A new law is making the rounds in the Illinois legislature that would serve to “punish” parents failing to pay child support. A recent rally with the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, child support advocates, and representatives from the Attorney General’s office are raising awareness about the need for more protection when it comes to parents receiving child support. Illinois currently has a log of more than $3.1 billion in past due child support orders.
This new law, HB 2843, would add a new garnishment ability for casinos and race tracks, who could actually garnish gambling income from those parents who have back due support. That money, once collected from the gambler, would be turned over to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, ultimately making its way to the parent who is owed.
This new consideration would just be one additional step taken to help reduce the state backlog of payments. Illinois already has several steps in place to encourage parents to make their payments, since the state can withhold professional licensing certifications, sports licenses, and driver’s licenses when a parent is flagged as having back due support. The goal of the advocates who drafted the law is to collect an additional $1 million in support in only the first year that the new policy is active, if approved. There are administrative challenges, however, as to who will be responsible for enforcing this, and what role casinos and race tracks will play in keeping track of who is winning what.
Child support in Illinois is determined by considering several factors, such as which parent will be primarily responsible and the current income level of both parents. Unpaid child support has received an increased level of attention across the country in recent years, since the backlog faced in Illinois mirrors many other states, too. Child support advocates have been aggressively pursuing alternative routes to punish non-paying parents. If you have questions about child support, contact an attorney today to discuss your case.
