CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATIONS.

A. Beginning October 1, 1982, any individual filing a new claim for unemployment compensation shall, at the time of filing such claim, disclose whether or not the individual owes child support obligations. If any such individual discloses that he or she owes child support obligations, and is determined to be eligible for unemployment compensation, the Commission shall notify the state or local child support enforcement agency enforcing such obligation that the individual has been determined to be eligible for unemployment compensation.

B. The Commission shall deduct and withhold from any unemployment compensation payable to an individual that owes child support obligations:

(1) the amount specified by the individual to the Commission to be deducted and withheld under this subsection, if neither paragraphs (2) or (3) of this subsection are applicable, or

(2) the amount, if any, determined pursuant to an agreement submitted to the Commission under 42 U.S.C., Section 654(19)(B)(i) by the state or local child support enforcement agency, unless paragraph (3) of this subsection is applicable, or

(3) any amount otherwise required to be so deducted and withheld from such unemployment compensation pursuant to legal process, which shall mean any writ, order, summons or other similar process in the nature of garnishment, which:

(a)is issued by:

(i)a court of competent jurisdiction within any state, territory or possession of the United States,

(ii)a court of competent jurisdiction in any foreign country with which the United States has entered into an agreement which requires the United States to honor such process, or

(iii)an authorized official pursuant to an order of such a court of competent jurisdiction or pursuant to state or local law, and

(b)is directed to, and the purpose of which is to compel, a governmental entity, which holds monies which are otherwise payable to an individual, to make a payment from such monies to another party in order to satisfy a legal obligation of such individual to provide child support.

C. All income withholding orders or other legal process issued to collect child support through a deduction from unemployment benefits and all other documents necessary to complete the deduction shall be served on the appropriate state or local child support enforcement agency and on the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission.

D. Any amount deducted and withheld under subsection B of this section shall be paid by the Commission to the appropriate state or local child support enforcement agency.

E. 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 satisfaction of the individual's child support obligations.

F. For purposes of subsections A through E of this section, the term "unemployment compensation" means any compensation payable under the Employment Security Act of 1980, Section 1-101 of this title, including amounts payable by the Commission pursuant to an agreement under any federal law providing for compensation, assistance or allowances with respect to unemployment.

G. This section applies only if appropriate arrangements have been made for reimbursement by the state or local child support enforcement agency for the administrative costs, as determined by the Commission, incurred by the Commission under this section which are attributable to child support obligations being enforced by the state or local child support enforcement agency.

H. For purposes of this section:

(1) "Child support obligations" means only obligations which are being enforced pursuant to a plan described in 42 U.S.C., Section 654, which has been approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under 42 U.S.C., Section 651 et seq.

(2) "State or local child support enforcement agency" means any agency of a state or a political subdivision thereof, operating pursuant to a plan described in 42 U.S.C., Section 654, which has been approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under 42 U.S.C., Section 651 et seq.

(3) Deductions from unemployment insurance authorized by subsection B of this section in satisfaction of child support obligations are only those obligations defined in paragraph (1) of this subsection, and the recipient of said deductions shall be defined as only a state or local child support enforcement agency operating pursuant to an approved plan described in 42 U.S.C., Section 654 and referenced in paragraph (2) of this subsection.

Added by Laws 1982, c. 304, § 18, operative Oct. 1, 1982. Amended by Laws 1990, c. 235, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1990; Laws 2018, c. 14, § 9, eff. Nov. 1, 2018.