HLS 11RS-350 REENGROSSED
Page 1 of 5
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
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 provide certain
educational services within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and to
report to the House and Senate health and welfare committees on service outcomes
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 provide for nutrition4
education; to establish certain reporting requirements for the Department of Children5
and Family Services; and to provide for 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 (FNS) and at the state level by the Louisiana Department17
of Children and Family Services, hereafter referred to as "department".18 HLS 11RS-350 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 194
Page 2 of 5
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
(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 be used only 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 allow states to administer educational services within9
the SNAP program. Such services are known as SNAP Education, and are designed10
to teach food budgeting, proper nutrition, and healthy food choices to SNAP11
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 to15
promote better health and break its historic cycle of generational poverty.16
B. In addition to any SNAP Education services conducted by contractors of17
the department, the department shall provide printed nutrition education resource18
materials directly to the heads of all SNAP beneficiary households. The department19
may develop or utilize materials at its discretion in order to satisfy the provisions of20
this Subsection, provided that such materials include the Core Nutrition Messages,21
or any successor resources, developed by FNS. The department shall provide such22
materials to every head of a SNAP beneficiary household at the following intervals:23
(1) At the first issuance of a SNAP electronic benefits transfer card24
subsequent to the initial determination of eligibility.25
(2) In the first correspondence from the department subsequent to a26
redetermination of eligibility.27
(3) Any interval which the department deems advantageous and feasible.28 HLS 11RS-350 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 194
Page 3 of 5
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
C. The SNAP Education program of this state and all subcontractors and1
affiliates of such program shall utilize the Core Nutrition Messages, or any successor2
resources, developed by FNS.3
D. On or before March first annually, the department shall submit to the4
House Committee on Health and Welfare and the Senate Committee on Health and5
Welfare a comprehensive report on the SNAP Education program. The report shall6
include but not be limited to the following items:7
(1) Analysis and commentary on major health challenges faced by low-8
income Louisiana families.9
(2) Data on SNAP Education participants, including a description of the10
ideal target population, actual number of participants served, geographic distribution11
of participants, and participant demographics.12
(3) A description of program operations, including details on selection of13
participants, service delivery, and activities conducted by all SNAP Education14
program contractors and subcontractors.15
(4) Analysis of program outcomes and other significant impacts to SNAP16
Education service recipients.17
(5) Public policy recommendations for enhancing the SNAP Education18
program and for supporting better health and nutrition generally among low-income19
families of this state.20
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. HLS 11RS-350 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 194
Page 4 of 5
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Proposed law provides that in addition to any SNAP Education services conducted by
contractors of DCFS, the department shall provide printed nutrition education resource
materials directly to the heads of all SNAP beneficiary households at the following intervals:
(1)At the first issuance of a SNAP electronic benefits transfer card subsequent to the
initial determination of eligibility.
(2)In the first correspondence from the department subsequent to a redetermination of
eligibility.
(3)Any interval which the department deems advantageous and feasible.
Proposed law provides that DCFS may develop or utilize materials at its discretion in order
to satisfy the requirement of proposed law that the agency provide printed nutrition
education resource materials to the heads of SNAP beneficiary households.
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 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)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to the
original bill.
1. Changed language in two Paragraphs of the legislative findings Subsection.
2. Added a requirement that in addition to any SNAP Education services conducted
by contractors of DCFS, the department also provide printed nutrition education
resource materials directly to the heads of all SNAP beneficiary households at
the following intervals:
(1)At the first issuance of a SNAP electronic benefits transfer card
subsequent to the initial determination of eligibility.
(2)In the first correspondence from the department subsequent to a
redetermination of eligibility. HLS 11RS-350 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 194
Page 5 of 5
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
(3)Any interval which the department deems advantageous and feasible.
3. Deleted provision that the report on SNAP Education required by proposed law
address knowledge gain and behavior change among program participants.
4. Made technical change.