IA HF249

Expands existing debt recovery and lien provisions for inappropriately obtained benefits to include the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, in addition to the Department of Health and Human Services

Establishes that liens cannot attach to benefit overpayments caused by department errors; liens only apply to amounts obtained through false, misleading, incomplete, or inaccurate information submitted by the recipient

Requires county recorders to maintain lien indices for debts owed to both the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to refer suspected fraud cases involving disaster assistance programs (sections 29C.20A and 29C.20B) to the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing for review

Allows the state to pursue recovery options including removal from other public assistance programs and garnishment of wages or state income tax refunds for substantiated fraud cases until the fraudulently claimed benefits are fully recovered