Arizona § 25-522 - Administrative review; notice; determination; judicial review; definitions

§ 25-522. Administrative review; notice; determination; judicial review; definitions

A. An obligor may contest an enforcement action by the department or its agent by filing a request for administrative review. An obligee may contest the distribution or disbursement of support payments by the department or its agent by filing a request for administrative review. The obligor, the obligee or the caretaker may contest the disbursement of support to a noncustodial person other than the state by filing a request for administrative review pursuant to section 46-444.  The request shall be in writing, shall be signed by the requesting party, shall include a residential and mailing address and may be transmitted electronically.  The request shall state the basis for the dispute and shall include any relevant information to assist the department or its agent, including a copy of any order issued, documentation of support payments made and any notice sent by the department or its agent.

B. Within ten business days after receiving the request for review, the department or its agent shall send a notice of acknowledgment of receipt of request for administrative review to the person filing the request and shall specify any additional information the department or its agent requires to complete the review.  The department or its agent on its own initiative may also request any other additional information it deems necessary to make its determination.  The department or its agent shall also notify the obligee of the obligor's request for review of enforcement actions.

C. Except for obligee complaints made under section 46-408 as to distribution of support, the department or its agent shall issue a written determination within forty-five business days after sending the notice of acknowledgment of receipt of request for administrative review, or if additional information is required, forty-five business days after receipt of this information. If additional information is not received from the requesting party or another person within thirty business days after the date of the department's or the agent's request for additional information, the department shall issue a final written determination within ten business days after the due date for receipt of the additional information based on the available information. The final determination shall be in writing, and a copy shall be served on all parties by first class mail or may be delivered electronically if electronic contact information is included in the request for administrative review.

D. Notwithstanding subsections B and C of this section, if the basis for the request for review is an income withholding order issued by the department pursuant to section 25-505.01, a lien recorded pursuant to section 25-516 or a levy made pursuant to section 25-521, the department shall review the request and issue a final determination within ten business days after it receives the request for review.  The department shall send a copy of the final determination by first class mail to all parties.

E. Notwithstanding subsections B, C and D of this section, if the basis for the request for review is a mistake in identity pursuant to section 25-521, the department shall issue a final determination by first class mail to all parties within two business days after receiving adequate documentation to determine the mistake in identity.

F. A department determination made pursuant to this section is subject to judicial review under title 12, chapter 7, article 6, except that an appeal by an obligee of a department determination made pursuant to this section regarding the distribution of support payments shall be made pursuant to title 41, chapter 14, article 3.

G. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Business day" means a day on which state offices are open for regular business.

2. "Department" includes the department's agent.

3. "Enforcement action" means an action taken by the department to:

(a) Suspend or deny a license.

(b) Impose a lien against real or personal property.

(c) Issue a notice of levy against assets held by or on behalf of an obligor.

(d) Issue an income withholding order or order to modify or terminate an income withholding order.

(e) Report an obligor to a consumer reporting agency.

(f) Issue a medical support notice of enrollment prescribed by the United States secretary of health and human services.

(g) Offset federal payments.

(h) Disburse support to a caretaker.