Mississippi House Bill HB1082

Mississippi 2023 Regular Session

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

Caption

Child support; require insurers to provide MDHS certain information for noncustodial, delinquent parents.

Impact

The enactment of HB 1082 will facilitate a more effective system for enforcing child support laws by allowing MDHS to withhold claim payments to noncustodial parents who owe back support. This approach is expected to enhance compliance with child support obligations and ultimately benefit children who rely on such support. Additionally, the bill also aims to create a secure electronic process for data exchange to streamline these operations, potentially increasing the efficiency of child support enforcement within the state.

Summary

House Bill 1082 introduces a mandate for insurers in Mississippi to communicate specific financial information to the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) concerning noncustodial parents who are delinquent in child support. The bill stipulates that insurers are required to verify whether claimants owe child support debt before issuing claim payments of $500 or more. The exchange of information between insurers and MDHS must occur within five days after a claim is opened, which establishes a new process for identifying and enforcing child support obligations in the state.

Contention

Despite its goals, the bill has garnered criticism regarding privacy and the operational burden placed on insurers. Concerns have been raised about the potential consequences for claimants whose payments are withheld while the MDHS processes these claims and how the information will be safeguarded during this exchange. Furthermore, there could be pushback from insurers regarding the administrative challenges of adhering to the new requirements, including transparency in communication to claim holders about the sanctioning of their claim due to child support obligations.