ENROLLED
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ACT No. 258
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.
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
(2) SNAP is the cornerstone of the federal food assistance programs and19
provides crucial support to needy households and to those making the transition from20
welfare to work.21
(3) By federal policy, SNAP benefits may be used only for the purchase of22
nonalcoholic beverages and food which is not hot at the point of sale and may not be23
used to purchase any nonfood items.24 ENROLLEDHB NO. 194
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(4) The population of Louisiana has historically encompassed one of the1
highest proportions of SNAP recipients in the nation.2
(5) Federal regulations allow states to administer educational services within3
the SNAP program. Such services are known as SNAP Education, and are designed4
to teach food budgeting, proper nutrition, and healthy food choices to SNAP5
recipients.6
(6) It is the public policy of this state to support basic health, human welfare,7
education, and self-sufficiency among its most vulnerable citizens. Effective8
educational efforts, including nutrition education, are necessary for this state to9
promote better health and break its historic cycle of generational poverty.10
B. In addition to any SNAP Education services conducted by contractors of11
the department, the department shall provide printed nutrition education resource12
materials directly to the heads of all SNAP beneficiary households. The department13
may develop or utilize materials at its discretion in order to satisfy the provisions of14
this Subsection, provided that such materials include the Core Nutrition Messages,15
or any successor resources, developed by FNS. The department shall provide such16
materials to every head of a SNAP beneficiary household at the following intervals:17
(1) At the first issuance of a SNAP electronic benefits transfer card18
subsequent to the initial determination of eligibility.19
(2) In the first correspondence from the department subsequent to a20
redetermination of eligibility.21
(3) Any interval which the department deems advantageous and feasible.22
C. The SNAP Education program of this state and all subcontractors and23
affiliates of such program shall utilize the Core Nutrition Messages, or any successor24
resources, developed by FNS.25
D. On or before March first annually, the department shall submit to the26
House Committee on Health and Welfare and the Senate Committee on Health and27
Welfare a comprehensive report on the SNAP Education program. The report shall28
include but not be limited to the following items:29 ENROLLEDHB NO. 194
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(1) Analysis and commentary on major health challenges faced by low-1
income Louisiana families.2
(2) Data on SNAP Education participants, including a description of the3
ideal target population, actual number of participants served, geographic distribution4
of participants, and participant demographics.5
(3) A description of program operations, including details on selection of6
participants, service delivery, and activities conducted by all SNAP Education7
program contractors and subcontractors.8
(4) Analysis of program outcomes and other significant impacts to SNAP9
Education service recipients.10
(5) Public policy recommendations for enhancing the SNAP Education11
program and for supporting better health and nutrition generally among low-income12
families of this state.13
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED: