Kahn announces legislative package targeting deadbeat parents Casino winnings to be seized in Michigan, other seizures strengthened

Thursday, September 11, 2008

The notification process for seizing child support payments from deadbeat parents would be strengthened under legislation introduced today by Sen. Roger Kahn.

Senate Bill 1501 allows recipients of child support and the Friend of the Court to be notified when a child support payer is due to receive property, including money. Notification would come from the person owing child support, that person's attorney or the entity awarding property to that person.

"Notifying child support recipients and the Friend of the Court of any monetary acquisition that a deadbeat parent is to receive will speed collection of the money that is owed," said Kahn, R-Saginaw Township.

A second bill, SB 1502, sponsored by Sen. Jud Gilbert, R-Algonac, would allow the casino winnings of deadbeat parents to be used to pay child support. Casinos would check to see if the winner currently owes child support. If so, the casino would apply the winnings first to the debt and pay any difference to the individual.

"If a person is already gambling away money that should go to their children, we should take every step to ensure the winnings are captured to pay support," Kahn said.