HLS 22RS-50 ORIGINAL
2022 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 396
BY REPRESENTATIVE AMEDEE
SNAP/FOOD STAMPS: Provides relative to work requirements within the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program
1 AN ACT
2To enact Subpart E-5 of Part II of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes
3 of 1950, to be comprised of R.S. 46:331 and 332, relative to eligibility for benefits
4 of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); to limit the authority of
5 the state to waive work requirements for certain SNAP benefit recipients; to require
6 legislative approval of certain SNAP waiver applications; to provide for the manner
7 by which such approval may be granted; to provide for an effective date; and to
8 provide for related matters.
9Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. Subpart E-5 of Part II of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised
11Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 46:331 and 332, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
12 SUBPART E-5. SNAP WORK REQUIREMENTS
13 §331. Findings and intent
14 A. The legislature hereby finds and declares the following:
15 (1) It is the policy of this state to encourage self-sufficiency so that
16 Louisianians may reduce dependence on public benefits to meet basic needs and
17 become economically self-reliant.
18 (2) The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as
19 "food stamps" and referred to hereafter in this Subpart as "SNAP", provides support
20 to needy households and to persons making the transition from welfare to work.
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 22RS-50 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 396
1 (3) Pursuant to the federal Food Security Act of 1985, states are required to
2 provide employment and job training services to SNAP recipients who are not
3 exempt from the mandatory work registration requirements of the program.
4 (4) Federal regulations (7 CFR 273.24) limit the duration of receipt of SNAP
5 benefits by nonworking, able-bodied adults without dependents who do not qualify
6 for certain exemptions to a total of three months in any three-year period. However,
7 states may submit to the federal government applications, commonly known as
8 "waivers", to have this three-month limit waived. If approved, such waivers allow
9 able-bodied, nonworking, nonexempt adults to receive SNAP benefits for a
10 potentially unlimited duration.
11 B. It is the intent of this Subpart to institute a requirement for legislative
12 approval of any waiver of SNAP work requirements for able-bodied adults without
13 dependents in this state.
14 §332. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program work requirements; legislative
15 approval of waiver required
16 A. Notwithstanding any provision of law or regulation to the contrary, the
17 secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services shall not submit to the
18 Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture any
19 application for a waiver of the provisions of 7 CFR 273.24, or any other law or
20 regulation providing work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents
21 who receive SNAP benefits, unless the submission of such an application has been
22 approved by the House Committee on Health and Welfare and the Senate Committee
23 on Health and Welfare.
24 B. Approval by a legislative committee of a waiver application as required
25 by Subsection A of this Section may be by favorable vote, viva voce, of a simple
26 majority of the committee's membership at a meeting of the committee, or by mail
27 ballot.
28 Section 2. Within thirty days of the effective date of this Act, the secretary of the
29Department of Children and Family Services shall take all such actions as are necessary to
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 22RS-50 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 396
1revoke, terminate, or otherwise render null and without effect any waiver of work
2requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents receiving SNAP benefits in effect
3on the effective date of this Act.
4 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
5signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
6by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
7vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
8effective on the day following such approval.
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 396 Original 2022 Regular Session Amedee
Abstract: Prohibits the state from applying for a waiver of SNAP work requirements for
able-bodied adults without dependents absent legislative authorization and revokes
any such waiver currently in effect.
Proposed law provides that its purpose is to institute a requirement for legislative approval
of any waiver of work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents in the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as "food stamps" and referred
to hereafter as "SNAP").
Proposed law prohibits the secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services
(DCFS) from submitting to the federal SNAP regulatory agency any application for a waiver
of federal regulations providing work requirements for able-bodied adults without
dependents who receive SNAP benefits, unless the submission of such an application has
been approved by the legislative committees on health and welfare.
Proposed law provides that approval by a legislative committee of a waiver application as
required by proposed law may be by favorable vote, viva voce, of a simple majority of the
committee's membership at a meeting of the committee, or by mail ballot.
Proposed law requires that within 30 days of the effective date of proposed law, the secretary
of DCFS shall take all such actions as are necessary to revoke, terminate, or otherwise render
null and without effect any waiver of work requirements for able-bodied adults without
dependents receiving SNAP benefits in effect on the effective date of proposed law.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 46:331 and 332)
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.