SLS 26RS-346 REENGROSSED Regular Session ENROLLED SENATE BILL NO.
415 BY SENATOR ABRAHAM HEALTHAND DEPARTMENT.REPRESENTATIVES AMEDEE, BERAULT, BILLINGS, BOUDREAUX, BROUSSARD, CARVER, CHASSION, DICKERSON,EGAN,FISHER,FREEMAN,FREIBERG,GLORIOSO, MANDIE LANDRY, MARCELLE, MILLER, SPELL, STAGNI, TURNER AND WYBLE AN ACT To enact Subpart E of Part II of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised of R.S.
Creates46:291, therelative Empowerto Louisianafood Foodpurchase Purchasecards; Program.
(8/1/26) AN ACT To enact Subpart E of Part II of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised of R.S.
46:290, relative to food purchase cards;
46:290,46:291, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
EMPOWER LOUISIANA FOOD PURCHASE PROGRAM §290.§291.
PageB.(1) 1The Louisiana Department of 4Health Coding:shall partner with qualified nonprofit organizations that operate food assistance programs in Louisiana.
(2)Toqualifyforparticipationintheprogram,theorganizationshallbe recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, execute a participation agreement, and comply with reporting requirements established by the Louisiana Department of Health.
(3)TheLouisianaDepartmentofHealthmayimplementtheprogramas a pilot program in one administrative region of the state and may expand the Page 1 of 3 Coding:
SLS 26RS-346 REENGROSSED SB NO.
415 B.(1)ENROLLED Theprogram departmentas shalldetermined partnerby withthe qualifiedsecretary. nonprofit organizations that operate food assistance programs in Louisiana.
(2)Toqualifyforparticipationintheprogram,theorganizationshallbeUpon recognizedstatewide underimplementation, Section 501(c)(3) of the Internalprogramshallincludeatleastoneparticipatingqualifiednonprofitorganization Revenuein Code,each executeadministrative aregion participationof agreement,the andLouisiana complyDepartment withof reportingHealth. requirements established by the department.
(3)C.(1)Eachqualifiednonprofitorganizationshalldoallofthefollowing: The department may implement the program as a pilot program in one administrative region of the state and may expand the program as determinedbythesecretary.Uponstatewideimplementation,theprogramshall include at least one participating qualified nonprofit organization in each administrative region of the department.
C.(a) Be responsible for funding any purchase cards issued by the organization.
Each(b) qualifiedAccept nonprofitcharitable organizationcontributions shall:to support the program.
(1)(c)Establish Beaprocesstoallow responsibleindividuals fortoprovidefunding fundingforcards. any purchase cards issued by the organization.
(2)(2)Cardsmaybeissueddirectlytotheindividual Acceptprovidingthefundsor charitabletoanother contributionsperson toidentified supportbytheindividual theproviding program.thefunds forthecard.
(3)EstablishaprocesstoallowindividualsD.(1) toprovidefundingforcards.Nothing in this Section shall be construed to create a public entitlement, require participation, authorize federal funding, or merge the program with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Cardsmaybeissueddirectlytotheindividualprovidingthefundsortoanother person identified by the individual providing the funds for the card.
D.(1) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to create a public entitlement, require participation, authorize federal funding, or merge the program with SNAP.
The departmentLouisiana Department of Health shall establish uniform guidelines and operating standards for the program.
The program shall:shall do all of the following:
(1) Operate under a program identifier separate from SNAP.Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
(2)Alignfooditemsthatareallowableforpurchasewithfooditemsthat Pageareeligibleforpurchasethrough 2SupplementalNutritionAssistanceProgram. of 4 Coding:
(3) Prohibit cash withdrawals and transfers.
(4)NotaccessSupplementalNutritionAssistanceProgrameligibility or recipient data.
G.Transactionrecordsshallbegeneratedautomaticallybythepayment processor.TheLouisianaDepartmentofHealthshallgenerateaggregateannual transaction reports, which participating nonprofits shall reconcile to their internal records.
The Louisiana Department of Health may review, monitor, Page 2 of 3 Coding:
SLS 26RS-346 REENGROSSED SB NO.
415 areENROLLED eligibleandinspectrecordsasnecessaryfortheprovisionsofthisSection.Anyrecipient informationcollectedpursuanttothisSectionshallbeconfidentialandshallnot be used for purchasesolicitation, throughmarketing, SNAP.or any purpose not related to the program.
(3) Prohibit cash withdrawals and transfers.
(4) Not access SNAP eligibility or recipient data.
G.Transactionrecordsshallbegeneratedautomaticallybythepayment processor.Thedepartmentshallgenerateaggregateannualtransactionreports, which participating nonprofits shall reconcile to their internal records.
The department may review, monitor, and inspect records as necessary for the provisions of this Section.
Any recipient information collected pursuant to this Section shall be confidential and shall not be used for solicitation, marketing, or any purpose not related to the program.
NoThe laterLouisiana thanDepartment Marchof 1,Health 2027, the department shall submitpromulgate arules reportin evaluatingtheprogramtotheSenateCommitteeonHealthandWelfareandtheaccordancewiththeAdministrativeProcedureActtoimplementtheprovisions Houseof Committeethis onSection. Health and Welfare.
The departmentLouisiana shallDepartment promulgateof rulesHealth inshall accordanceutilize withexisting theresources Administrativeand Procedurestaff Act to implementfulfill the provisionsrequirements ofprovided for in this Section.
J.Section 2.
TheNo departmentlater shallthan utilizeMarch existing1, resources2027, andthe staffLouisiana toDepartment fulfillof Health shall submit a report evaluating the requirementsprogram provided for in this Section.Act to the Senate and House committees on health and welfare.
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 415 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Abraham Present law places the administration of SNAP under the La.
Dept.
of Health.
Proposed law retains present law and creates a separate SNAP-like program administered by the La.
Dept.
of Health.
Proposed law requires the La.
Dept.
of Health to establish and administer the Empower Louisiana Food Purchase Program to make restricted-use food purchase cards available for issuance through qualified nonprofit organizations.
Proposedlawprovidesforrequirementsfornonprofitorganizations to qualifytoparticipate in the program.
Proposedlawrequireseachnonprofitorganizationtoprovidefundingforcardsissuedbythe organization and to accept charitable contributions to support the program.
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Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
SLS 26RS-346 REENGROSSED SB NO.
415 Proposedlawrequireseachnonprofitorganizationtoestablishaprocesstoallowindividuals to providefundingforcardsthatmayeitherbeissueddirectlyto theindividual or to another person identified by the individual that provided funding for the card.
Proposedlawprovidesthatbenefitsreceivedthroughtheprogramareconsideredcharitable food assistance and shall not be construed as wages, compensation, or remuneration.
Proposed law provides for administrative requirements for the program, including the limitation of purchases to food items that are eligible for purchase in SNAP.
Proposed law requires the La.
Dept.
of Health to submit a report evaluating the program to the Senate and House committees on health and welfare no later than March 1, 2027.
Proposed law requires the La.
Dept.
of Health to promulgate rules to implement proposed law.
ProposedlawrequirestheLa.Dept.ofHealthto utilizeexistingresourcesandstafftofulfill the requirements of proposed law.
Effective August 1, 2026.
(Adds R.S.
46:290) Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate Committee Amendments Proposed bySenate Committee on Health and Welfare to the original bill 1.
Provides that benefits received pursuant to the program are charitable food assistance and not considered wages, compensation, or remuneration.
2.
Provides for additional programmatic requirements.
3.
Moves the report date from March 1, 2028 to March 1, 2027.
Senate Floor Amendments to engrossed bill 1.
RequirestheLa.Dept.ofHealthtoutilizeexistingresourcesandstaffforthe program.
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