STATEHOUSE (March 4, 2010) - State Sen. Richard Bray’s measure to aid the state in collecting a portion of the more than $2 billion in unpaid child support bills now moves to the governor’s desk after Senate lawmakers agreed with House members on the legislation’s final language.

Bray (R-Martinsville) said Senate Bill 163 would require casinos to withhold winnings from parents who ignore their court-ordered child support obligations.

According to the Indiana Department of Child Services, more than 165,000 non-custodial parents owe more than $2,000 each in unpaid child support bills.

“Parents have responsibilities to provide and care for their children,” Bray said. “The intent of this bill is to hold parents accountable and collect late payments for families and children who need the money for day to day necessities.”

If the governor approves Senate Bill 163, parents who win more than $1,200 at Indiana casinos would have their names checked in a database containing information on parents who owe child support. If their name appears in the system, the amount they owe in child support payments would be withdrawn from their winnings.

Additionally, Bray said SB 163 increases the use of wage withholdings, possible suspension of certain state issued licenses and provides tools to locate run away non-paying parents. 

More than $600,000 in gambling winnings has been collected since lawmakers in Colorado implemented a similar system last year, Bray said.

In his State of the State address this year, Gov. Mitch Daniels endorsed Bray’s bill because he believed it would improve the current system of child support collection in Indiana.

“We need new tools to make further headway,” Daniels said in his annual address. “For instance, allow us to see that a delinquent father who wins money in one of our casinos shares some of the take with his children. Every percent of child support improvement sends $7 million directly into the pockets of some of our neediest households.”

Sen. Bray represents Senate District 37, which includes Morgan, Putnam, Owen, Clay, Johnson and Monroe Counties.