N.M. Stat. § 6-24-22
Lien on lottery winnings for debt collected by human
services department [health care authority department]; payment to
department; procedure.
A. The human services department [health care authority department] shall
periodically certify to the authority the names and social security numbers of persons
owing a debt to or collected by the human services department [health care authority
department]. This list shall include individuals that owe child support being collected by
the state's child support enforcement agency pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social
Security Act.
B. Prior to the payment of a lottery prize in excess of six hundred dollars ($600), the
lottery shall check the name of the winner against the list of names and social security
numbers of persons owing a debt to or collected by the human services department
[health care authority department].
C. If the prize winner is on the list of persons owing a debt to or collected by the
agency, the lottery shall make a good-faith attempt to notify the human services
department [health care authority department], and the department then has a lien
against the lottery prize in the amount of the debt owed to or collected by the agency.
The lottery has no liability to the human services department [health care authority
department] or the person on whose behalf the department is collecting the debt if the
lottery fails to match a winner's name to a name on the list or is unable to notify the
department of a match. The department shall provide the lottery with written notice of a
lien promptly within five working days after the lottery notifies the department of a
match.
D. If the lottery prize is to be paid directly by the authority, the amount of the debt
owed to or collected by the human services department [health care authority
department] shall be held by the lottery for a period of ninety days from the lottery's
confirmation of the amount of the debt to allow the department to institute any
necessary administrative seizure proceedings in accordance with Section 27-1-11
NMSA 1978. If an administrative seizure a proceeding is not initiated within the ninety-
day period, the authority shall release the lottery prize payment to the winner.
E. The human services department [health care authority department], in its
discretion, may release or partially release the lien upon written notice to the authority.
F. A lien or administrative seizure established against a lottery prize on behalf of a
child support enforcement case shall take first priority over all other liens established by
the department.
G. A lien under this section is in addition to any other lien created by law.