HASBSB259 TYLERT 4016
SENATE SUMMARY OF HOUSE AMENDMENTS
SB 259 2022 Regular Session Hewitt
KEYWORD AND SUMMARY AS RETURNED TO THE SENATE
STATE AGENCIES. Provides reporting requirements for certain state agencies that
administer certain federal and state social service or financial assistance programs.
(gov sig)
SUMMARY OF HOUSE AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE BILL
1. Adds definition for "procedural reason"
2. Adds items to be included in reports to be file by each agency.
DIGEST OF THE SENATE BILL AS RETURNED TO THE SENATE
DIGEST
SB 259 Reengrossed 2022 Regular Session Hewitt
Proposed law provides for the "Public Benefit Integrity Law". Requires the Dept. of Children
and Family Services, Dept. of Education, La. Dept. of Health, and La. Workforce
Commission to report to the legislature annually regarding the agency's policies and
processes for identifying and eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse in certain government-
funded programs and the results of the application of those policies and processes.
Proposed law defines "procedural reason" to mean a reason for an action on a program case
related to an agency's non-receipt of materials or information necessary for determining
benefit eligibility.
Proposed law requires certain reports to be filed including the following:
(1)For the preceding calendar year, measures of access in the program, including:
(a) For each month, the number of applications received, the percentage of
applications denied, and the percentage of applications denied for procedural
reasons.
(b)Monthly call center performance metrics for call centers serving clients and
applicants, including the average number of calls and the average and
maximum call wait times.
(c) The average caseload per caseworker.
(2)A detailed description of the program's administrative appeals process for clients,
including but not limited to the number of hearings requested by clients and the
number of hearings waived by clients.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 49:1401-1403)
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Thomas L. Tyler
Senate Counsel