(1) RCW 74.20A.320 and sections 2 through 4 of SSB 5166 (chapter 408, Laws of 2009) provide that, in some circumstances, the division of child support (DCS) may certify for license suspension a noncustodial parent (NCP) who is not in compliance with a child support order. These statutes call the NCP "the responsible parent."

(a) "Certify" means to notify the department of licensing or other state licensing entities that the NCP is not in compliance with a child support order and to ask them to take appropriate action against licenses held by the NCP. Before DCS can certify an NCP, DCS serves a notice on the NCP as described in WAC 388-14A-4505 and 388-14A-4510. This notice is called the notice of noncompliance and intent to suspend licenses, and is sometimes called the notice of noncompliance.

(b) "Responsible parent" is defined in 388-14A-1020. The responsible parent is also called the "noncustodial parent."

(2) "Noncompliance with a child support order" is defined in RCW 74.20A.020(18) and in WAC 388-14A-4510(3).

(3) When DCS certifies the NCP, the department of licensing or other licensing entities take action to deny, suspend, or refuse to renew the NCP's license, according to the terms of RCW 74.20A.320(4) and section 3 of SSB 5166 (chapter 408, Laws of 2009).

(4) This section and sections WAC 388-14A-4505 through 388-14A-4530 cover the DCS license suspension program.

(5) DCS may certify an NCP who is not in compliance with a child support order to the department of licensing or any appropriate licensing entity. In determining which licensing entity receives the certification, DCS considers:

(a) The number and kind of licenses held by the parent; and

(b) The effect that suspension of a particular license will have in motivating the parent to pay support or to contact DCS to make appropriate arrangements for other relief.

(6) DCS may certify a parent to any licensing agency through which it believes the parent has obtained a license. DCS may certify a parent to as many licensing agencies as DCS feels necessary to accomplish the goals of the license suspension program.

(7) In certain circumstances spelled out in WAC 388-14A-4510 (2) and (3), DCS may serve the notice of noncompliance on a noncustodial parent but may stay the commencement of the objection period in WAC 388-14A-4505 (4)(b).