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Office of Debt Recovery

Partner with the Louisiana Office of Debt Recovery

The Louisiana Office of Debt Recovery partners with governmental entities across Louisiana to recover delinquent debt efficiently, lawfully, and cost-effectively.

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Whether your agency is exploring participation or already referring debt, this resource center provides everything you need—from determining debt eligibility to onboarding, referrals, reporting, and ongoing program support.

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Why Partner with ODR?

ODR serves as Louisiana's centralized governmental debt collection program.

Partnering with ODR provides:

  • No upfront cost to participate
  • Centralized statewide debt collection
  • Multiple statutory collection tools
  • Structured payment plans
  • Monthly payment distributions
  • Detailed reporting
  • Reduced administrative workload
  • Dedicated onboarding and agency support

ODR by the Numbers

Current Office of Debt Recovery program statistics.
Program Statistic Current
Collected Since Program Inception $573 Million+
Participating Governmental Entities 183
Active Debt Inventory $555.7 Million
Active Accounts Managed 1 Million+
Payment Distributions Monthly
Upfront Cost to Participate No Upfront Cost

Who Can Participate?

ODR partners with eligible governmental entities, including:

  • State agencies
  • Boards and commissions
  • Public colleges and universities
  • Parish governments
  • Municipal governments
  • Courts
  • Clerks of Court
  • Sheriffs
  • District Attorneys
  • Political subdivisions
  • Other governmental entities authorized by law

Debt Eligibility & Finality

One of the most common questions agencies ask is:

When is my debt eligible for referral to ODR?

Before a debt may be referred, it generally must be:

  1. Legally collectible
  2. Final
  3. Delinquent
  4. Authenticated

Understanding these requirements ensures referrals comply with Louisiana law and helps prevent delays.

Understanding the Law

Debt

Any legally collectible liquidated sum due and owing an agency, or due a person and collectible by an agency, or a properly certified judgment, court order, or bond forfeiture ordering payment of a fine or penalty.

This includes principal plus accruing interest, fees, and penalties where appropriate.

Reference: R.S. 47:1676(B)(3)

Final

The amount due is no longer negotiable, and the debtor has no further right of administrative or judicial review.

Reference: R.S. 47:1676(B)(6)

Delinquent Debt

A final debt that is 60 days or more past due.

Reference: R.S. 47:1676(B)(4)

Authenticated

The referring agency has certified:

  • The amount of the debt
  • The debtor's liability
  • The debtor's identifying information, including:
    • Name
    • Address
    • Telephone number
    • Taxpayer or Social Security identification number

Debt must be authenticated before referral.

Reference: R.S. 47:1676(B)(2) and R.S. 47:1676(C)(2)(a)(i)

Non-Final Delinquent Debt

A non-final delinquent debt is a debt that:

  • The agency has informed the debtor is owed
  • Has remained unpaid for 60 days or more
  • Is not final because the debtor still has administrative or judicial review rights to challenge the validity or amount

Non-final delinquent debts are referred to the Attorney General, not ODR.

Reference: R.S. 47:1676(B)(7)

Is Your Debt Ready?

Use the following checklist to help determine whether a debt may be ready for referral:

  1. Legally collectible
  2. Amount established
  3. Required notices sent
  4. Appeal rights exhausted
  5. 60 days delinquent
  6. Authenticated

If every box is checked, your debt may be ready for referral.

Common Misconceptions

Every debt must go to court.

No.

Many governmental debts become final through an administrative process.

ODR decides whether my debt is final.

No.

The referring agency makes that determination.

A missed payment makes a debt delinquent.

Not for ODR referral purposes.

The debt must be final and at least 60 days past due.

We cannot participate because we have no appeals process.

Not necessarily.

Louisiana law provides a statutory notice procedure that agencies may use to establish finality.

Once debt is referred, our agency is finished.

No.

Agencies continue to:

  • Update balances
  • Report direct payments
  • Answer questions about the validity of debts
  • Request recalls when necessary

How the Referral Process Works

  1. Contact ODR
  2. Execute the Agency Participation Agreement
  3. Determine debt eligibility
  4. Complete technical onboarding
  5. Test the placement file
  6. Submit the production file
  7. ODR begins collection
  8. Receive monthly payment distributions

Collection Tools

ODR may use collection tools authorized by Louisiana law, including:

  • Tax refund offsets
  • Wage garnishments
  • Bank levies
  • Financial Institution Data Match (FIDM)
  • Payment plans
  • License programs (where authorized)
  • Other statutory remedies

Becoming an ODR Partner

New Agency Roadmap

  1. Contact Agency Relations
  2. Review debt eligibility
  3. Execute the Agency Participation Agreement
  4. Receive placement file specifications
  5. Complete file testing
  6. Submit the agency's first placement
  7. Begin receiving monthly reports and distributions

Agency Participation Agreement

Before referring debt to ODR, an eligible governmental entity must execute an Agency Participation Agreement.

The agreement establishes the responsibilities of ODR and the referring agency, including requirements related to:

  • Debt eligibility
  • Debt authentication
  • Placement and account updates
  • Direct payments
  • Reporting
  • Payment distributions
  • Account recalls

The Agency Relations Team can help your organization review and complete the agreement.

Placement File Requirements

After the Agency Participation Agreement has been completed, ODR will provide the technical specifications needed to submit debt placements.

The onboarding process generally includes:

  1. Receiving the placement file specifications and file layout
  2. Preparing the required debtor and account information
  3. Submitting a test placement file
  4. Reviewing and correcting any file errors
  5. Receiving approval to submit a production file
  6. Establishing procedures for future updates and reporting

Debt records should be complete, accurate, and authenticated before they are submitted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every debt require a court judgment?

No. Many governmental debts become final through an administrative process.

Who determines finality?

The referring agency is responsible for determining whether a debt is final and eligible for referral.

What if my debt is still being appealed?

A debt generally should not be referred to ODR while the debtor still has administrative or judicial review rights.

What if my agency has no appeal process?

Louisiana law may provide a statutory notice procedure that can be used to establish finality.

How are payments distributed?

Payments are distributed to participating agencies monthly at the end of the month following the payment date in accordance with the Agency Participation Agreement.

Can we recall debt?

Agencies may request that an account be recalled when appropriate.

How do we update balances?

Participating agencies must provide ODR with updated account balances and report payments received directly by the agency.

Who handles disputes?

The referring agency remains responsible for questions or disputes concerning the validity and amount of the original debt.

Contact Agency Relations

Need Assistance?

Whether you are exploring participation or preparing your first referral, the ODR Agency Relations Team is available to help.

For assistance, email the Office of Debt Recovery (ODR) at ODR.AgencyRelations@LA.GOV.

The team can assist with:

  • Determining debt eligibility
  • Understanding statutory referral requirements
  • Completing Agency Participation Agreements
  • Technical onboarding
  • Placement file testing
  • Reporting
  • General program support