Senate approves Kahns legislation strengthening collection of child support payments
Thursday, November 13, 2008
LANSING - Parents with child support obligations must report any property or money they expect to receive, and individuals behind on payments would forfeit casino winnings of $1,000 or more under legislation approved today by the Michigan Senate.
Senate Bill 1501, sponsored by Sen. Roger Kahn, would require individuals owing child support to notify the parent receiving support and the Michigan Department of Human Services if they anticipate receiving property, including money.
“Parents should be required by law to provide notice of any money they will receive in addition to their regular paychecks,” said Kahn, R-Saginaw Township. “Ultimately, this will help increase the collection of support payments for our kids.”
A second bill supported by Kahn, SB 1502, sponsored by Sen. Jud Gilbert, R-Algonac, would require licensed casinos to determine whether an individual is behind on child support payments before paying $1,000 or more in winnings. If the individual is behind in payments the casino would apply the winnings first to the child support debt and pay any difference to the individual.
“Both of these measures are common sense pieces of legislation,” Kahn said. “People behind on child support payments should be held accountable whether their earnings come from employment or gambling winnings. It’s the very least we can do for our children.”
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