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)]
HB 333 Original 2019 Regular Session Connick
Abstract: Creates the State Use Council for the Purchase of Goods and Services Provided by
Individuals with Disabilities for the coordination and facilitation of purchases of goods
manufactured and services performed by individuals with disabilities through a supported
employment provider.
Present law provides for the preference of goods manufactured, or services performed by individuals
with severe disabilities in state-operated and state-supported sheltered workshops, the exemption
from competitive bidding requirements, and provides for certain definitions. Present law further
provides for the creation of a council by the La. Department of Health (LDH) whose membership
is determined by the secretary of LDH to coordinate and facilitate the provisions of present law, and
provides the council with authority to designate and contract with a central nonprofit agency.
Proposed law retains present law but changes the preference from individuals with severe disabilities
to individuals with disabilities through supported employment providers. Proposed law further
retains present law for exemptions from the competitive bidding requirement provided the goods and
services are equal in quality and reasonable in the rate charged based on goods and services available
from other providers.
Proposed law retains present law but renames the council the "State Use Council for the Purchase
of Goods and Services Provided by Individuals with Disabilities" and provides for the council to
solicit and evaluate competitive sealed proposals at least every 5 years to designate and contract with
a central nonprofit agency.
Proposed law adds definitions for "individuals with disabilities" and "supported employment
provider" and repeals certain definitions. Proposed law provides for "supporting employment
provider" to include "sheltered workshops" transitioning into a "supporting employment provider"
for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.
Present law provides for sheriffs to place inmates in work release programs including in sheltered
workshops, and provides for tax credits and exemptions for sheltered workshops.
Proposed law retains present law but replaces the term "sheltered workshops" with "supported
employment providers" throughout present law.
Effective July 1, 2019. (Amends R.S. 15:711(B) and 1111(B), R.S. 38:2261, (A), (B), (D), and (E), R.S. 39:1594(J)(1),
1604.4, (A), (C), (D), and (E), and R.S. 47:34(C)(2)(d)(i), 287.749(C)(2)(d)(i), 302(BB)(95), 305.38,
321(P)(95), 321.1(I)(95), 331(V)(95), and 337.9(D)(17))