HB 335 — PUBLIC ASSISTANCE: Provides relative to entities administering public benefits

HLSENROLLED 26RS-917 ENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.

335 BY REPRESENTATIVE CHANCE HENRY PUBLICAN ASSISTANCE:ACT To amend and reenact R.S.

Provides relative to entities administering public benefits AN ACT To amend and reenact R.S.

46:233.4(C)(4)46:233.4(C)(4), (G), (H), (I), and (G),(J), relative to verification of citizenship of applicants for public benefits;

to provide for exceptions;

to provide for good faith;

46:233.4(A), (C)(introductory paragraph), and (D) are hereby and amended and reenactedreenactedand and R.S.

46:233.4(C)(4)46:233.4(C)(4), and(G), (G)(H), are(I), herebyand enacted(J) toareherebyenactedto read as follows:

Upon the termination of any reasonable opportunity period to verify citizenship status, or upon receipt of a final verification that indicates that the Pageapplicant 1is not a United States citizen or lacks satisfactory immigration status and has entered the United States without inspection or admission, or has remained beyond the expiration of 3his CODING:authorized period of stay, the state agency or political subdivision shall:

* * * Page 1 of 3 CODING:

HLS 26RS-917 ENGROSSED HB NO.

335 applicantENROLLED is(4) notBe asubject Unitedto Statesaudit citizenby or lacks satisfactory immigration status and has entered the Unitedlegislative Statesauditor. without inspection or admission, or has remained beyond the expiration of his authorized period of stay, the state agency or political subdivision shall:

* * * (4) Be subject to audit by the legislative auditor.

Poynter Legislative Research Library on the results of the citizenship verificationrequirementsofthisverificationrequirementsofthisSection. Section.

Thereportshall includebut notbelimitednot belimited to the number of individuals reported to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcementandthenumberofindividualswhohadpublicassistanceterminatedin accordance with this Section.

This Section does not apply to the distribution of food byor nonprofitincentives for food byorganizations, farmers'markets, farm stands, or bynonprofit organizations.

DIGESTH.(1) ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislativeExcept Services.as provided in this Subsection, the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any entity providing services for domestic abuse, sexual assault, sexualharassment,humantrafficking,homelessness,disasterresponse,orpregnancy assistance, including but not limited to shelters, crisis centers,and nonprofit service providers.

It(2) constitutesThe nopartentities ofshall not be required to report any individual to the legislativeUnited instrument.States Immigration and Customs Enforcement solely on the basis of inability to verify citizenship or immigration status.

(3) The keyword,entities one-liner,shall abstract, and digest do notall constitute part of the lawfollowing: or proof or indicia of legislative intent.

[R.S.(a) Request proof of citizenship or qualified immigration as required bythis Section.

1:13(B)(b) andMaintain 24:177(E)]a HBrecord 335indicating Engrossedwhether 2026proof Regularof Sessioncitizenship Chanceor Henryqualified Abstract:immigration was provided.

Provides(c)Maintainarecordindicatingwhetherservicesor relativebenefitswerecontinued toor thediscontinued requirementsbased on proof of entitiescitizenship administeringor publicqualified benefits.immigration.

Present(d) lawMaintain requiresany aother statedata agencypoints orrequired politicalbyrule subdivisionor tonecessaryfor verifyaudit by the citizenshiplegislative statusauditor. of an applicant who applies for federal, state, or local public benefits.

Present law requires a state agency or political subdivision to complete certain tasks upon termination of the reasonable opportunity period to verify an applicant's citizenship status oruponreceiptoffinalverificationthatanapplicantisnotaU.S.citizenorlackssatisfactory immigration status.

Present law requires such a state agencyor political subdivision to provide a certain report to the legislature at the end of each fiscal year.

Proposed law applies present law to any entity administering federal, state, or local public benefits.

Otherwise retains present law.

HLS 26RS-917 ENGROSSED HB NO.

335 Proposedlawfurtherprovidesthattheagency,politicalsubdivision,ENROLLED orentityadministering(4) federal,The state,records ordescribed localin publicthis benefitsSubsection isshall subjectconstitute tothe auditonly byinformation therequired legislativeto auditorbe afterproduced to the reasonablelegislative opportunityauditor period for verificationcompliance providedwith inthis presentSection. law.

Proposed(5) lawNotwithstanding excludesParagraph nonprofit(2) organizationsof thatthis distributeSubsection, foodif from the provisionsUnited States Immigration and Customs Enforcement submits a lawful request for information regarding an individual who failed to provide proof of presentcitizenship or qualified immigration status, the entity shall provide the information in accordance with applicable federal and proposedstate law.

(Amends(6)NothinginthisSubsectionshallbeconstruedtoprohibitcooperationwith R.S.federal authorities when otherwise required bylaw.

46:233.4(A),I. (C)(intro.

para.),This Section shall not apply, and (D);no entity shall be subject to liability or enforcementunderthis Section,foractionstakeningoodfaithtoprotectlife,health, safety, or access to essential services during emergent circumstances, disaster response, post-disaster recovery, and public health operations.

AddsJ. R.S.

46:233.4(C)(4)This andSection (G))shall Summarynot ofapply Amendmentsto Adoptedhealthcare byproviders Housewho TheCommitteeAmendmentsProposedbyHouseCommitteeonJudiciarytotheoriginalprovide bill:services to Medicaid recipients.

1.SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED:

Exclude nonprofit organizations that distribute food from the requirement to verify citizenship status and other provisions of present and proposed law.