HB 5511 Summary

• Amends the Revised Judicature Act to modify procedures for collecting judgments and claims against the state, with effectiveness date of January 1, 2016.

• Requires the Court of Claims to specify in judgments which state department, commission, board, institution, or agency must pay the judgment from its appropriation.

• Establishes a process where the state treasurer first attempts to pay from the defendant agency's unencumbered appropriation, then issues vouchers against legislative judgment claim appropriations if funds are insufficient.

• Requires plaintiffs and claimants to provide identifying information to the state defendant for treasury department purposes, with procedures for checking tax liabilities and other debts owed to the state.

• Mandates the Department of Treasury apply judgment amounts in priority order: tax liabilities to the state first, then other state liabilities, then support obligations, garnishments, IRS levies, and unemployment insurance repayments.