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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 REENGROSSED
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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 twelve 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 shall be 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 appointed by the vice president for agriculture.24
(9) One member representing the Southern University Agricultural Center25
appointed by the chancellor of the center.26
(10) The executive director of the Louisiana Food Bank Association or his27
designee.28 HLS 14RS-1645 REENGROSSED
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C. The members of the task force shall select one member to serve as1
chairman.2
D. The purposes of the task force shall include the following:3
(1) To study on an ongoing basis the policies, procedures, and technical4
processes by which the Department of Children and Family Services disburses5
SNAP benefits electronically.6
(2) To consider the impacts on Louisiana families and businesses of7
prospective policy changes relative to the disbursement schedule for SNAP benefits.8
(3) To keep abreast of changes in federal laws and regulations which relate9
in any manner to electronic issuance of public benefits.10
(4) To make recommendations to the secretary of the Department of11
Children and Family Services, on a schedule determined by the chairman,12
concerning innovations in electronic benefits issuance policies and systems.13
E. The task force shall convene on or before September 1, 2014. The14
secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services shall call the first15
meeting.16
§313. Termination17
The provisions of this Subpart shall terminate on September 1, 2015.18
Section 2.(A) The Louisiana State Law Institute is hereby directed to redesignate19
Subpart E of Part II of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,20
comprised of R.S. 46:291.1, as Subpart E-1 of Part II of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the21
Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 46:291.1, and is further directed to22
retain the heading of the Subpart.23
(B) The Louisiana State Law Institute is hereby directed to redesignate Subpart A-124
of Part II of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of25
R.S. 46:236.1, as Subpart E-2 of Part II of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised26
Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 46:301, and is further directed to change the heading of27
the Subpart to "SNAP Nutrition Education".28 HLS 14RS-1645 REENGROSSED
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(C) The Louisiana State Law Institute is hereby directed to designate R.S. 46:3111
through 313, as enacted by this Act, as Subpart E-3 of Part II of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the2
Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, and is further directed to apply to the Subpart the3
heading "Task Force on SNAP Electronic Benefits Issuance".4
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
12 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 shall be 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
appointed by the vice president of agriculture.
(9)One member representing the Southern University Agricultural Center appointed by
the chancellor of the center.
(10)The executive director of the La. Food Bank Association or his designee.
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. HLS 14RS-1645 REENGROSSED
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(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 DCFS, on a schedule determined
by the chairman, concerning innovations in electronic benefits issuance policies and
systems.
Proposed law provides that the task force shall convene on or before Sept. 1, 2014, and that
the secretary of DCFS shall call the first meeting. Provides that proposed law shall terminate
on Sept. 1, 2015.
(Adds R.S. 46:311-313)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to the
original bill.
1. Added the executive director of the Louisiana Food Bank Association or his
designee as a member of the task force provided for in proposed law.
2. Added provision requiring the task force to convene on or before Sept. 1, 2014.
3. Changed termination date of task force from Sept. 1, 2017 to Sept. 1, 2015.
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and Governmental
Affairs to the engrossed bill.
1. Adds provisions specifying that the member representing the Louisiana State
University Agricultural Center is to be appointed by the vice president for
agriculture.
2. Adds provisions specifying that the member representing the Southern
University Agricultural Center is to be appointed by the chancellor of the center.
3. Adds provisions providing that the secretary of the DCFS calls the first meeting
of the task force.