(1) Any state agency or political subdivision that maintains records of debts owed to the state or political subdivision, or that the state is authorized to enforce or collect, may submit data processing tapes containing debt information to the lottery in a format specified by the lottery. State agencies or political subdivisions submitting debt information tapes shall provide updates on a regular basis at intervals not to exceed one month and shall be solely responsible for the accuracy of the information contained therein.

(2) The lottery shall include the debt information submitted by state agencies or political subdivisions in its validation and prize payment process. The lottery shall delay payment of a prize exceeding six hundred dollars for a period not to exceed two working days, to any person owing a debt to a state agency or political subdivision pursuant to the information submitted in subsection (1) of this section. The lottery shall contact the state agency or political subdivision that provided the information to verify the debt. The prize shall be paid to the claimant if the debt is not verified by the submitting state agency or political subdivision within two working days. If the debt is verified, the prize shall be disbursed pursuant to subsection (3) of this section.

(3) Prior to disbursement, any lottery prize exceeding six hundred dollars shall be set off against any debts owed by the prize winner to a state agency or political subdivision, or that the state is authorized to enforce or collect.

Policy—1986 c 83: “The award of prizes by the state lottery is one of many functions of the state government. As such, the lottery prizes should be subject to debts owed to the state or that the state is authorized to enforce or collect. This policy expedites collections of obligations through interagency cooperation.” [ 1986 c 83 § 1.]

Effective date—1986 c 83: “This act shall take effect September 1, 1986.” [ 1986 c 83 § 3.]