Refer Chicago Tribune
The Tribune’s story on proposed legislation that would require casinos to check on 
whether big winners owe past due child support (“As others head off deadbeats at casinos, Illinois stands pat” Oct. 04) did not accurately convey the position of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. The story stated that the department’s stance contributed to the proposal being “stopped cold.” In fact, the department agreed with the intent of the legislation but wanted to work with the sponsor to craft a bill that could be implemented efficiently and in compliance with the federal and state child-support laws that it operates under. These concerns were not an insurmountable obstacle to passage of the proposal.
The department has taken a number of steps in recent years to increase payment pressure on non-custodial parents who fail to meet their obligations. One of these measures, working with the Secretary of State’s Office to block driver’s license renewals for parents who owe past due support, has yielded more than $230 million in past due support alone. We have also worked with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to block the issuing of hunting and fishing licenses for those with past due support.
We have teamed up with the Illinois Lottery to seize winnings from those with past due obligations. We have also partnered with the Federal government to prevent new passports from being issued to those with past due child support.
These efforts to support children and families have been recognized at the national level: In 2010 the National Child Support Enforcement Association awarded Illinois Outstanding Program of the Year.
In order to implement a system to intercept winnings at casinos, and even race tracks, the department would have to work closely with the casino and race track industries to create a secure, accurate database that could be accessible to the appropriate personnel on a 24/7 basis. We would also need to design a mechanism to transmit the funds to the department so that they can be passed on promptly to the families to which they are due.
Such a system would require more work on the part of the department and the gambling industry, but it would be well worth it if it enables us to recover a greater percentage of the money that children and families are legally owed and depend on for their daily needs. We continue to support a legislative solution to this issue, and look forward to working with all stakeholders to assist children and families across Illinois.
Steven W. Hair, focuses his practice as a divorce attorney, family law attorney in Clearwater, Palm Harbor, and Safety Harbor.
For more information, visit our website at www.FamilyLawClearwater.com
or call (727) 726-0797.