ÿWPC± aew¬ìÙòO„…Ü´áòŸ¶óóláïtÜøÚXfº£P©»ÃýUòΔ£~b¨ÐðÔ¶ÇöÛ$Æ{•iŽC4 ”·ÖüØé³^^mï$š’ñë²PÀ#â…Ä*ê Fû™q&„õ‹ Ñué N‚ô½nltô vy f;kÀOp| ¯H§vçŸÿ±w=•°Jy¯•˜~öÁuû*èÕQIHÊ€å \À£–a,0戂+ýpV{G41ô™¢É]œÄãöË$Ã\?ª)2c}/ªm,wÆÑ¥­q€™3©.aS»¨¥#Ûbs·d*1Máp˜q³¡Ø $‡ Ç'íªAgï ¨(¢}$¶|cÞ!s¤1ç¹LPîæH|¹ ô õîx×XžTP'4s 0{ù¨xEOUp³){oœw™¹ôGÚJ"è=<Åy”ì/V;;}„¿„I£ƒH­þº …u¹x¸; `9íB0—ñ²„Ö°¥G»µUý¢ÚŸ™w:FG)¼…y¨ªIvÿ‡ùb#Á\ % ^ # 0ˆ/ UN· w 4 z Ò— i x mz 1‡‘ Æ ÆÞ Ƥ Æj 0D0NtUNvÜÄE ¢L³ 1uÿ 72ttttttttttttttttttttb¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦ 0ë®®®® B™™ 0¤¶ D3Z D- 0Kºº ASÆX 0¤ 0D A«˜HP LaserJet 8000,ü,,,,,ü0»žr,s (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular `e,bk1À¨ ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ(5hCEKQW]cioAutoList1I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular ÒÝ ƒRür$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÌ< ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€facts,€procedural€posture,€rulings,€and€orders€in€each€case€are€nearly€identical.€€Accordingly,€we€will€onlyÐ ° Ðdiscuss€ò òòòState€of€Tennessee€ex€rel€Anderson€v.€Jarrettóóó ó.€€A€discussion€ofò ò€òòState€of€Tennessee€exóó€òòrel€Benson€v.€HarrisÐ xÈ Ðó óóówould€serve€no€purpose€in€this€opinion.€€€ Ý ƒRür$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÌ< ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔSection€36„5„905(a)€of€the€Tennessee€Code€states€as€follows:€€Ð ° ÐÌà8  àThe€department€may€enforce€the€lien€provided€by€this€part€by€issuance€of€an€administrative€order€toÐ @ Ðany€person€or€entity€directing€the€seizure€or€sale€of€any€assets€of€an€obligor.€€The€order€shall€directÐ X Ðthe€person€or€entity€to€hold,€subject€to€any€due€process€procedures€provided€the€obligor,€all€assets€ofÐ Ð  Ðany€kind€of€the€obligor€who€is€subject€to€the€order€pending€the€outcome€of€the€administrative€dueÐ ˜è Ðprocess€procedures.€€The€order€shall€be€based€upon€and€issued€pursuant€to€an€existing€judicial€orÐ ` ° Ðadministrative€order€which€has€previously€established€support€under€which€an€arrearage,€due€toÐ ( x Ðoverdue€support,€as€defined€in€ðð€36„5„901,€has€occurred.Ðð @Ð Ð  Ð BÝ ƒRür$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÌ< ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔPursuant€to€this€Courtððs€order€filed€November€27,€2001,€this€matter€was€submitted€for€decision€based€on€theÐ ° Ðrecord,€the€Stateððs€brief,€and€the€Stateððs€oral€argument.€€3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)i)- ù-(|G2ür$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¯ü»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÅò»»Ô d(|3+$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¯ü»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3+$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¯ü»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¬ô»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼¬ô»»»ÔÑ8€©£XXdð»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îïÇ¬ôÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@õõ%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†¼¬ô»îîïÇ #ԈРÜ, ÐÓ  ÓJanuary€22,€2002€SessionÐ X ÐÔ‡X©£X»¼¬ôÔÌò òÔ#†¼¬ô»XX©£ó#ÔSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE€EX€REL.€RHONDA€ANDERSONòòóó€v.€LESTERÐ  ` ÐJARRETTÐ ( x ÐÌand€Ð X ¨ ÐÌÓ  Óà0  àà ° àà0(#(#àà ° àà@èèì(#(#àSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE€EX€REL.€Ô_ÔMELINDAÔ_Ô€BENSON€v.€HERMAN€ˆÐ ˆØ  Ðà@&&'ìàHARRISˆÐ  ð  ÐòòóóÔ‡X©£X»¼¬ôÔó óÌÌà@Ý Ý ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Juvenile€Court€for€Ô_ÔHaywoodÔ_Ô€CountyˆÐ ˜è  Ðà@æ æ ìàNo.€6406€&€6638€€€€€€J.€Roland€Reid,€JudgeˆÐ ˆØ ÐÌÌà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<W` A߈Ð X¨ ÐÌà@è è ìàNo.€W2001„00484„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„JV€„€Filed€March€13,€2002ˆÐ W§ ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<6` AßÐ 7‡ Ðó óÌÔ‡XcõXXX©£ÔThis€is€a€child€support€case€concerning€jurisdiction€to€review€certain€administrative€decisionsÐ 6† Ðrendered€by€the€Department€of€Human€Services.€€In€its€order,€the€juvenile€court€transferred€the€case,Ð "r Ðconcluding€that€section€4„5„322€of€the€Tennessee€Code€placed€jurisdiction€with€the€ð ðappropriateÐ ^ Ðchancery€court.ðð€€Despite€its€order€transferring€the€case,€the€juvenile€court€also€decided€the€case€onÐ úJ Ðthe€merits€and€ruled€that€the€State€acted€in€contravention€to€section€36„5„905€of€the€Tennessee€CodeÐ æ6 Ðregarding€the€seizure€of€an€Ô_ÔobligorÔ_Ôððs€assets.€€The€court€further€concluded€that€section€36„5„905€wasÐ Ò" Ðunconstitutional.€€We€reverse€the€trial€court€regarding€its€jurisdictional€determination€and€hold€thatÐ ¾ Ðthe€trial€court€erred€by€reaching€the€constitutional€issue.€€€€Ô#†X©£XXXcõó#ÔÔ#†¼¬ô»XX©£»#ÔÔ‡X©£X»¼¬ôÔÐ ª ú ÐÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Juvenile€Court€Reversed€in€part;Ð †"Ö  ÐAffirmed€in€part;€and€Remandedó óÐ v#Æ! ÐÌòòÔ#†¼¬ô»àX©£ #ÔÔ‡X©£X.¼¬ôÔDavid€R.€Farmer,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòW.€Frank€Crawford,€P.J.,€W.S.,óóÐ V%¦ # Ðand€òòAlan€E.€Highers,€J.óó,€joined.Ð F&–!$ ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter,€and€Stuart€Wilson„Patton,€Assistant€AttorneyÐ &(v#& ÐGeneral,€for€the€Appellants,€State€of€Tennessee,€ex€rel.€Rhonda€Anderson€and€Ô_ÔMelindaÔ_Ô€Benson.Ð )f$' ÐÌÌÌÌÐ Æ-),ý Ðò òà@55'ìàOPINIONó óÔ#†¼¬ô»XX©£ #ÔÔ‡X©£X»¼¬ôԈР° ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼¬ô»XX©£E #ÔÔ€X©£X»¼¬ôÔÔ‡XcõXXX©£Ôà  àThis€consolidated€appeal€arises€from€two€decisions€rendered€by€the€Ô_ÔHaywoodÔ_Ô€CountyÐ à ÐJuvenile€Court.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€In€ò òòòAnderson€v.€Jarrettóóó ó,€the€State€of€Tennessee,€on€behalf€of€Ms.€Rhonda€Anderson,Ð |Ì Ðfiled€a€Petition€to€Establish€Parentage€against€Mr.€Lester€Jarrett.€€The€Juvenile€Court€of€Ô_ÔHaywoodÔ_ÔÐ h¸ ÐCounty€entered€an€Order€of€Parentage€declaring€Mr.€Jarrett€to€be€the€father€of€the€two€children€bornÐ T ¤ Ðto€Ms.€Anderson.€€Subsequently,€the€court€held€separate€hearings€to€determine€Mr.€Jarrettððs€currentÐ @  Ðand€retroactive€child€support€obligations.€€Ð , | ÐÌà  àOn€February€23,€2000,€the€court€set€Mr.€Jarrettððs€retroactive€child€support€obligation.€Ð  T  ÐPursuant€to€the€courtððs€order,€Mr.€Jarrett€was€to€begin€payment€on€the€retroactive€obligation€onÐ ð @  ÐMarch€1,€2000.€€The€State,€however,€sought€to€collect€the€retroactive€obligation€on€February€23,Ð Ü,  Ð2000,€when€it€issued€Mr.€Jarrettððs€employer€an€administrative€order€for€the€seizure€of€assets€pursuantÐ È  Ðto€section€36„5„905€of€the€Tennessee€Code.׃è×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€On€February€25,€2000,€the€State€notified€Mr.€Jarrett€thatÐ ´  Ðhis€pension€was€to€be€seized€to€satisfy€the€ð ðdelinquent€child€support.ððÐ  ð  ÐÌà  àMr.€Jarrett€filed€an€objection€to€the€seizure€of€his€pension€with€the€court€on€March€13,€2000.€Ð xÈ ÐMr.€Jarrett€also€requested€an€administrative€review€by€the€Tennessee€Department€of€Human€Services.€Ð d´ ÐThe€appeals€referee€for€the€Department€heard€Mr.€Jarrettððs€case€and€ultimately,€upheld€the€StateððsÐ P  Ðdecision€to€seize€Mr.€Jarrettððs€pension.€€Thereafter,€Mr.€Jarrett€petitioned€the€Juvenile€Court€ofÐ <Œ ÐÔ_ÔHaywoodÔ_Ô€County€to€review€the€administrative€ruling€of€the€Department.€€Ð (x ÐÌà  àAfter€reviewing€the€facts€and€procedural€history€of€the€case,€the€court€determined€that€it€wasÐ P Ðwithout€jurisdiction€to€review€the€Departmentððs€administrative€ruling.€€The€court€stated€that€aÐ ì< Ðconflict€existed€between€section€4„5„322€and€section€36„5„1003€of€the€Tennessee€Code.€€The€courtÐ Ø( Ðnoted€that€section€36„5„1003€ð ðÔ_Ôappear[edÔ_Ô]€to€give€jurisdiction€to€the€court€that€issued€the€supportÐ Ä Ðorder,ðð€while€section€4„5„322€ð ðÔ_Ôplace[dÔ_Ô]€jurisdiction€with€the€appropriate€chancery€court.ðð€€ReasoningÐ ° Ðthat€ð ðevery€word€of€a€statute€must€be€given€effect€if€possible,ðð€the€court€determined€that€section€4„5„Ð œì Ðâ â322€controlled€the€issue€because€section€36„5„1003€states,€according€to€the€court,€that€ð ðjurisdictionÐ ˆØ Ðshall€be€as€ððotherwise€provided€by€4„5„322.ðððð€€Therefore,€the€court€ordered€that€the€case€would€beÐ ° Ðtransferred€to€the€chancery€court€at€Brownsville.€€Ð œì Ðâ âÌà  àAfter€determining€that€it€was€without€jurisdiction,€the€court,€ð ðin€the€interest€of€judicialÐ tÄ Ðefficiency,ðð€went€on€to€render€a€decision€on€the€merits.€€The€court€ruled€that€the€State€impermissiblyÐ `° Ðseized€Mr.€Jarrettððs€pension.€€The€court€determined€that€the€State€issued€the€seizure€order€withoutÐ L œ Ðstatutory€authority.€€Pursuant€to€section€36„5„905€of€the€Tennessee€Code,€the€court€held€that€the€StateÐ 8 ˆ Ðcould€only€seize€assets€if€the€arrearage€payment€was€overdue.€€Because€no€payment€was€yet€dueÐ $ t Ðwhen€the€State€issued€the€seizure€order,€the€court€reasoned€that€the€State€acted€in€contravention€toÐ  ` Ðits€statutory€authority€when€it€seized€Mr.€Jarrettððs€assets.Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àIn€addition€to€its€ruling€regarding€the€propriety€of€the€Stateððs€action€under€the€seizure€statutes,Ð Ô$  Ðthe€court€proclaimed€that€it€was€troubled€by€the€ability€of€the€State€to€issue€orders€on€these€matters.€Ð À  ÐThe€court€stated€that€ð ðthe€mixingðð€of€court€and€administrative€procedures€for€the€enforcement€ofÐ ¬ü  Ðchild€support€ð ðis€in€this€courtððs€opinion€an€unconstitutional€violation€of€the€separation€of€powersÐ ˜è  Ðclause€of€the€United€States€and€Tennessee€Constitutions.ðð€€Ð „Ô  ÐÌà  àOn€appeal,€we€must€first€note€that€the€State€concedes€that€it€failed€to€comply€with€theÐ \¬ Ðstatutory€guidelines€when€it€seized€the€assets€belonging€to€Mr.€Jarrett€and€Mr.€Harris€before€anyÐ H˜ Ðpayment€was€due€on€the€retroactive€support.€€Therefore,€the€State€agrees€with€the€trial€courtððsÐ 4„ Ðultimate€decision€on€the€merits€and€in€its€brief€states,€ð ð[Ô_Ôb]ecauseÔ_Ô€no€payments€were€due€on€eitherÐ  p Ðretrospective€obligation€at€the€time€of€the€administrative€actions,€there€was€no€overdue€support;€andÐ  \ Ðthe€seizure€of€assets€in€both€cases€was,€therefore,€inappropriate.ðð€€Nevertheless,€the€State€appeals€theÐ øH Ðdecision€of€the€trial€court,׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€raising€the€following€issues€for€our€review:Ð ä4 ÐÌÓ€ (5h83Óà8  àI.à0` Ð Ð àWhether€the€lower€court€erred€in€finding€that€it€lacked€jurisdiction€to€reviewÐ ¼  Ða€decision€by€the€administrative€review€unit€of€the€Tennessee€Department€ofÐ ¨ø ÐHuman€Services.Дä` Ð ` Ð  ÐÌà8  àII.à0` Ð Ð àWhether€the€lower€court€erred€in€finding€that€the€Administrative€proceduresÐ l¼ Ðof€the€Tennessee€Department€of€Human€Services€violate€the€constitutionalÐ X ¨ Ðrequirement€of€separation€of€powers.ÐD!”` Ð ` Ð  ÐÌà  àIn€its€first€issue,€the€State€contends€that€the€trial€court€had€jurisdiction€to€review€theÐ #l! Ðadministrative€decision€rendered€by€the€Department€of€Human€Services.€€This€is€a€question€of€lawÐ $X" Ðinvolving€statutory€interpretation.€€We€review€such€questions€of€law€òòò òde€novoó óóó€with€no€presumptionÐ ô$D # Ðof€correctness€afforded€the€lower€courtððs€judgment.€€ò òòòNelson€v.€Wal„Mart€Stores,€Inc.óóó ó,€8€S.W.3d€625,Ð à%0!$ Ð629€(Tenn.€1999).Ð Ì&"% Ðâ âÐ ¸'#& Ðà  àWhen€construing€statutes,€our€primary€goal€is€ð ðto€ascertain€and€give€effect€to€the€intentionÐ ° Ðâ âand€purpose€of€the€legislature.ðð€€ò òòòÔ_ÔLipscombÔ_Ô€v.€Doeóóó ó,€32€S.W.3d€840,€844€(Tenn.€2000)€(quotingÐ œì Ðò òòòÔ_ÔGleavesÔ_Ô€v.€Checker€Cab€Transit€Corp.óóó ó,€15€S.W.3d€799,€802€(Tenn.€2000)).€€Whenever€possible,€theÐ ˆØ Ðintent€of€the€legislature€should€be€determined€by€the€natural€and€ordinary€meaning€of€the€words€usedÐ tÄ Ðin€the€statute,€not€by€a€construction€that€is€forced€or€which€limits€or€extends€the€meaning.€€òòò òId.€óóó ó(citingÐ `° Ðòòò òHawks€v.€City€of€Ô_ÔWestmorelandÔ_Ôó óóó,€960€S.W.2d€10,€16€(Tenn.€1997).€€In€cases€where€the€statutoryÐ L œ Ðlanguage€is€clear€and€unambiguous,€courts€will€ordinarily€apply€the€plain€language€of€the€statute€toÐ 8 ˆ Ðresolve€the€issue.€€ò òòòId.óóó ó€(citing€ò òòòState€v.€Nelsonóóó ó,€23€S.W.3d€270,€271€(Tenn.€2000).€€Finally,€we€will€notÐ $ t Ðconstrue€a€statute€in€a€way€that€leads€to€an€absurd€result.€€ò òòòIn€re€Adoption€of€Ô_ÔHatcherÔ_Ôóóó ó,€16€S.W.3d€792,Ð  ` Ð796€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1999).€€€€ò òòò€óóó ó€Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àPursuant€to€Tennesseeððs€Uniform€Administrative€Procedures€Act,€ð ðproceedings€for€reviewÐ Ô$  Ðare€instituted€by€filing€a€petition€for€review€in€the€chancery€court€of€Davidson€County,€unless€anotherÐ À  Ðcourt€is€specified€by€statute.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€4„5„322(b)(1)€(1998).€€This€same€statutoryÐ ¬ü  Ðprovision€affords€review€for€persons€challenging€a€final€decision€of€the€Department€of€HumanÐ ˜è  ÐServices.€€ò òòòId.óóó ó€€Those€persons€ð ðmay€file€a€petition€for€review€in€the€chancery€court€located€either€inÐ „Ô  Ðthe€county€of€the€official€residence€of€the€commissioner€or€in€the€county€in€which€any€one€(1)€orÐ pÀ Ðmore€of€the€petitioners€reside.ðð€€òòò òId.ó óóó€€Ð \¬ ÐÌà  àSection€36„5„1001€of€the€Tennessee€Code€governs€the€appeal€of€certain€administrativeÐ 4„ Ðactions€by€the€Department.€€This€section€provides€for€appeals€relative€to€child€support€servicesÐ  p Ðinvolving,€among€other€items,€ð ð[Ô_Ôt]heÔ_Ô€enforcement€by€administrative€orders€of€liens€for€child€supportÐ  \ Ðpursuant€to€title€36,€chapter€5,€part€9.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„5„1001(a)(1)(E)€(2001).€€Further,€thisÐ øH Ðsection€requires€these€appeals€to€be€processed€as€provided€by€section€36„5„1003€of€the€TennesseeÐ ä4 ÐCode.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„5„1001(a)(1)€(2001).€€Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àSection€36„5„1003€provides€for€the€judicial€review€of€the€Departmentððs€administrativeÐ ¨ø Ðdecisions€listed€in€section€36„5„1001€of€the€Tennessee€Code.€€This€section€states€thatÐ ”ä Ðð ð[Ô_Ôn]otwithstandingÔ_Ô€any€other€law€to€the€contrary,€the€judicial€review€of€the€administrative€hearingÐ €Ð Ðdecisions€of€the€department€of€human€services€pursuant€to€this€part€shall€be€conducted€by€the€courtÐ l¼ Ðhaving€jurisdiction€of€the€support€order€as€otherwise€provided€by€ðð€4„5„322.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÐ X ¨ Ð36„5„1003(a)€(2001).Ð D!” ÐÌà  àIn€the€present€case,€the€trial€court€focused€on€the€language€in€section€36„5„1003(a)€that€directsÐ #l! Ðthe€reader€to€section€4„5„322€of€the€Tennessee€Code.€€As€section€4„5„322€provides€for€the€jurisdictionÐ $X" Ðand€venue€of€contested€Department€of€Human€Services€cases,€the€court€determined€that€it€mustÐ ô$D # Ðcontrol€the€issue,€not€section€36„5„1003.€€Therefore,€the€court€ruled€that€it€did€not€have€jurisdictionÐ à%0!$ Ðover€this€matter,€because€section€4„5„322€vested€jurisdiction€with€the€ð ðappropriate€chancery€court.ððÐ Ì&"% ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€erred€in€making€this€determination.€€While€section€4„5„322€provides€a€generalÐ ¤(ô#' Ðstatement€regarding€the€proper€court€for€judicial€review€of€administrative€decisions,€that€same€statuteÐ )à$( Ðalso€permits€the€legislature€to€specify€other€courts€for€the€review€of€these€decisions.€€In€enactingÐ |*Ì%) Ðsection€36„5„1003,€the€legislature€specified€another€court€for€the€review€of€certain€administrativeÐ h+¸&* Ðdecisions€made€by€the€Department€regarding€child€support.€€The€mention€of€section€4„5„322€withinÐ ° Ðsection€36„5„1003€served€to€illustrate€the€source€of€the€legislatureððs€authority€to€specify€other€courtsÐ œì Ðto€review€certain€administrative€decisions€of€the€Department.€€Any€other€interpretation€would€leadÐ ˆØ Ðto€illogical€results.€€The€language€employed€by€the€legislature€in€these€statutes€is€clear:€€the€reviewÐ tÄ Ðof€Department€of€Human€Services€decisions€made€pursuant€to€36„5„1001€is€governed€by€36„5„1003,Ð `° Ðwhile€the€review€of€other€administrative€decisions€made€by€the€Department€is€governed€by€sectionÐ L œ Ð4„5„322.€€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àPursuant€to€section€36„5„1003,€these€cases€were€properly€before€the€Ô_ÔHaywoodÔ_Ô€CountyÐ  ` ÐJuvenile€Court.€€The€administrative€orders€issued€by€the€Department€regarded€child€support€servicesÐ ü L  Ðinvolving€an€action€listed€under€section€36„5„1001€of€the€Tennessee€Code.€€The€trial€court€hadÐ è 8  Ðjurisdiction€over€the€original€support€orders.€€Accordingly,€we€hold€that€the€trial€court€erred€inÐ Ô$  Ðtransferring€these€cases€to€chancery€court.Ð À  ÐÌà  àIn€its€second€issue,€the€State€contends€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€finding€the€administrativeÐ ˜è  Ðprocedures€utilized€by€the€Department€unconstitutional.€€We€hold€that€the€trial€court€should€not€haveÐ „Ô  Ðconsidered€the€constitutional€legitimacy€of€the€statute€at€issue€in€these€cases.€€It€is€well„settled€inÐ pÀ ÐTennessee€that€courts€will€only€decide€a€constitutional€question€when€it€is€absolutely€necessary€inÐ \¬ Ðorder€to€properly€resolve€the€case.€€òòò òÔ_ÔDeLaneyÔ_Ô€v.€Thompsonó óóó,€982€S.W.2d€857,€858€(Tenn.€1998).€€InÐ H˜ Ðdetermining€that€the€State€acted€beyond€its€statutory€authority€in€seizing€the€assets€at€issue,€the€courtÐ 4„ Ðwas€readily€able€to€resolve€the€cases€on€Ô_ÔnonconstitutionalÔ_Ô€grounds.€€This€determination€provided€theÐ  p Ðresolution€sought€by€both€Mr.€Jarrett€and€Mr.€Benson,€foreclosing€any€need€for€the€courtððsÐ  \ Ðconstitutional€decision.€€€Therefore,€any€consideration€of€the€constitutional€validity€of€the€statutesÐ øH Ðin€issue€by€the€trial€court€was€improper.Ð ä4 ÐÌà  àAccordingly,€we€reverse€the€decision€of€the€trial€court€regarding€its€lack€of€jurisdiction€toÐ ¼  Ðreview€the€Departmentððs€administrative€ruling,€as€well€as€its€decision€to€transfer€the€matter€toÐ ¨ø Ðchancery€court.€€Further,€we€reverse€the€trial€courtððs€ruling€on€the€constitutionality€of€the€statute.€€Ð ”ä ÐThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€otherwise€affirmed.€€Costs€of€this€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€State€ofÐ €Ð ÐTennessee.Ô#†X©£XXXcõà #ÔÐ l¼ ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð (#x! Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àDAVID€R.€FARMER,€JUDGE