§1693. Assignment of benefits; exemption of benefits from levy or execution; deduction for support; deduction for overissuance of food stamps

A. No assignment, pledge, or encumbrance of any right to benefits which are or may become due or payable under this Chapter shall be valid, and such rights to benefits shall be exempt from levy, execution, attachment, except as provided in Subsection B and Subsection I of this Section, or any other remedy prescribed for the collection of debt. Benefits received by an individual, so long as they are not mingled with other funds of the recipient, shall be exempt from any remedy for the collection of all debts, except debts incurred for necessaries furnished to such individual or to his spouse or dependents during the time such individual was unemployed. No waiver of any exemption provided for in this Section shall be valid.

B. The administrator shall deduct and withhold from any unemployment compensation payable to an individual who owes support obligations as defined under Subsection G of this Section:

(1) The amount specified by the individual to the administrator to be deducted and withheld under this Subsection, if neither Paragraph (2) nor (3) of this Subsection is applicable, or

(2) The amount, if any, determined pursuant to an agreement submitted to the administrator under 42 U.S.C. §654, by the state or local child support enforcement agency, unless Paragraph (3) of this Subsection is applicable, or

(3) Any amount required to be deducted and withheld from such unemployment compensation pursuant to legal process, as that term is defined in 42 U.S.C. 659(i)(5), properly served upon the administrator.

C. Any amount deducted and withheld under Subsection B of this Section shall be paid by the administrator to the appropriate state or local child support enforcement agency in an income assignment order issued pursuant to R.S. 46:236.3 or 46:236.4.

D. Any amount deducted and withheld under Subsection B of this Section shall for all purposes be treated as if it were paid to the individual as unemployment compensation and paid by such individual to the state or local child support enforcement agency in an income assignment order issued pursuant to R.S. 46:236.3 or 46:236.4 in satisfaction of the individual's support obligations.

E. For purposes of Subsections A through D of this Section, the term "unemployment compensation" means any compensation payable under this Act, including amounts payable by the administrator pursuant to an agreement under any federal law providing for compensation, assistance, or allowances with respect to unemployment.

F. Subsection B (1) and (2) of this Section shall apply only if appropriate arrangements have been made either for reimbursement by the state or local child support enforcement agency for the administrative costs incurred by the administrator under this Section which costs are attributable to support obligations being enforced by the state or local child support enforcement agency or for compensation for administrative costs pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 46:236.3.

G. The term " support obligations" is defined, for purposes of this Section, as including only obligations which are being enforced pursuant to a plan described in 42 U.S.C. §654 which has been approved by the secretary of Health and Human Services under Part D of Title IV of the Social Security Act.

H. The term "state or local child support enforcement agency" as used in this Section means any agency of this state or a political subdivision thereof operating pursuant to a plan described in Subsection G of this Section.

I.(1) Upon and subject to implementation by the United States Department of Agriculture and agreement with the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services for and on behalf of the state food stamp program, the administrator of the office of employment security shall develop the procedure for reimbursement of all related administrative costs of any and all performed activities by the office of employment security under this Subsection attributable to the repayment of uncollected overissuance of food stamp allotments:

(a) An individual filing a new claim in the state for unemployment compensation shall, at the time of filing such claim, disclose whether he owes an uncollected overissuance of food stamp coupons, as defined in Section 13(c)(1) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, 7 U.S.C. 2022(c)(1). The administrator shall notify the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, or its designated office, of any individual who discloses that he owes any food stamp overissuance and who is determined to be eligible and qualified for unemployment compensation.

(b) The administrator shall deduct and withhold from any unemployment compensation payable to an individual who owes an uncollected overissuance of food stamps:

(i) Any amount specified by the individual to the administrator to be deducted and withheld under this Subsection if the administrator also receives confirmation from the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services that there has been an enforceable determination of overissuance.

(ii) Any amount determined pursuant to an agreement, if any, between the individual and the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services under Section 13(c)(3)(A) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, 7 U.S.C. 2022(c)(3)(A).

(iii) Any amount otherwise required to be deducted and withheld under an enforceable court order or garnishment pursuant to Section 13(c)(3)(B) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, 7 U.S.C. 2022 (c)(3)(B).

(2) Any amount deducted and withheld under this Subsection shall be paid by the administrator to the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, or its designated office.

(3) Any amount deducted and withheld from payable benefits under this Subsection shall for all purposes be treated as if it were paid to the individual as unemployment compensation and paid by such individual to the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services as repayment of the uncollected overissuance of food stamp allotments.

(4) For purposes of this Subsection, the term "unemployment compensation" means any unemployment benefits payable under this Chapter, including amounts payable by the administrator pursuant to any agreement under any federal law providing for compensation, assistance, or allowances with respect to unemployment.

Amended by Acts 1982, No. 500, §1, eff. July 22, 1982; Acts 1986, No. 795, §1; Acts 1997, No. 912, §1, eff. July 10, 1997; Acts 1997, No. 1172, §4, eff. June 30, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 117, §1, eff. June 9, 1999.