RegularSCASB415 Session3005 ENROLLED2178 SENATE BILLCOMMITTEE NO.AMENDMENTS Regular Session AmendmentsproposedbySenateCommitteeonHealthandWelfareto OriginalSenateBill No.

415 BYby SENATORSenator ABRAHAMAbraham ANDAMENDMENT REPRESENTATIVESNO. 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.

46:291,1 relativeOn topage food2, purchasebetween cards;lines 14 and 15, insert the following:

to"(2) createAccept thecharitable Empowercontributions Louisianato Foodsupport Purchasethe Program;program." AMENDMENT NO.

to2 provideOn forpage the2, dutiesline of15, thechange Louisiana"(2)" Departmentto of"(3)" Health;AMENDMENT NO.

to3 provideOn forpage criteria2, forline nonprofit18, organizationchange participation;toprovideforfunding;toprovideforrecords;toprovideforreporting;"D." to "D.(1)" AMENDMENT NO.

and4 toOn providepage for2, relatedbetween matters.lines 20 and 21, insert the following:

Be"(2) itBenefits enactedprovided bypursuant theto Legislaturethis ofSection Louisiana:shall be considered charitable food assistance and shall not be construed as wages, compensation, or remuneration to the recipient.

Section 1.

Subpart E of Part II of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S.

46:291, is hereby enacted to read as follows:

SUBPART E.

EMPOWER LOUISIANA FOOD PURCHASE PROGRAM §291.

Empower Louisiana Food Purchase Program;

Louisiana Department of Health A.

The Louisiana Department of Health shall establish and administer the Empower Louisiana Food Purchase Program.

The program shall make restricted-use food purchase cards available for issuance through qualified nonprofit organizations.

B.(1) The Louisiana Department of Health 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:

Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;

words in boldface type and underscored are additions.

SB NO.

415 ENROLLED program as determined by the secretary.

Upon statewide implementation, the programshallincludeatleastoneparticipatingqualifiednonprofitorganization in each administrative region of the Louisiana Department of Health.

C.(1)Eachqualifiednonprofitorganizationshalldoallofthefollowing:

(a) Be responsible for funding any purchase cards issued by the organization.

(b) Accept charitable contributions to support the program.

(c)Establish aprocesstoallow individuals toprovidefunding forcards.

(2)Cardsmaybeissueddirectlytotheindividual providingthefundsor toanother person identified bytheindividual providing thefunds forthecard.

D.(1) 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.

(2) Benefits provided pursuant to this Section shall be considered charitable food assistance and shall not be construed as wages, compensation, or remuneration to the recipient.

The Louisianadepartment Department of Health shall establish uniform guidelines and operating standards for the program.program." AMENDMENT NO.

F.5 On page 2, line 21, change "E." to "F." AMENDMENT NO.

The6 programOn shallpage do2, allat the end of theline following:29, delete "The" AMENDMENT NO.

(1)7 OperateOn underpage a3, programdelete identifierlines separate1 fromand Supplemental2 Nutritionand Assistanceinsert Program.the following:

(2)Alignfooditemsthatareallowableforpurchasewithfooditemsthat"The areeligibleforpurchasethroughdepartment SupplementalNutritionAssistanceProgram.may review, monitor, and inspect records as necessary for the provisionsofthisSection.AnyrecipientinformationcollectedpursuanttothisSection shall be confidential and shall not be used for solicitation, marketing, or any purpose not related to the program." AMENDMENT NO.

(3)8 ProhibitOn cashpage withdrawals3, andline transfers.3, change "2028" to "2027" Page 1 of 1

(4)NotaccessSupplementalNutritionAssistanceProgrameligibility or recipient data.

G.Transactionrecordsshallbegeneratedautomaticallybythepayment processor.TheLouisianaDepartmentofHealthshallgenerateaggregateannual transaction reports, which participating nonprofits shall reconcile to their internal records.