House Bill 1046 Summary

• Declares as public policy that children are adversely affected when parents with outstanding child support obligations divert funds to gaming, and that gaming winnings should be applied to child support debts.

• Requires the Mississippi Gaming Commission to promulgate rules for withholding progressive slot machine annuities and cash gaming winnings from persons with outstanding child support arrearages before payment is made.

• Authorizes gaming licensees to deduct child support arrearages from gaming winnings and forward the deducted amount to the Department of Human Services Division of Child Support Enforcement within seven days, with a maximum administrative fee of $35.00 per payment.

• Allows gaming entities to release encumbered winnings to the obligee after either a 20-day period or upon resolution of the overdue child support dispute, with appeal grounds limited to mistakes of identity or amount of overdue support.

• Amends child support collection statutes to explicitly include gaming winnings and slot machine annuities as assets subject to interception or seizure for all child support owed, including arrears.