Mississippi House Bill HB1083

Mississippi 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/16/23
• Refer: 1/16/23
• Failed: 1/31/23

Caption

Child support; authorize DHS and Gaming Commission to collect from gaming winnings.

Impact

The bill modifies existing legal frameworks by establishing procedures through which the Mississippi Gaming Commission can seize gaming winnings from individuals who owe past-due child support. This amendment applies not only to gaming winnings from slot machines but also includes progressive slot machine annuities. Additionally, the bill outlines that the commission must prescribe the manner of collection and that appropriate information-sharing processes between the gaming entities and the Department of Human Services must be implemented. This could significantly streamline collections for child support and ensure financial stability for children relying on these payments.

Summary

House Bill 1083 is designed to enhance the enforcement of child support obligations in Mississippi by allowing the Mississippi Gaming Commission and the Department of Human Services to intercept gaming winnings for parents who are behind on their child support. This legislation declares as public policy that children suffer when a parent diverts financial resources intended for child support to gaming activities. The bill amends multiple sections of the Mississippi Code to facilitate these measures, emphasizing the necessity of regulations that ensure gaming winnings are directed toward fulfilling child support arrearages.

Contention

Notably, while the intent of HB 1083 is to materially assist children in receiving owed support, it raises questions about the effectiveness and fairness of using gaming winnings as a means of enforcement. Critics may argue that this approach could disproportionately affect low-income families and might introduce complexities regarding the identification of the correct recipients of these funds. Furthermore, the legislation attempts to implement a systematic method for contesting the interception of winnings, which may present challenges for individuals misidentified as being in arrears. The bill's implementation will require monitoring to address these potential issues proactively.