AI-assisted research summary: Claimant agencies may send debt lists to the department, which must withhold covered lottery winnings and notify winners, while the shared information stays confidential.
1. Any claimant agency may submit to the department a list of the names of all persons indebted to such claimant agency or to persons on whose behalf the claimant agency is acting. The full amount of the debt shall be collectible from any lottery winnings due the debtor without regard to limitations on the amounts that may be collectible in increments through garnishment or other proceedings. Such list shall constitute a valid lien upon and claim of lien against the lottery winnings of any debtor named in such list. The list shall contain the names of the debtors, their social security numbers if available, and any other information that assists the department in identifying the debtors named in the list. 2. The department is authorized and directed to withhold any winnings paid out directly by the department subject to the lien created by this section and send notice to the winner. However, if the winner appears and claims winnings in person, the department shall notify the winner at that time by hand delivery of such action. The department shall pay the funds over to the agency administering the offset program. 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 99G.34 which prohibit disclosure by the department of certain portions of the contents of prize winner records or information, and notwithstanding any other confidentiality statute, the department may provide to a claimant agency all information necessary to accomplish and effectuate the intent of this section. 4. The information obtained by a claimant agency from the department in accordance with this section shall retain its confidentiality and shall only be used by a claimant agency in the pursuit of its debt collection duties and practices. Any employee or prior employee of any claimant agency who unlawfully discloses any such information for any other purpose, except as otherwise specifically authorized by law, shall be subject to the same penalties specified by law for unauthorized disclosure of confidential information by an agent or employee of the department under this chapter. 5. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, attachments, garnishments, or executions authorized and issued pursuant to law shall be withheld if timely served upon the department. 6. The provisions of this section shall only apply to prizes paid directly by the department and shall not apply to any retailers authorized by the department to pay prizes of up to six hundred dollars after deducting the price of the ticket or share. 2003 Acts, ch 178, §94, 121; 2003 Acts, ch 179, §142; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §2348 Referred to in §99G.36