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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE BILL NO. 156
BY REPRESENTATIVE SIMON
HEALTH: Provides for requirements of educational services within the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 46:236.1(C) and (D)(4) and (5) and to enact R.S. 46:236.1(A)(7)2
and (D)(6), relative to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program educational3
component; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for requirements of4
nutrition education services; to provide for reporting requirements of the Department5
of Children and Family Services; and to provide for related matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. R.S. 46:236.1(C) and (D)(4) and (5) are hereby amended and reenacted8
and R.S. 46:236.1(A)(7) and (D)(6) are hereby enacted to read as follows: 9
ยง236.1. Legislative findings; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program10
educational component; reporting requirements11
A. The legislature finds and declares the following:12
* * *13
(7) A nurturing family affords a child his best opportunity to enjoy lifelong14
health and well-being. Therefore, any program which promotes better health for15
children must encourage family strengthening and greater parental involvement in16
the lives of their children if the program is to fulfill its purpose.17
* * *18
C. The In administering the SNAP Education program of this state, the19
department and all subcontractors and affiliates of such program shall:20 HLS 12RS-775 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 156
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(1) utilize Utilize the Core Nutrition Messages, or any successor resources,1
developed by FNS.2
(2) Coordinate outreach and educational efforts to the greatest possible3
extent with those of the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program of this state.4
D. On or before March first annually, the department shall submit to the5
House Committee on Health and Welfare and the Senate Committee on Health and6
Welfare a comprehensive report on the SNAP Education Program. The report shall7
include but not be limited to the following items:8
* * *9
(4) A description of any partnership with the WIC Program and efforts10
undertaken in collaboration with that program.11
(4) (5) Analysis of program outcomes and other significant impacts to SNAP12
Education service recipients.13
(5) (6) Public policy recommendations for enhancing the SNAP Education14
program and for supporting better health and nutrition generally among low-income15
families of this state.16
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)]
Simon HB No. 156
Abstract: Provides for requirements of educational services within the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program.
Present law provides legislative findings relative to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP - the program formerly known as food stamps); and to the importance of
the nutrition education program known as SNAP Education.
Proposed law adds to legislative findings the statement that a nurturing family affords a child
his best opportunity to enjoy lifelong health and well-being, and that any program which
promotes better health for children must encourage family strengthening and greater parental
involvement in the lives of their children if the program is to fulfill its purpose.
Present law requires the SNAP Education program to utilize the Core Nutrition Messages,
or any successor resources, developed by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Proposed
law retains present law and adds a requirement that the program coordinate its outreach and
educational efforts to the greatest possible extent with those of the state's Women, Infants,
and Children (WIC) Program. HLS 12RS-775 ENGROSSED
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Present law requires that on or before March 1, the Dept. of Children and Family Services
shall submit to the legislative committees on health and welfare a report on the SNAP
Education program which includes but is not 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.
Proposed law retains present law and adds to the required items in the report a description
of any partnership with the WIC Program and efforts undertaken in collaboration with that
program.
(Amends R.S. 46:236.1(C) and (D)(4) and (5); Adds R.S. 46:236.1(A)(7) and (D)(6))