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Regular Session, 2011
HOUSE BILL NO. 194
BY REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
HEALTH: Requires the Dept. of Children and Family Services to report to the House and
Senate health and welfare committees on educational services provided within the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
AN ACT1
To enact Subpart A-1 of Part II of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes2
of 1950, to be comprised of R.S. 46:236.1, relative to the Supplemental Nutrition3
Assistance Program; to provide for legislative findings; to establish certain reporting4
requirements for the Department of Children and Family Services; and to provide for5
related matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. Subpart A-1 of Part II of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised8
Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 46:236.1, is hereby enacted to read as follows:9
SUBPART A-1. NUTRITION ASSISTANCE10
ยง236.1. Legislative findings; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program11
educational component; reporting requirements12
A. The legislature finds and declares the following:13
(1) The program still commonly known as "food stamps" was renamed the14
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in October 2008. SNAP is15
administered at the federal level by the United States Department of Agriculture16
Food and Nutrition Service and at the state level by the Louisiana Department of17
Children and Family Services, hereafter referred to as "department".18 HLS 11RS-350 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 194
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(2) SNAP is the cornerstone of the federal food assistance programs and1
provides crucial support to needy households and to those making the transition from2
welfare to work.3
(3) By federal policy, SNAP benefits may only be used for the purchase of4
nonalcoholic beverages and food which is not hot at the point of sale and may not be5
used to purchase any nonfood items.6
(4) The population of Louisiana has historically encompassed one of the7
highest proportions of SNAP recipients in the nation.8
(5) Federal regulations require states to administer educational services9
within the SNAP program. Such services are known as SNAP Education, and are10
designed to teach food budgeting, proper nutrition, and healthy food choices to11
SNAP recipients.12
(6) It is the public policy of this state to support basic health, human welfare,13
education, and self-sufficiency among its most vulnerable citizens. Effective14
educational efforts, including nutrition education, are necessary for this state to break15
its historic cycle of generational poverty.16
B. On or before March first annually, the department shall submit to the17
House Committee on Health and Welfare and the Senate Committee on Health and18
Welfare a comprehensive report on the SNAP Education program. The report shall19
include but not be limited to the following items:20
(1) Analysis and commentary on major health challenges faced by low-21
income Louisiana families.22
(2) Data on SNAP Education participants, including a description of the23
ideal target population, actual number of participants served, geographic distribution24
of participants, and participant demographics.25
(3) A description of program operations, including details on selection of26
participants, service delivery, and activities conducted by all SNAP Education27
program contractors and subcontractors.28 HLS 11RS-350 ORIGINAL
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(4) Analysis of program outcomes, including knowledge gain and behavior1
change among participants and other significant impacts to SNAP Education service2
recipients.3
(5) Public policy recommendations for enhancing the SNAP Education4
program and for supporting better health and nutrition generally among low-income5
families of this state.6
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Williams HB No. 194
Abstract: Requires the Dept. of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to report to the
House and Senate health and welfare committees on educational services provided
within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Proposed law provides legislative findings regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP), which is still commonly known as "food stamps"; and the SNAP
Education program, which provides nutrition education services to low-income families
receiving SNAP benefits.
Proposed law requires DCFS to submit a report on the SNAP Education program to the
House and Senate Health and Welfare committees by March 1 annually, which shall include
but not be limited to the following items:
(1)Analysis and commentary on major health challenges faced by low-income La.
families.
(2)Data on SNAP Education participants, including a description of the ideal target
population, actual number of participants served, geographic distribution of
participants, and participant demographics.
(3)A description of program operations, including details on selection of participants,
service delivery, and activities conducted by all SNAP Education program
contractors and subcontractors.
(4)Analysis of program outcomes, including knowledge gain and behavior change
among participants and other significant impacts to SNAP Education service
recipients.
(5)Public policy recommendations for enhancing the SNAP Education program and for
supporting better health and nutrition generally among low-income families of this
state.
(Adds R.S. 46:236.1)