(a) If a judge requires a defendant to make restitution to a victim of the defendant's offense, and a restitution payment is received by a department from the defendant for transmittal to a victim of the offense, the department shall immediately deposit the payment in an interest-bearing account in the county treasury as required by Section 140.003(f), Local Government Code.
(b) If a department receives an initial restitution payment, the department shall immediately notify the victim by certified mail, mailed to the last known address of the victim, that the restitution payment has been received and shall inform the victim of how a claim for payment of restitution can be made.
(b-1) If a victim makes a claim for payment of restitution with the department, the department shall promptly remit to the victim all restitution payments received by the department from the defendant for transmittal to the victim.