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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 1062
BY REPRESENTATIVE HOFFMANN
SNAP/FOOD STAMPS: Provides for a task force to make recommendations concerning
electronic issuance of SNAP benefits
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 46:311 through 313, relative to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance2
Program; to create and provide for a task force to study and make recommendations3
concerning electronic benefits disbursement by the Department of Children and4
Family Services; to provide for termination of the task force; to provide for5
redesignation of laws; and to provide for related matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. R.S. 46:311 through 313 are hereby enacted to read as follows: 8
§311. Legislative findings; purpose9
A. The legislature hereby finds the following:10
(1) The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, referred to hereafter in11
this Subpart as "SNAP", is the major food assistance program of this state.12
(2) SNAP provides support to needy households and to persons making the13
transition from welfare to work.14
(3) It is the policy of this state to operate SNAP in a manner that maximizes15
administrative efficiency in delivery of food assistance to eligible children and16
families.17
B. The legislature hereby declares that the purpose of this Subpart is to18
further this state's policy of fiscal soundness and efficiency in administration of19
public benefits programs by establishing a task force to study and make20 HLS 14RS-1645 ORIGINAL
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recommendations concerning policies, procedures, and technical processes relative1
to electronic disbursement of SNAP benefits by the Department of Children and2
Family Services.3
§312. Task force on SNAP electronic benefits issuance; membership; purpose4
A. There is hereby created within the Department of Children and Family5
Services a task force on SNAP electronic benefits issuance, referred to hereafter as6
the "task force".7
B. The task force shall be composed of the following eleven members:8
(1) Two members appointed by the commissioner of administration, at least9
one of whom shall be an employee in the office of information technology.10
(2) Two members appointed by the secretary of the Department of Children11
and Family Services, at least one of whom is an employee in the division of12
programs of the department.13
(3) The executive director of the Louisiana Retailers Association or his14
designee.15
(4) The president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry or16
his designee.17
(5) The vice president of public affairs of the National Grocers Association18
or his designee.19
(6) One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker20
of the House of Representatives.21
(7) One member of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate.22
(8) One member representing the Louisiana State University Agricultural23
Center.24
(9) One member representing the Southern University Agricultural Center.25
C. The members of the task force shall select one member to serve as26
chairman.27
D. The purposes of the task force shall include the following:28 HLS 14RS-1645 ORIGINAL
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(1) To study on an ongoing basis the policies, procedures, and technical1
processes by which the Department of Children and Family Services disburses2
SNAP benefits electronically.3
(2) To consider the impacts on Louisiana families and businesses of4
prospective policy changes relative to the disbursement schedule for SNAP benefits.5
(3) To keep abreast of changes in federal laws and regulations which relate6
in any manner to electronic issuance of public benefits.7
(4) To make recommendations to the secretary of the Department of8
Children and Family Services, on a schedule determined by the chairman,9
concerning innovations in electronic benefits issuance policies and systems.10
§313. Termination11
The task force shall terminate on August 1, 2017.12
Section 2.(A) The Louisiana State Law Institute is hereby directed to redesignate13
Subpart E of Part II of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,14
comprised of R.S. 46:291.1, as Subpart E-1 of Part II of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the15
Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 46:291.1, and is further directed to16
retain the heading of the Subpart.17
(B) The Louisiana State Law Institute is hereby directed to redesignate Subpart A-118
of Part II of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of19
R.S. 46:236.1, as Subpart E-2 of Part II of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised20
Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 46:301, and is further directed to change the heading of21
the Subpart to "SNAP Nutrition Education".22
(C) The Louisiana State Law Institute is hereby directed to designate R.S. 46:31123
through 313, as enacted by this Act, as Subpart E-3 of Part II of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the24
Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, and is further directed to apply to the Subpart the25
heading "Task Force on SNAP Electronic Benefits Issuance".26 HLS 14RS-1645 ORIGINAL
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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)]
Hoffmann HB No. 1062
Abstract: Provides for a task force to study and make recommendations to the Dept. of
Children and Family Services concerning electronic issuance of Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Proposed law establishes a task force to study and make recommendations concerning
policies, procedures, and technical processes relative to electronic disbursement of
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by the Dept. of Children and
Family Services (DCFS). Provides that the task force shall be composed of the following
11 members:
(1)Two members appointed by the commissioner of administration, at least one of
whom shall be an employee in the office of information technology.
(2)Two members appointed by the secretary of DCFS, at least one of whom is an
employee in the division of programs of the department.
(3)The executive director of the La. Retailers Association or his designee.
(4)The president of the La. Association of Business and Industry or his designee.
(5)The vice president of public affairs of the National Grocers Association or his
designee.
(6)One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the House.
(7)One member of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate.
(8)One member representing the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center.
(9)One member representing the Southern University Agricultural Center.
Proposed law provides that the purposes of the task force include the following:
(1)To study on an ongoing basis the policies, procedures, and technical processes by
which DCFS disburses SNAP benefits electronically.
(2)To consider the impact on Louisiana families and businesses of prospective policy
changes relative to the disbursement schedule for SNAP benefits.
(3)To keep abreast of changes in federal laws and regulations which relate in any
manner to electronic issuance of public benefits.
(4)To make recommendations to the secretary of the Department of Children and
Family Services, on a schedule determined by the chairman, concerning innovations
in electronic benefits issuance policies and systems.
Proposed law provides that the task force shall terminate on Aug. 1, 2017.
(Adds R.S. 46:311-313)