SB 351 — EDUCATION DEPARTMENT: Provides relative to children and family assistance programs. (8/1/26)

SLS 26RS-601 REENGROSSED Regular Session ENROLLED SENATE BILL NO.

351 BY SENATOR JACKSON-ANDREWS EDUCATIONAND DEPARTMENT.REPRESENTATIVES BOYD, BROUSSARD, CARRIER, FREEMAN, FREIBERG, DANA HENRY, LAFLEUR, TERRY LANDRY, MARCELLE, MARTINEZ, MILLER, MOORE, MURRAY, TAYLOR, WALTERS AND YOUNG AN ACT ToamendandreenactR.S.17:407.30(D)(1)and407.51(H)(1)andtoenactR.S.17:407.29.1, relativetotheChildCareAssistanceProgram;toprovideforaprovisionaleligibility process;

Provides relative to children and family assistance programs.

(8/1/26) AN ACT ToamendandreenactR.S.17:407.30(D)(1)and407.51(H)(1)andtoenactR.S.17:407.29.1, relativetotheChildCareAssistanceProgram;toprovideforaprovisionaleligibility process;

to authorize the DepartmentState Board of EducationElementaryand SecondaryEducation to promulgate rules and regulations;

to provide relative to the State Board of Elementary and SecondaryEducation;Secondary Education;

An expectant mother may apply for assistance from the Child Care AssistanceProgram,throughtheDepartmentofEducation,priortobirthofthe child in ordertoordertopreliminarilydeterminewhethertheapplicantwill preliminarilybeeligible. determinewhethertheapplicantwillbeeligible.

The process shall be subject to approval by the Senate and House Pagecommittees 1on ofeducation, 4meeting Coding:separately or jointly.

Page 1 of 3 Coding:

SLS 26RS-601 REENGROSSED SB NO.

351 committeesENROLLED onC. education, jointly.

C.ThedepartmentshallpromulgaterulesandregulationsinaccordanceThe State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act as necessary for the implementation of this Section.

(b)Eachlocal(b)Eachlocalentityshall entityshall establish eligibilitycriteriafortheearlychildhoodeligibilitycriteriafor the earlychildhood care and education quality slots financed by local funds that serve as the match for the award.

Advisory Council * * * H.(1)ThecouncilshallprovideinputandguidancetotheboardStateBoard ofElementaryandSecondaryEducationandthedepartmentonmatterspertaining to the development and implementation of rules, regulations, bulletins, policies, or standards related to all early care and education programs, including early learning Pagecenters, 2enrollment ofin 4early Coding:learning centers, the Cecil J.

Picard LA 4 Early Childhood Program, the Child Care and Development Fund Block Grant, the Child Page 2 of 3 Coding:

SLS 26RS-601 REENGROSSED SB NO.

351 centers,ENROLLED enrollmentCare inAssistance earlyProgram, learningEarly centers,Head theStart, Ceciland J.Head Start.

Picard LA 4 Early Childhood Program, the Child Care and Development Fund Block Grant, the Child Care Assistance Program, Early Head Start, and Head Start.

ThePRESIDENT originalOF instrumentTHE andSENATE theSPEAKER followingOF digest,THE whichHOUSE constitutesOF noREPRESENTATIVES partGOVERNOR ofOF theTHE legislativeSTATE instrument,OF wereLOUISIANA preparedAPPROVED: bySenate Legislative Services.

ThePage keyword,3 summary, and digest do not constitute part of the3 lawCoding: or proof or indicia of legislative intent.

[R.S.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] DIGEST SB 351 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Jackson-Andrews Proposed law (R.S.

17:407.29.1) provides that an expectant mother can applyfor the Child Care Assistance Program prior to birth of the child to preliminarily determine whether the applicant will be eligible.

Proposed law requires the Department of Education to develop a process to determine provisional eligibility and later confirm eligibility after the birth of the child.

This process must be approved by the Senate and House committees on education, jointly.

Proposed law authorizes the department to promulgate rules and regulations to implement proposed law.

Present law (R.S.

17:407.30) provides that the Louisiana Early Childhood Education Fund must be administered byBESE and the monies awarded annuallyto local entities approved by the board for the purpose of funding projects that will expand the number of early childhoodcareandeducationqualityslotsforfamilieseligiblefortheChildCareAssistance Program under certain conditions.

Present law provides that each local entity must establish eligibility criteria for the early childhood care and education quality slots financed by local funds that serve as the match for the award and, at a minimum, only children whose family income makes them economically disadvantaged as defined by the board will be eligible for the slots.

Present law (R.S.

17:407.51) provides that the Advisory Council must provide input and guidance to the board and the department on matters pertaining to the development and implementationofrules,regulations,bulletins,policies,orstandardsrelatedtoallearlycare and education programs, including the Child Care Assistance Program.

Proposed law retains all present law and clarifies that "board" means the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Effective August 1, 2026.

(Amends R.S.

17:407.30(D)(1) and 407.51(H)(1);

adds R.S.

17:407.29.1) Page 3 of 4 Coding:

Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;

words in boldface type and underscored are additions.

SLS 26RS-601 REENGROSSED SB NO.