Bills that would authorize the state to seize the gambling earnings of those who owe child support have passed in both chambers of the Mississippi legislature.
After failed attempts to pass similar legislation in recent years, lawmakers are once again taking a stab at the measure, which would direct two state agencies to collaborate on establishing a plan to collect the earnings of those delinquent on child support payments.
House Bill 520 and Senate Bill 2369 were approved in their respective chambers with overwhelming support. The two measures require the Gaming Commission and the Department of Human Services to establish a framework for collecting wages from those who win $2,000 or more at the slot machine or from sports betting. Card and table games, like poker and craps, are excluded from penalty.
The Department of Human Services would be tasked with creating a database showing who owes child support and working with casinos to exchange information. While some concerns were espoused in the House of Representatives over sensitive information, like Social Security numbers, being accessed by casinos, lawmakers assured that only information related to who owes child support would be exchanged.
Lawmakers passed these bills at a time when the concept of paying child support continues to be skirted by a large number of parents. A report from the U.S. Census Bureau found that 30% of American parents owed child support payments were not being compensated, and under half were given the total amount they were entitled to receive.
The House and Senate will now play bill-swap and assess one another’s legislation. If either measure is passed and signed into law by Gov. Tate Reeves, the Gaming Commission and Department of Human Services have until Jan. 1 of next year to set up the parameters of how earnings would be intercepted.