HLS 21RS-551 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 8
BY REPRESENTATIVE ECHOLS
FRAUD: Requests an investigation of out-of-state retailers at which the greatest amounts
of Louisiana-issued SNAP benefits are expended for purposes of fraud detection and
prevention
1 A RESOLUTION
2To urge and request the Department of Children and Family Services to investigate
3 out-of-state retailers at which the greatest amounts of Louisiana-issued Supplemental
4 Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are expended and to report findings of the
5 investigation to the House Committee on Appropriations and the House Committee
6 on Health and Welfare.
7 WHEREAS, the program formerly known as "food stamps" was renamed the
8Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in 2008; and
9 WHEREAS, SNAP, which is administered at the state level by the Louisiana
10Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), is the largest of all federal food
11assistance programs and provides support to needy households and to those making the
12transition from welfare to work; and
13 WHEREAS, in January of 2021, nine hundred eighty-one thousand seven hundred
14fifty-one individuals received nutrition assistance benefits through Louisiana's SNAP
15program; and
16 WHEREAS, according to data furnished by DCFS, in calendar year 2020, Louisiana-
17issued SNAP benefits in excess of one hundred thousand dollars were expended at each of
18forty-five different out-of-state retail locations; and
19 WHEREAS, with respect to administration of public assistance programs, the term
20"program integrity" refers to actions by the administering agency to detect and prevent fraud,
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HR NO. 8
1waste, and abuse in those programs, and thereby ensure that public dollars are expended only
2on assistance and services for people who are eligible for benefits provided through those
3programs; and
4 WHEREAS, policing by DCFS of out-of-state expenditures of Louisiana-issued
5SNAP benefits will enhance program integrity in SNAP.
6 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
7Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Department of Children and
8Family Services to investigate out-of-state retailers at which the greatest amounts of
9Louisiana-issued Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are expended for
10purposes of fraud detection and prevention.
11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Children and Family Services
12shall report findings of the investigation called for in this Resolution to the House
13Committee on Appropriations and the House Committee on Health and Welfare on or before
14December 31, 2021.
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
16secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services.
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)]
HR 8 Original 2021 Regular Session Echols
Requests the Dept. of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to investigate out-of-state
retailers at which the greatest amounts of Louisiana-issued Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program benefits are expended for purposes of fraud detection and prevention.
Requires DCFS to report findings of the investigation to the House Committee on
Appropriations and the House Committee on Health and Welfare on or before Dec. 31, 2021.
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