RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 312 (HB 333) 2019 Regular Session Connick
Prior law provided for the preference of goods manufactured or services performed by
individuals with severe disabilities in state-operated and state-supported sheltered
workshops.
New law changes the preference of goods manufactured or services performed from
individuals with severe disabilities to individuals with disabilities through supported
employment providers.
Existing law establishes the exemption from competitive bidding requirement for goods
manufactured and services performed and provides for certain definitions.
New law adds the requirement that goods and services must be equal in quality and
reasonable in the rate charged based on goods and services available from other providers
to the exemptions from competitive bidding.
Existing law 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 existing law and to designate and contract with a central nonprofit agency.
New law names the council created by LDH the "State Use Council for the Purchase of
Goods and Services Provided by Individuals with Disabilities" and adds authority for the
council to solicit and evaluate competitive sealed proposals at least every five years.
Existing 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.
New law adds definitions for "individuals with disabilities" and "supported employment
provider" and provides for the term "supporting employment provider" to include "sheltered
workshops" transitioning into a "supporting employment provider" for fiscal years 2019-
2020 and 2020-2021.
New law adds "supported employment providers" to existing law on public procurement,
public contracts, taxation, and work release programs.
Prior law provided specific provisions regarding sheltered industries program for individuals
who are blind.
New law adds individuals who are blind to the definition of "individual with disabilities".
Effective July 1, 2019.
(Amends R.S. 15:711(B) and 1111(B), R.S. 38:2261, R.S. 39:1594(J)(1) and 1604.4, 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); Repeals R.S. 23:3024 and 3025 and R.S. 39:1554(D)(1)(b))