance policies of any type;
(4) Disability payments under Title 51 RCW;
(5) Unemployment compensation under RCW 50.40.020, 50.40.050 and Title 74 RCW;
(6) Gains from capital, labor, or a combination of the
two; and
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Washington State Register, Issue 08-23
(7) The fair value of nonmonetary compensation
received in exchange for personal services.
"Employee" means a person to whom an employer is
paying, owes, or anticipates paying earnings in exchange for
services performed for the employer.
"Employer" means any person or organization having
an employment relationship with any person. This includes:
(1) Partnerships and associations;
(2) Trusts and estates;
(3) Joint stock companies and insurance companies;
(4) Domestic and foreign corporations;
(5) The receiver or trustee in bankruptcy; and
(6) The trustee or legal representative of a deceased person.
"Employment" means personal services of whatever
nature, including service in interstate commerce, performed
for earnings or under any contract for personal services. Such
a contract may be written or oral, express or implied.
"Family" means the person or persons on whose behalf
support is sought, which may include a custodial parent and
one or more children, or a child or children in foster care
placement. The family is sometimes called the assistance
unit.
"Family arrears" means the amount of past-due support owed to the family, which has not been conditionally,
temporarily or permanently assigned to a state. Also called
"nonassistance arrears."
"Family member" means the caretaker relative, the
child(ren), and any other person whose needs are considered
in determining eligibility for assistance.
"Foreign order" means a court or administrative order
entered by a tribunal other than one in the state of Washington.
"Foster care case" means a case referred to the Title
IV-D agency by the Title IV-E agency, which is the state
division of child and family services (DCFS).
"Fraud," for the purposes of vacating an agreed settlement or consent order, means:
(1) The representation of the existence or the nonexistence of a fact;
(2) The representation's materiality;
(3) The representation's falsity;
(4) The speaker's knowledge that the representation is
false;
(5) The speaker's intent that the representation should be
acted on by the person to whom it is made;
(6) Ignorance of the falsity on the part of the person to
whom it is made;
(7) The latter's:
(a) Reliance on the truth of the representation;
(b) Right to rely on it; and
(c) Subsequent damage.
"Full support enforcement services" means the entire
range of services available in a Title IV-D case.
"Good cause" for the purposes of late hearing requests
and petitions to vacate orders on default means a substantial
reason or legal justification for delay, including but not limited to the grounds listed in civil rule 60. The time periods
used in civil rule 60 apply to good cause determinations in
this chapter.
WSR 08-22-028
"Head of household" means the parent or parents with
whom the dependent child or children were residing at the
time of placement in foster care.
"Health insurance" means insurance coverage for all
medical services related to an individual's general health and
well being. These services include, but are not limited to:
Medical/surgical (inpatient, outpatient, physician) care, medical equipment (crutches, wheel chairs, prosthesis, etc.),
pharmacy products, optometric care, dental care, orthodontic
care, preventive care, mental health care, and physical therapy.
"Hearing" means an adjudicative proceeding authorized by this chapter, or chapters 26.23, 74.20 and 74.20A
RCW, conducted under chapter 388-02 WAC and chapter
34.05 RCW.
"I/me" means the person asking the question which
appears as the title of a rule.
"Income" includes:
(1) All gains in real or personal property;
(2) Net proceeds from the sale or exchange of real or personal property;
(3) Earnings;
(4) Interest and dividends;
(5) Proceeds of insurance policies;
(6) Other periodic entitlement to money from any
source; and
(7) Any other property subject to withholding for support
under the laws of this state.
"Income withholding action" includes all withholding
actions which DCS is authorized to take, and includes but is
not limited to the following actions:
(1) Asserting liens under RCW 74.20A.060;
(2) Serving and enforcing liens under chapter 74.20A
RCW;
(3) Issuing orders to withhold and deliver under chapter
74.20A RCW;
(4) Issuing notices of payroll deduction under chapter
26.23 RCW; and
(5) Obtaining wage assignment orders under RCW
26.18.080.
"Locate" can mean efforts to obtain service of a support
establishment notice in the manner prescribed by WAC 38814A-3105.
"Medical assistance" means medical benefits under
Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act provided to families as an alternative or supplement to TANF.
"Medical expenses" for the purpose of establishing
support obligations under RCW 74.20A.055 and 74.20A.056,
or for the purpose of enforcement action under chapters
26.23, 74.20 and 74.20A RCW, including the notice of support debt and the notice of support owed, means:
• Medical costs incurred on behalf of a child, which
include:
• Medical services related to an individual's general
health and well-being, including but not limited to, medical/surgical care, preventive care, mental health care and
physical therapy; and
• Prescribed medical equipment and prescribed pharmacy products;
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• Health care coverage, such as coverage under a health
insurance plan, including the cost of premiums for coverage
of a child;
• Dental and optometrical costs incurred on behalf of a
child; and
• Copayments and/or deductibles incurred on behalf of a
child.
Medical expenses are sometimes also called health care
costs or medical costs.
"Medical support" means either or both:
(1) Medical expenses; and
(2) Health insurance coverage for a dependent child.
"National Medical Support Notice" or "NMSN" is a
federally-mandated form that DCS uses to enforce a health
insurance support obligation; the NMSN is a notice of enrollment as described in RCW 26.18.170.
"Noncustodial parent or NCP" means the natural parent, adoptive parent, responsible stepparent or person who
signed and filed an affidavit acknowledging paternity, from
whom the state seeks support for a dependent child. A parent
is considered to be an NCP when for the majority of the time
during the period for which support is sought, the dependent
child resided somewhere other than with that parent.
"Obligated parent" means a parent who is required
under a child support order to provide health insurance coverage or to reimburse the other parent for his or her share of
medical expenses for a dependent child. The obligated parent
could be either the NCP or the CP.
"Other ordinary expense" means an expense incurred
by a parent which:
(1) Directly benefits the dependent child; and
(2) Relates to the parent's residential time or visitation
with the child.
"Participant" means an employee or retiree who is eligible for coverage under an employer group health plan.
"Pass-through" means the portion of a support collection distributed to assigned support that the state pays to a
family currently receiving TANF.
"Past support" means support arrears.
"Paternity testing" means blood testing or genetic tests
of blood, tissue or bodily fluids. This is also called genetic
testing.
"Payment services only" or "PSO" means a case on
which the division of child support's activities are limited to
recording and distributing child support payments, and maintaining case records. A PSO case is not a IV-D case.
"Permanently assigned ((arrearages)) arrears"
means those arrears which the state may collect and retain up
to the amount of unreimbursed assistance.
"Physical custodian" means custodial parent (CP).
"Plan administrator" means the person or entity which
performs those duties specified under 29 USC 1002 (16)(A)
for a health plan. If no plan administrator is specifically so
designated by the plan's organizational documents, the plan's
sponsor is the administrator of the plan. Sometimes an
employer acts as its own plan administrator.
"Putative father" includes all men who may possibly
be the father of the child or children on whose behalf the
application for assistance or support enforcement services is
made.
Proposed
"Reasonable efforts to locate" means any of the following actions performed by the division of child support:
(1) Mailing a support establishment notice to the noncustodial parent in the manner described in WAC 388-14A3105;
(2) Referral to a sheriff or other server of process, or to a
locate service or department employee for locate activities;
(3) Tracing activity such as:
(a) Checking local telephone directories and attempts by
telephone or mail to contact the custodial parent, relatives of
the noncustodial parent, past or present employers, or the
post office;
(b) Contacting state agencies, unions, financial institutions or fraternal organizations;
(c) Searching periodically for identification information
recorded by other state agencies, federal agencies, credit
bureaus, or other record-keeping agencies or entities; or
(d) Maintaining a case in the division of child support's
automated locate program, which is a continuous search process.
(4) Referral to the state or federal parent locator service;
(5) Referral to the attorney general, prosecuting attorney,
the IV-D agency of another state, or the Department of the
Treasury for specific legal or collection action;
(6) Attempting to confirm the existence of and to obtain
a copy of a paternity acknowledgment; or
(7) Conducting other actions reasonably calculated to
produce information regarding the NCP's whereabouts.
"Required support obligation for the current month"
means the amount set by a superior court order, tribal court
order, or administrative order for support which is due in the
month in question.
"Resident" means a person physically present in the
state of Washington who intends to make their home in this
state. A temporary absence from the state does not destroy
residency once it is established.
"Residential care" means foster care, either state or
federally funded.
"Residential parent" means the custodial parent (CP),
or the person with whom the child resides that majority of the
time.
"Responsible parent" is a term sometimes used for a
noncustodial parent.
"Responsible stepparent" means a stepparent who has
established an in loco parentis relationship with the dependent child.
"Retained support" means a debt owed to the division
of child support by anyone other than a noncustodial parent.
"Satisfaction of judgment" means payment in full of a
court-ordered support obligation, or a determination that such
an obligation is no longer enforceable.
"Secretary" means the secretary of the department of
social and health services or the secretary's designee.
"State" means a state or political subdivision, territory,
or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a federally recognized
Indian tribe or a foreign country.
"Superior court order" means a judgment, decree or
order of a Washington state superior court, or of another
state's court of comparable jurisdiction.
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"Support debt" means support which was due under a
support order but has not been paid. This includes:
(1) Delinquent support;
(2) A debt for the payment of expenses for the reasonable or necessary care, support and maintenance including
medical expenses, birth costs, child care costs, and special
child rearing expenses of a dependent child or other person;
(3) A debt under RCW 74.20A.100 or 74.20A.270; or
(4) Accrued interest, fees, or penalties charged on a support debt, and attorney's fees and other litigation costs
awarded in an action under Title IV-D to establish or enforce
a support obligation.
"Support enforcement services" means all actions the
Title IV-D agency is required to perform under Title IV-D of
the Social Security Act and state law.
"Support establishment notice" means a notice and
finding of financial responsibility under WAC 388-14A3115, a notice and finding of parental responsibility under
WAC 388-14A-3120, or a notice and finding of medical
responsibility under WAC 388-14A-3125.
"Support money" means money paid to satisfy a support obligation, whether it is called child support, spousal
support, alimony, maintenance, enforcement of medical
expenses, health insurance, or birth costs.
"Support obligation" means the obligation to provide
for the necessary care, support and maintenance of a dependent child or other person as required by law, including
health insurance coverage, medical expenses, birth costs, and
child care or special child rearing expenses.
(("TANF" means the temporary assistance for needy
families (TANF) program.))
"Temporarily assigned ((arrearages)) arrears"
means those arrears which accrue prior to the family receiving assistance, for assistance applications dated on or after
October 1, 1997, but before October 1, 2008. After the family terminates assistance, temporarily assigned arrears
become conditionally assigned arrears.
"Temporary assistance for needy families," or
"TANF" means cash assistance under the temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) program under Title IV-A
of the Social Security Act.
"Title IV-A" means Title IV-A of the Social Security
Act established under Title XX of the Social Security amendments and as incorporated in Title 42 USC.
"Title IV-A agency" means the part of the department
of social and health services which carries out the state's
responsibilities under the temporary assistance for needy
families (TANF) program (and the aid for dependent children
(AFDC) program when it existed).
"Title IV-D" means Title IV-D of the Social Security
Act established under Title XX of the Social Security amendments and as incorporated in Title 42 USC.
"Title IV-D agency" or "IV-D agency" means the division of child support, which is the agency responsible for carrying out the Title IV-D plan in the state of Washington. Also
refers to the Washington state support registry (WSSR).
"Title IV-D case" is a case in which the division of
child support provides services which qualifies for funding
under the Title IV-D plan.
WSR 08-22-028
"Title IV-D plan" means the plan established under the
conditions of Title IV-D and approved by the secretary,
Department of Health and Human Services.
"Title IV-E" means Title IV-E of the Social Security
Act established under Title XX of the Social Security amendments and as incorporated in Title 42 U.S.C.
"Title IV-E case" means a foster care case.
"Tribal TANF" means a temporary assistance for
needy families (TANF) program run by a tribe.
"Tribunal" means a state court, tribal court, administrative agency, or quasi-judicial entity authorized to establish,
enforce or modify support orders or to determine parentage.
"Uninsured medical expenses":
(1) For the purpose of enforcing support obligations
under RCW 26.23.110, means
(a) Medical expenses not paid by insurance for medical,
dental, prescription and optometrical costs incurred on behalf
of a child; and
(b) Copayments, or deductibles incurred on behalf of a
child; and
(2) Includes health insurance premiums that represent
the only health insurance covering a dependent child when
either:
(a) Health insurance for the child is not required by a
support order or cannot be enforced by the division of child
support (DCS); or
(b) The premium for covering the child exceeds the maximum limit provided in the support order.
"Unreimbursed assistance" means the cumulative
amount of assistance which was paid to the family and which
has not been reimbursed by assigned support collections.
"Unreimbursed medical expenses" means any
amounts paid by one parent for uninsured medical expenses,
which that parent claims the obligated parent owes under a
child support order, which percentage share is stated in the
child support order itself, not just in the worksheets.
"We" means the division of child support, part of the
department of social and health services of the state of Washington.
"WSSR" is the Washington state support registry.
"You" means the reader of the rules, a member of the
public, or a recipient of support enforcement services.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 06-03-120,
filed 1/17/06, effective 2/17/06)
WAC 388-14A-2036 What does assigning my rights
to support mean? (1) As a condition of eligibility for assistance, a family member must assign to the state the right to
collect and keep, subject to the limitation in WAC 388-14A2035(3)((,)):
(a) Any support owing to the family member or to any
other person for whom the family member has applied for or
is receiving assistance if the family applied for cash public
assistance before October 1, 2008.
(b) Support owing to the family member, or to any other
person for whom the family member has applied for or is
receiving cash public assistance, for any month during which
the family receives assistance.
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(2) While your family receives assistance, ((all support
collected is retained by the state to reimburse the total amount
of assistance which has been paid to your family)) support is
distributed and disbursed in accordance with WAC 388-14A5000 through 388-14A-5015.
(3) After your family terminates from assistance, certain
accrued arrears remain assigned to the state in accordance
with the following rules:
(a) For assistance applications dated prior to October 1,
1997, you permanently assigned to the state all rights to support which accrued before the application date ((and which
will accrue prior to)) until the date your family ((terminates))
terminated from assistance.
(b) For assistance applications dated on or after October
1, 1997, and before October 1, 2000:
(i) You permanently assigned to the state all rights to
support which accrued while your family receives assistance;
and
(ii) You temporarily assigned to the state all rights to
support which accrued before the application date, until
October 1, 2000, or when your family ((terminates)) terminated from assistance, whichever date is later. ((After this
date, if any remaining arrears are collected by federal income
tax refund offset, the state retains such amounts, up to the
amount of unreimbursed assistance.))
(c) For assistance applications dated on or after October
1, 2000, and before October 1, 2008:
(i) You permanently assigned to the state all rights to
support which accrued while the family ((receives)) received
assistance; and
(ii) You temporarily assigned to the state all rights to
support which accrued before the application date, until the
date your family ((terminates)) terminated from assistance.
((After this date, if any remaining arrears are collected by
federal income tax refund offset, the state retains such
amounts, up to the amount of unreimbursed assistance.))
(d) For assistance applications dated on or after October
1, 2008, you permanently assign to the state all rights to support which accrue while the family receives assistance.
(4) When you assign your medical support rights to the
state, you authorize the state on behalf of yourself and the
children in your care to enforce the noncustodial parent's full
duty to provide medical support.
(1) Not permanently assigned to the state;
(2) Collected and retained by the state up to the amount
of unreimbursed assistance, if these arrears are collected by
federal income tax refund offset at any time; and
(3) Collected and kept by the state, up to the cumulative
amount of unreimbursed assistance:
(a) Until October 1, 2000 or until the date the family terminates from assistance, whichever date is later; or
(b) Only while the family receives assistance, for assistance periods beginning October 1, 2000 or later)) arrears
owed to the family at the time TANF started, for TANF periods beginning before October 1, 2008. These arrears remain
temporarily assigned during the assistance period.
(2) Temporarily assigned arrears convert to conditionally assigned arrears when the TANF period ends. See WAC
388-14A-2039 for a description of conditionally assigned
arrears.
(3) If any support collections are distributed to temporarily assigned arrears, those collections are retained by the
state, up to the amount of unreimbursed assistance.
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-14A-2039 What are conditionally assigned
arrears? (1) Conditionally assigned arrears are any temporarily assigned arrears that remain on a case after the family
stops receiving TANF.
(2) These arrears remain conditionally assigned during
TANF periods beginning on or after October 1, 2008.
(3) If federal tax refund offset collections are distributed
to conditionally assigned arrears, those collections are
retained by the state, up to the amount of unreimbursed assistance.
(4) If support collections other than federal tax refund
offset collections are distributed to conditionally assigned
arrears, those collections are disbursed to the family.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 08-12-029,
filed 5/29/08, effective 7/1/08)
WAC 388-14A-5000 ((How does the division of child
support distribute support payments)) What is the difference between distribution and disbursement of child support collections? (1) ((Under state and federal law, the division of child support (DCS) distributes support money it collects or receives to the:
(a) Department when the department provides or has
provided public assistance payments for the support of the
family;
(b) Payee under the order, or to the custodial parent (CP)
of the child according to WAC 388-14A-5050;
(c) Child support enforcement agency in another state or
foreign country which submitted a request for support
enforcement services;
(d) Indian tribe which has a TANF program, child support program and/or a cooperative agreement regarding the
delivery of child support services;
(e) Person or entity making the payment when DCS is
unable to identify the person to whom the support money is
payable after making reasonable efforts to obtain identification information)) Distribution of child support collections
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 01-03-089,
filed 1/17/01, effective 2/17/01)
WAC 388-14A-2037 What are permanently assigned
arrears? Permanently assigned arrears accrue only under the
following conditions:
(1) For those periods prior to the family receiving assistance, for assistance applications dated ((on or)) before ((September 30, 1997)) October 1, 1997; and
(2) For those periods while a family receives assistance,
for assistance applications dated at any time.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 01-03-089,
filed 1/17/01, effective 2/17/01)
WAC 388-14A-2038 What are temporarily assigned
arrears? (1) Temporarily assigned arrears are((:
Proposed
[6]
Washington State Register, Issue 08-23
refers to how the division of child support (DCS) applies or
allocates collections within a child support case or between
child support cases.
(2) ((DCS distributes support based on the date of collection. DCS considers the date of collection to be the date that
DCS receives the payment, no matter when the payment was
withheld from the noncustodial parent (NCP))) Disbursement
of child support collections refers to DCS sending out or paying support collections to the appropriate recipient.
(3) ((If DCS is unable to distribute support money
because the location of the family or person is unknown, it
must exercise reasonable efforts to locate the family or person. When the family or person cannot be located, DCS handles the money in accordance with chapter 63.29 RCW, the
Uniform Unclaimed Property Act)) WAC 388-14A-5001
through 388-14A-5015 explain how DCS distributes and disburses child support collections.
(((4) WAC 388-14A-5000 and sections WAC 388-14A5001 through 388-14A-5008 contain the rules for distribution
of support money by DCS.
(5) DCS changes the distribution rules based on changes
in federal statutes and regulations.
(6) DCS uses the fee retained under WAC 388-14A2200 to offset the fee amount charged by the federal government for IV-D cases that meet the fee criteria in WAC 38814A-2200(1).))
WSR 08-22-028
collections are received which increase the ((payment)) disbursement to the family ((of)) to at least one dollar, DCS
transfers the amount to the department of revenue under
RCW 63.29.130. This subsection does not apply to disbursements which can be made by electronic funds transfer (EFT),
or to refunds of ((intercepted)) federal ((income)) tax
refund((s)) offset collections; or
(g) Other circumstances exist which make a proper and
timely distribution of the ((money)) collection impossible
through no fault or lack of diligence of DCS.
(3) ((Distribute)) DCS distributes support ((money)) collections based on the date DCS receives the ((money)) collection, except as provided under WAC 388-14A-5005. DCS
distributes support collections based on the date of collection.
DCS considers the date of collection to be the date that DCS
receives the ((payment)) support collection, no matter when
the ((payment)) money was withheld from the noncustodial
parent (NCP).
(4) Under state and federal law, the division of child support (DCS) disburses support collections to the:
(a) Department when the department provides or has
provided public assistance payments for the support of the
family;
(b) Payee under the order, or to the custodial parent (CP)
of the child according to WAC 388-14A-5050;
(c) Child support enforcement agency in another state or
foreign country which submitted a request for support
enforcement services;
(d) Indian tribe which has a TANF program, child support program and/or a cooperative agreement regarding the
delivery of child support services;
(e) Persons or entity making the payment when DCS is
unable to identify the person to whom the support is payable
after making reasonable efforts to obtain identification information.
(5) If DCS is unable to disburse a support collection
because the location of the family or person is unknown, it
must exercise reasonable efforts to locate the family or person. When the family or person cannot be located, DCS handles the collection in accordance with chapter 63.29 RCW,
the uniform unclaimed property act.
(6) WAC 388-14A-5000 through 388-14A-5015 contain
the rules for the distribution of support collections by DCS.
(7) DCS changes the distribution rules based on changes
in federal statutes and regulations.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 05-06-014,
filed 2/22/05, effective 3/25/05)
WAC 388-14A-5001 What procedures does DCS follow to distribute support ((payments)) collections? (1)
When distributing support ((money)) collections, the division
of child support (DCS) ((does the following:
(1) Records payments)) records collections in exact
amounts of dollars and cents((;)).
(2) DCS distributes support ((money)) collections within
two days of the date DCS receives the ((money)) collection,
unless DCS is unable to distribute the ((payment)) collection
for one or more of the following reasons:
(a) The location of the payee is unknown;
(b) DCS does not have sufficient information to identify
the accounts against which or to which it should ((apply)) distribute the money;
(c) An action is pending before a court or agency which
has jurisdiction over the issue to determine whether child
support ((money)) is owed or how DCS should distribute the
((money)) collection.
(d) DCS receives prepaid child support ((money)) and is
holding it for distribution in future months under subsection
(2)(e) of this section;
(e) DCS mails a notice of intent to distribute support
money to the custodial parent (CP) under WAC 388-14A5050;
(f) DCS may hold funds and not issue a check to the family for amounts under one dollar. DCS must give credit for
the ((payment)) collection, but may delay disbursement of
that amount until a future ((payment)) collection is received
which increases the amount of the ((payment)) disbursement
to the family to at least one dollar. If no future ((payments))
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 08-12-029,
filed 5/29/08, effective 7/1/08)
WAC 388-14A-5002 How does DCS distribute support ((money)) collections in a nonassistance case? (1) A
nonassistance case is one where the family has never received
a cash public assistance grant.
(2) The division of child support (DCS) applies support
((money)) collections within each Title IV-D nonassistance
case:
(a) First, to satisfy the current support obligation for the
month DCS received the ((money)) collection;
(b) Second, to the noncustodial parent's support debts
owed to the family;
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Proposed
WSR 08-22-028
Washington State Register, Issue 08-23
(c) Third, to prepaid support as provided for under WAC
388-14A-5008.
(3) ((After DCS disburses at least five hundred dollars to
the family on a case in a federal fiscal year, DCS may retain
a twenty-five dollar annual fee for that case from a custodial
parent who has never received AFDC, TANF or Tribal
TANF. DCS gives the noncustodial parent credit against the
child support debt for the amount retained for the fee)) DCS
uses the fee retained under WAC 388-14A-2200 to offset the
fee amount charged by the federal government for IV-D cases
that meet the fee criteria in WAC 388-14A-2200(1).
(b) Second, to satisfy support debts ((which accrued after
the family's most recent period of assistance)) owed to the
family;
(c) Third, to satisfy support debts which are ((temporarily)) conditionally assigned to the department ((to reimburse the cumulative amount of assistance which has been
paid to the family)). These collections are disbursed according to WAC 388-14A-2039;
(d) Fourth, to satisfy support debts which are permanently assigned to the department to reimburse the cumulative amount of assistance which has been paid to the family;
and
(e) Fifth, to ((satisfy support debts which exceed the
cumulative amount of unreimbursed assistance which has
been paid to the family; and
(f) Sixth, to)) prepaid support as provided for under
WAC 388-14A-5008.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 01-24-078,
filed 12/3/01, effective 1/3/02)
WAC 388-14A-5003 How does DCS distribute
((money)) support collections in an assistance case? (1) An
assistance case is one where the family is currently receiving
a ((cash public assistance)) TANF grant.
(2) The division of child support (DCS) ((applies)) distributes support ((money)) collections within each Title IV-D
assistance case:
(a) First, to satisfy the current support obligation for the
month DCS received the ((money (this money is kept by the
state under WAC 388-14A-2035))) collection;
(b) Second, to satisfy support debts which are permanently assigned to the department to reimburse the cumulative amount of assistance which has been paid to the family
(((this money is kept by the state under WAC 388-14A2035)));
(c) Third((,)):
(i) To satisfy support debts which are temporarily
assigned to the department to reimburse the cumulative
amount of assistance paid to the family (((this money is kept
by the state under WAC 388-14A-2035))); or
(ii) To satisfy support debts which are conditionally
assigned to the department. Support collections distributed to
conditionally assigned arrears are disbursed according to
WAC 388-14A-2039.
(d) Fourth, to satisfy support debts ((which exceed the
cumulative amount of unreimbursed assistance which has
been paid to the family (this money goes to the family)))
owed to the family;
(e) Fifth, to prepaid support as provided for under WAC
388-14A-5008.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 08-12-029,
filed 5/29/08, effective 7/1/08)
WAC 388-14A-5005 How does DCS distribute
((intercepted)) federal ((income)) tax refund((s)) offset
collections? (((1))) The division of child support (DCS)
((applies intercepted)) distributes federal ((income)) tax
refund((s)) offset collections in accordance with 42 U.S.C.
Sec. 657, as follows:
(((a))) (1) First, ((to support debts which are permanently
assigned to the department to reimburse public assistance
payments; and
(b) Second, to support debts which are temporarily
assigned to the department to reimburse public assistance
payments; and
(c) Third, to support debts that are not assigned to the
department; and
(d) To support debts only, not to current and future support obligations. DCS must refund any excess to the noncustodial parent (NCP))) to satisfy the current support obligation
for the month in which DCS received the collection.
(2) Second, DCS distributes any amounts over current
support depending on the type of case to which the collection
is distributed:
(a) In a never assistance case, all remaining amounts are
distributed to family arrears, meaning those arrears which
have never been assigned.
(b) In a former assistance case, all remaining amounts
are distributed first to family arrears, then to permanently
assigned arrears, then to conditionally assigned arrears.
(c) In a current assistance case, all remaining amounts
are distributed first to permanently assigned arrears, then to
temporarily assigned arrears (if they exist), then to conditionally assigned arrears, and then to family arrears.
(((2))) (3) Federal tax refund offset collections distributed to assigned support are retained by the state to reimburse
the cumulative amount of assistance which has been paid to
the family.
(4) DCS may distribute federal tax refund offset collections only to certified support debts and to current support
obligations on cases with certified debts. DCS must refund
any excess to the noncustodial parent (NCP).
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 01-03-089,
filed 1/17/01, effective 2/17/01)
WAC 388-14A-5004 How does DCS distribute
((money)) support collections in a former assistance case?
(1) A former assistance case is one where the family is not
currently receiving a ((cash public assistance)) TANF grant,
but has at some time in the past.
(2) Subject to the exceptions provided under WAC 38814A-5005, the division of child support (DCS) ((applies))
distributes support ((money)) collections within each Title
IV-D former-assistance case:
(a) First, to satisfy the current support obligation for the
month DCS received the ((money)) collection;
Proposed
[8]
Washington State Register, Issue 08-23
(5) DCS may retain the twenty-five dollar annual fee
required under the federal deficit reduction act of 2005 and
RCW 74.20.040 from federal ((income)) tax refund((s
applied)) offset collections distributed to nonassistance
((support debts)) cases.
(((3))) (6) When the Secretary of the Treasury, through
the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE),
notifies DCS that a ((payment on behalf of an NCP is from an
intercepted)) collection from a federal tax refund offset is
from a tax refund based on a joint return, DCS follows the
procedures set forth in WAC 388-14A-5010.
WSR 08-22-028
(b) For a period not to exceed six months from notification of the offset.
(5) ((When)) After DCS holds part of a ((payment)) collection under subsection (4) of this section, DCS ((applies))
distributes the remainder of the ((payment)) collection to the
NCP's ((back)) support obligations if DCS is not required to
return the unobligated spouse's portion of the refund. The CP
may:
(a) Request that DCS ((apply)) distribute the payment to
the NCP's ((back)) support obligation sooner upon a showing
of hardship to the CP; and
(b) Request a conference board if the CP disagrees with
DCS' denial of a hardship claim.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 01-24-078,
filed 12/3/01, effective 1/3/02)
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-14A-5006 How does DCS distribute support ((money)) collections when the paying parent has
more than one case? ((Except as provided in WAC 38814A-5005,)) When the NCP has more than one Title IV-D
case, the division of child support (DCS) distributes support
((money)) collections:
(1) First, to the current support obligation on each Title
IV-D case, in proportion to the amount of the current support
order on each case; and
(2) Second, to the total of the support debts whether
owed to the family or to the department for the reimbursement of public assistance on each Title IV-D case, in proportion to the amount of support debt owed by the NCP on each
case; and
(3) Third, within each Title IV-D case according to
WAC 388-14A-5002 ((or)), 388-14A-5003, or 388-14A5004.
WAC 388-14A-5015 What is a pass-through payment? (1) A pass-through payment is the portion of a support
collection applied to assigned support that the state elects to
pay to a family currently receiving TANF. The pass-through
payment is paid in the following amounts:
(a) Up to one hundred dollars per month to a family with
one child in the assistance unit.
(b) Up to two hundred dollars per month to a family with
two or more children in the assistance unit.
(2) The pass-through is paid from collections which are
distributed to either current support or assigned arrears.
(3) The pass-through amount can never exceed the
amount collected in the month.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 08-12-029,
filed 5/29/08, effective 7/1/08)
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 05-06-014,
filed 2/22/05, effective 3/25/05)
WAC 388-14A-5100 ((What kind of distribution
notice does the division of child support send)) How does
the division of child support notify the custodial parent
about support collections? (1) The division of child support
(DCS) mails a distribution ((notice)) and disbursement statement once each month((, or more often,)) to the last known
address of a person for whom it received a support collection
during the month, except as provided under subsection (6) of
this section.
(2) DCS includes the following information in the
((notice)) distribution and disbursement statement:
(a) The amount of support ((money)) collections DCS
received and the date of collection;
(b) A description of how DCS ((allocated the)) distributed each support ((money)) collection between current support and the support debt and any fees required by state or
federal law; ((and))
(c) The amount DCS claims as reimbursement for public
assistance paid, if applicable;
(d) The amount kept by the state to repay public assistance paid to the family;
(e) The amount disbursed to the family as a pass-through
payment under WAC 388-14A-5015;
(f) The amount disbursed to the family as a payment on
support owed to the family;
(g) The amount kept by the state to pay the twenty-five
dollar annual fee, if applicable; and
WAC 388-14A-5010 How does the division of child
support ((handle intercepted)) distribute federal
((income)) tax refund((s)) offset collections from ((a))
joint returns? (1) The division of child support (DCS) collects child support ((arrears)) through the interception of federal ((income)) tax refunds. This section deals with the issues
that arise when the Secretary of the Treasury intercepts a tax
refund based on a joint tax return filed by a noncustodial parent (NCP) and the NCP's spouse who does not owe child support.
(2) When the Secretary of the Treasury, through the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE), notifies
DCS that a ((payment)) collection on behalf of an NCP is
from an intercepted tax refund based on a joint return, DCS
may ((delay distribution of)) distribute fifty percent of that
((payment)) collection and hold the remainder for up to six
months in case the NCP's spouse is entitled to a share of the
federal ((income)) tax refund.
(3) DCS distributes fifty percent of the ((payment)) collection according to WAC 388-14A-5005.
(4) DCS holds the other fifty percent of the ((payment))
collection in suspense until the earlier of the following:
(a) DCS is notified by OCSE or the Secretary of the
Treasury whether DCS must pay back the unobligated
spouse's portion of the refund; or
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Proposed
WSR 08-23-004
Washington State Register, Issue 08-23
systems during certification testing, repeal the requirement
that initiative and referendum sponsors have the affidavit
notarized, and create one standard deadline for statements
submitted by candidates for the voters' pamphlet.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 29A.04.611.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 40.24.060, 29A.08.113, 28A.12.020, 29A.72.010, and 29A.32.031.
Rule is necessary because of federal court decision,
Washington Association of Churches v. Sam Reed, 492 F.
Supp. 2d 1264 (2006).
Name of Proponent: Office of the secretary of state,
elections division, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting,
Implementation and Enforcement: Katie Blinn, P.O. Box
40220, Olympia, WA 98504-0220, (360) 902-4168.
No small business economic impact statement has been
prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. Not applicable.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW
34.05.328. Not applicable.
November 5, 2008
Steve Excell
Assistant Secretary of State
(h) The amount kept by the state to repay child support
paid to the family in error.
(3) The person to whom a distribution ((notice)) and disbursement statement is sent may file a request for a hearing
under subsection (4) of this section within ninety days of the
date of the ((notice)) statement to contest how DCS distributed the support ((money)) collections, and must make specific objections to the ((distribution notice)) statement. The
effective date of a hearing request is the date DCS receives
the request.
(4) A hearing under this section is for the limited purpose
of determining if DCS correctly distributed the support
money described in the contested ((notice)) statement.
(a) There is no hearing right regarding fees that have
been charged on a case.
(b) If a custodial parent (CP) wants to request a hardship
waiver of the fee, the CP may request a conference board
under WAC 388-14A-6400.
(5) A person who requests a late hearing must show good
cause for being late.
(6) This section does not require DCS to send a ((notice))
distribution and disbursement statement to a recipient of payment services only.
NEW SECTION
WAC 434-250-035 Protected records voters. (1) At
least twenty days before every special, primary, or general
election, authorized personnel shall review all protected
records voter files and forward the appropriate absentee ballot for each protected records voter via the substitute mailing
address.
(2) The ballot, ballot security envelope, and return envelope must be placed in an envelope addressed to the substitute
address. The return envelope shall be printed in a manner
that ensures that the returned ballot will be segregated and
routed to the authorized personnel for processing.
(3) The voted absentee ballot for a protected records
voter shall be processed by county authorized personnel. The
authorized personnel shall maintain a record of ballots sent to
protected records voters and a record of ballots returned.
This record shall be maintained in accordance with WAC
434-324-034.
WSR 08-23-004
PROPOSED RULES
SECRETARY OF STATE
(Elections Division)
[Filed November 5, 2008, 4:02 p.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 0814-161.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Election related procedures, including protected records voters,
voters requiring verification of identity, certification of voting systems, affidavits by initiative and referendum sponsors,
and deadlines for candidate statements.
Hearing Location(s): Office of the Secretary of State,
Elections Division, 520 Union Avenue S.E., Olympia, WA,
on December 23, 2008, at 11:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: January 20, 2009.
Submit Written Comments to: Katie Blinn, P.O. Box
40220, Olympia, WA 98504-0220, e-mail kblinn@secstate.
wa.gov, fax (360) 586-5629, by December 23, 2008.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Katie
Blinn by December 23, 2008, TTY (800) 422-8683 or (360)
902-4168.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects,
Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: These rules move
procedures for protected records voters into election-related
WAC chapters, clarify which government documents a voter
may use to prove his or her identity, repeal antiquated references, clarify the appointment of members of the voting systems review board, change terminology from "independent
testing authority" to "voting system test laboratory," repeal
references to telephonic transmission since that technology is
antiquated and obsolete, clarify the process for testing voting
Proposed
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 08-15-052,
filed 7/11/08, effective 8/11/08)
WAC 434-250-040 Instructions to voters. (1) Instructions that accompany an absentee ballot must include:
(a) How to cancel a vote by drawing a line through the
text of the candidate's name or ballot measure response;
(b) Notice that, unless specifically allowed by law, more
than one vote for an office or ballot measure will be an overvote and no votes for that office or ballot measure will be
counted;
(c) Notice that, if a voter has signed or otherwise identified himself or herself on a ballot, the ballot will not be
counted;
(d) An explanation of how to complete and sign the affidavit on the return envelope;
[ 10 ]
Washington State Register, Issue 08-23
WSR 08-23-004
imply that the candidate is nominated or endorsed by the
party, or that the party approves of or associates with that
candidate."
(ii) In a year that president and vice-president appear on
the general election ballot, the following must be added to the
statement required by (l)(i) of this subsection:
"The election for president and vice-president is different. Candidates for president and vice-president are the official nominees of their political party."
(m) Any other information the county auditor deems
necessary.
(2) Instructions that accompany a special absentee ballot
must also include:
(a) A listing of all offices and measures that will appear
upon the ballot, together with a listing of all persons who
have filed for office or who have indicated their intention to
file for office; and
(b) Notice that the voter may request and subsequently
vote a regular absentee ballot, and that if the regular absentee
ballot is received by the county auditor prior to certification
of the election, it will be tabulated and the special absentee
ballot will be voided.
(e) An explanation of how to make a mark, witnessed by
two other people, if unable to sign the affidavit;
(f) An explanation of how to place the ballot in the security envelope and place the security envelope in the return
envelope;
(g) An explanation of how to obtain a replacement ballot
if the original ballot is destroyed, spoiled, or lost;
(h) Notice that postage is required, if applicable;
(i) Notice that, in order for the ballot to be counted, it
must be either postmarked or deposited at a designated
deposit site no later than election day;
(j) An explanation of how to learn about the locations,
hours, and services of voting centers and ballot deposit sites,
including the availability of accessible voting equipment;
((County auditors may use existing stock of instructions
appearing on absentee ballot envelopes until December 1,
2008;))
(k) For a primary election that includes a partisan office,
a notice on a separate insert printed on colored paper explaining:
"Washington has a new primary. You do not have to pick
a party. In each race, you may vote for any candidate listed.
The two candidates who receive the most votes in the August
primary will advance to the November general election.
Each candidate for partisan office may state a political
party that he or she prefers. A candidate's preference does not
imply that the candidate is nominated or endorsed by the
party, or that the party approves of or associates with that
candidate."
(l)(i) For a general election that includes a partisan
office, the following explanation:
"Washington has a new election system. In each race for
partisan office, the two candidates who receive the most
votes in the August primary advance to the November general election.
Each candidate for partisan office may state a political
party that he or she prefers. A candidate's preference does not
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 07-02-100,
filed 1/3/07, effective 2/3/07)
WAC 434-250-045 Voters requiring verification of
identity. (1) If the voter registration record of an absentee
voter is flagged as requiring verification of identity, a notice
must be sent at the time of the election explaining that a photocopy of identification must be provided in order for the ballot to be counted, and listing what forms of identification are
acceptable. The county auditor may provide an inner envelope separate from the security envelope for return of the
photocopy of the identification.
(2) The notice to the absentee voter must be in substantially the following form:
Dear Voter:
[date]
Based on your recent registration, federal law requires that you provide identification with your ballot. If you fail to provide
identification, your ballot will not be counted.
Please provide a copy of one of the following:
• Valid photo identification;
• A valid enrollment card of a federally recognized tribe in Washington;
• A current utility bill;
• A current bank statement;
• A current government check;
• A current paycheck; or
• A government document, other than a voter registration card, that shows both your name and address.
You may return the photocopy with your ballot but, in order to protect the secrecy of your ballot, do not place the photocopy
inside the security envelope.
If you do not provide a copy of your identification, your ballot will not be counted.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the
County Auditor’s Office at
[ 11 ]
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Proposed
WSR 08-23-004
Washington State Register, Issue 08-23
(3) If the voter provides one of the acceptable forms of
identification no later than the day before certification of the
election, the flag on the voter registration record must be
removed and the ballot must be counted.
(4) If the voter fails to provide one of the acceptable
forms of identification by the day prior to certification of the
election, the ballot ((may)) shall not be counted. If the voter
provides one of the acceptable forms of identification at a
later date, the ballot cast in that election ((may)) shall not be
counted but the flag on the voter registration record must be
removed.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 07-24-044,
filed 11/30/07, effective 12/31/07)
WAC 434-253-045 Provisional ballots—Required
information. A provisional ballot may only be voted on a
direct recording electronic voting device if the voting system
has been certified by the secretary of state for provisional voting and the county auditor has submitted approved procedures to the secretary of state.
At a minimum, the following information is required to
be printed on the outer ballot envelope:
(1) Name of voter.
(2) Voter's registered address both present and former if
applicable.
(3) Voter's date of birth.
(4) Reason for the provisional ballot.
(5) Polling place and precinct number, if applicable, at
which voter voted.
(6) Sufficient space to list disposition of the ballot after
review by the county auditor.
(7) The following affidavit with a place for the voter to
sign and date:
Reviser's note: The brackets and enclosed material in the text of the
above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 08-15-052,
filed 7/11/08, effective 8/11/08)
WAC 434-250-050 Envelopes. Absentee ballots must
be accompanied by the following:
(1) A security envelope, which may not identify the voter
and must have a hole punched in a manner that will reveal
whether a ballot is inside;
(2) A return envelope, which must be addressed to the
county auditor and have a hole punched in a manner that will
reveal whether the security envelope is inside. The return
envelope must display the official election materials notice
required by the United States Postal Service, the words
"POSTAGE REQUIRED" or "POSTAGE PAID" in the upper righthand corner, and the following oath with a place for the voter
to sign, date, and write his or her daytime phone number:
I do solemnly swear or affirm under penalty of perjury
that:
I am a citizen of the United States;
I am a legal resident of the state of Washington;
I will be at least 18 years old on or before election day;
I am not presently denied my voting rights as a result of
being convicted of a felony;
I have not been judicially declared mentally incompetent;
I have not already voted in this election;
and
I understand it is illegal to cast a ballot or sign a ballot
envelope on behalf of another voter.
Attempting to vote when not qualified, attempting to
vote more than once, or falsely signing this oath is a felony
punishable by a maximum imprisonment of five years, a
maximum fine of $10,000, or both.
I do solemnly swear or affirm under penalty of perjury
that:
I am a citizen of the United States;
I am a legal resident of the state of Washington;
I will be at least 18 years old on or before election day;
I am not presently denied my voting rights as a result of
being convicted of a felony;
I have not been judicially declared mentally incompetent;
I have not already voted in this election; and
I understand it is illegal to cast a ballot or sign a ballot
envelope on behalf of another voter.
Attempting to vote when not qualified, attempting to
vote more than once, or falsely signing this oath is a felony
punishable by a maximum imprisonment of five years, a
maximum fine of $10,000, or both.
Signature
Signature
((County auditors may use existing stock of absentee
envelopes until December 1, 2008.))
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 07-24-044,
filed 11/30/07, effective 12/31/07)
WAC 434-261-005 Definitions. (1) "Manual inspection" is the process of inspecting each voter response position
on each voted ballot. Inspection is performed on an absentee
ballot as part of the initial processing, and on a poll ballot
after breaking the seals and opening the ballot containers
from the precincts or, in the case of precinct co