HB-4855 Summary

• Requires the lottery bureau to check Department of Treasury records, unemployment insurance agency records, and Department of Human Services records before paying lottery prizes of $1,000 or more to identify any liabilities owed by the winner.

• Establishes a priority system for applying lottery prize winnings: first to state liabilities (excluding court-assigned debts), then support arrearages, then unemployment compensation debts, then Department of Human Services debts, then assigned court debts, with any remainder paid to the winner.

• Mandates the Department of Treasury provide the lottery bureau with a monthly-updated list or computer access of persons with current state liabilities, including delinquent court accounts and support arrearages.

• Requires lottery winners to receive notice and opportunity for a hearing before the Department of Treasury before prize money is applied to non-finalized liabilities, with 15 days to request a hearing.

• Takes effect 90 days after enactment and adds Department of Human Services debt collection to the existing lottery prize offset program previously limited to state and unemployment liabilities.