Louisiana using new sources to collect child support

Casino winnings, tax refunds and Gulf oil leak settlements are helping state government in Louisiana collect child support.

“Casino intercepts are just one tool used to collect the more than $1.2 billion in unpaid child support (that) is owed by parents in LA,” Suzy Sonnier, secretary of the state Department of Children and Family Services tweeted Monday.

The state intercepted:

• $43.7 million in state and federal tax refunds in 2012.
• $8.4 million from settlements tied to the 2010 BP oil leak.
• Nearly $850,000 since September 2011 from casino winnings.

At the same time, the state’s backlog in unpaid child support remains largely stagnant as parents fail to keep current on their payments.

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