Wash. Rev. Code » Title 74 · Chapter 74.20A
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 74.20A.030 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) The department shall be subrogated to the right of any dependent child or children or person having the care, custody, and control of said child or children, if public assistance money is paid to or for the benefit of the child, or for the care and maintenance of a child, including a child with a developmental disability if the child has been placed into care as a result of an action under chapter 13.34 RCW, under a state-funded program, or a program funded under Title IV-A or IV-E of the federal social security act as amended by the personal responsibility and work opportunity reconciliation act of 1996, and the federal deficit reduction act of 2005, to prosecute or maintain any support action or execute any administrative remedy existing under the laws of the state of Washington to obtain reimbursement of moneys expended, based on the support obligation of the responsible parent established by a child support order. Distribution of any support moneys shall be made in accordance with RCW 26.23.035.
(2) The department may initiate, continue, maintain, or execute an action to establish, enforce, and collect a support obligation, including establishing parentage and performing related services, under this chapter and chapter 74.20 RCW, or through the attorney general or prosecuting attorney under chapter 26.09, 26.18, 26.20, 26.21A, 26.23, 26.26A, or 26.26B RCW or other appropriate statutes or the common law of this state, for so long as and under such conditions as the department may establish by regulation.
(3) Public assistance moneys shall be exempt from collection action under this chapter except as provided in RCW 74.20A.270.
(4) No collection action shall be taken against parents of children eligible for admission to, or children who have been discharged from, a residential habilitation center as defined by RCW 71A.10.020 unless the child with a developmental disability is placed as a result of an action under chapter 13.34 RCW. The child support obligation shall be calculated pursuant to chapter 26.19 RCW.
[ 2019 c 46 s 5051; 2007 c 143 s 7; 2004 c 183 s 5; 2000 c 86 s 7; 1997 c 58 s 934; 1993 sp.s. c 24 s 926; 1989 c 360 s 14. Prior: 1988 c 275 s 20; 1988 c 176 s 913; 1987 c 435 s 31; 1985 c 276 s 5; 1984 c 260 s 40; 1979 ex.s. c 171 s 4; 1979 c 141 s 371; 1973 1st ex.s. c 183 s 4; 1971 ex.s. c 164 s 3.]

Notes:

Severability—2007 c 143: See note following RCW 26.18.170.
Effective date—2004 c 183: See note following RCW 13.34.160.
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through 74.08A.904.
Severability—Effective dates—1993 sp.s. c 24: See notes following RCW 28A.310.020.
Effective dates—Severability—1988 c 275: See notes following RCW 26.19.001.
Effective date—1987 c 435: See RCW 26.23.900.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 23 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1974–2024 · leading case: Griffin v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 590 P.2d 816 (Wash. 1979).
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Griffin v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 590 P.2d 816 (Wash. 1979). · cites it 6× “WAC 388-11-010 notes the instances in which such notice may be served: The notice and finding of financial responsibility may be served only for a support debt or responsibility to support accrued and/or to be established under RCW 74.20A.030, RCW 74.20.292, or RCW 26.”
Taylor v. Morris, 564 P.2d 795 (Wash. 1977). · cites it 7× “The contents of the notice, according to the statute, shall *590 include a statement of the amount owed, the name of the recipient of the public assistance and the name of the child for whom it is being paid, and a demand for immediate payment or an answer within 20 days stating…”
Komm v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 597 P.2d 1372 (Wash. Ct. App. 1979). · cites it 6× “20A, intend to make the support debt created by RCW 74.20A.030 the sole and separate responsibility of the natural parent, or is such a statutory debt akin to a debt for child support and therefore chargeable against the assets of the marital community consisting of the natural…”
State ex rel. I.A.D. v. Base, 126 P.3d 79 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 3× “505; RCW 74.20A.030. However, regardless of who brings the action to determine parentage, the State has an independent right to reimbursement.”
In Re The Marriage Of: Roxanne Shortway, V William Shortway, 423 P.3d 270 (Wash. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “RCW 74.20A.030(1); RCW 74.20A.040(1), (3)(a).”
Moore v. Moore, 583 P.2d 1249 (Wash. Ct. App. 1978). · cites it 4× “20A was to do exactly what its title suggests,* * 5 that is, to provide the Department of Social and Health Services alternative means to recoup monies paid for aid to dependent children.”
Harmon v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 134 Wash. 2d 523 (Wash. 1998). “19); RCW 74.20A.030(4), .055, .059 (Department of Social and Health Services to apply child support schedule and standards set forth in RCW 26.”
Harmon v. Dept. of Soc. & Health Serv., 951 P.2d 770 (Wash. 1998). “19); RCW 74.20A.030(4), .055, .059 (Department of Social and Health Services to apply child support schedule and standards set forth in RCW 26.”
Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs. v. Gerlack, 612 P.2d 382 (Wash. Ct. App. 1980). · cites it 4× “*545 Prior to its amendment in 1979, 1 RCW 74.20A.030 provided that the payment of public assistance moneys for the benefit of a dependent child created a debt owed to the State by those parents responsible for the child's support.”
State on Behalf of Sigler v. Sigler, 932 P.2d 710 (Wash. Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 2× “330; RCW 74.20A.030. The money collected is used to reimburse the State for its expenditures for public assistance.”
Cleaver v. Cleaver, 516 P.2d 508 (Wash. Ct. App. 1974). “RCW 74.20A.030 (Laws of 1971, 1st Ex. Sess.”
Lizotte v. Lizotte, 551 P.2d 137 (Wash. Ct. App. 1976). · cites it 3× “2 *627 The public assistance monies paid by the Department for the benefit of the child herein gave rise to a statutory subrogation right in the Department to the unpaid monies owing by the father to the mother pursuant to the terms of the divorce decree.”
Show all 23 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 74.20A.030(1) — 6 cases
In Re The Marriage Of: Roxanne Shortway, V William Shortway, 423 P.3d 270 (Wash. Ct. App. 2018). “RCW 74.20A.030(1); RCW 74.20A.040(1), (3)(a).”
Matter of Marriage of Aldrich, 864 P.2d 388 (Wash. Ct. App. 1993).
State v. Base, 126 P.3d 79 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006).
State v. Mireles, 871 P.2d 162 (Wash. Ct. App. 1994).
Carrisa N. Brown, Dshs v. Sean A. Brown (Wash. Ct. App. 2020).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 74.20A.030(2) — 2 cases
Robinette v. Harsin, 147 P.3d 638 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006).
State v. Mireles, 871 P.2d 162 (Wash. Ct. App. 1994).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 74.20A.030(4) — 2 cases
Harmon v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 134 Wash. 2d 523 (Wash. 1998). “19); RCW 74.20A.030(4), .055, .059 (Department of Social and Health Services to apply child support schedule and standards set forth in RCW 26.”
Harmon v. Dept. of Soc. & Health Serv., 951 P.2d 770 (Wash. 1998). “19); RCW 74.20A.030(4), .055, .059 (Department of Social and Health Services to apply child support schedule and standards set forth in RCW 26.”
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