SNAP/FOOD STAMPS: Provides relative to public assistance benefits for children (RE SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HLS 26RS-904 REENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 689
BY REPRESENTATIVE AMEDEE
SNAP/FOOD STAMPS: Provides relative to public assistance benefits for children
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 46:109, relative to public assistance benefits; to provide for the duties of the
3 Department of Children and Family Services and the Louisiana Department of
4 Health; to provide for reporting; to provide for the adjustment of benefits under
5 certain circumstances; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 46:109 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 §109. Public assistance benefits; change in household; reporting; fraud
9 A. For the purpose of assisting the Louisiana Department of Health in
10 identifying changes in household circumstances for benefit allotments, the
11 Department of Children and Family Services shall report identifying information to
12 the Louisiana Department of Health within three business days following a hearing
13 held in accordance with Children's Code Article 624. The Louisiana Department of
14 Health shall determine the required information necessary to identify the child and
15 the child's household.
16 B. Upon receipt of a report from the Department of Children and Family
17 Services pursuant to Subsection A or C of this Section, the Louisiana Department of
18 Health shall immediately:
19 (1) Review whether either of the child's parents is receiving any public
20 assistance benefits as a result of the child being included in the parent's household.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
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HLS 26RS-904 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 689
1 (2) Adjust any Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, WIC, or FITAP
2 benefits for the parent's household to reflect the change in circumstance.
3 (3) If the child is enrolled in Medicaid, issue a new Medicaid managed care
4 insurance card for the child at the child's new residence.
5 C. If the child has not reached the age of eighteen at the time the child is
6 returned to the custody of the child's parent, the Department of Children and Family
7 Services shall report to the Louisiana Department of Health within three business
8 days of the child being returned to the custody of the child's parent.
9 D. If the Louisiana Department of Health receives an application for a public
10 assistance benefit for a child that is included in another household that receives
11 benefits, the department shall conduct an assessment to determine where the child
12 is currently residing and adjust the benefit allotment accordingly.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 689 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Amedee
Abstract: Requires La. Dept. of Health and the Dept. of Children and Family Services to
transfer public assistance benefits in certain circumstances.
Present law provides that there must be a hearing within three days after a court order to
remove a child from his parents' household and placed in the custody of another.
Proposed law requires the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to notify the
Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) within three business days after a child is placed in
DCFS custody and following the three-day hearing required by present law. Proposed law
further provides that DCFS should notify LDH of a change in household for any child under
18 years of age within three business days after the child is returned to the child's parent.
Proposed law requires LDH, upon receipt of a report from DCFS, to immediately:
(1) Review whether either of the child's parents is receiving any public assistance
benefits as a result of the child being included in the parent's household.
(2) Adjust any SNAP, WIC, or FITAP benefits for the parent's household to reflect the
change in circumstance.
(3) If the child is enrolled in Medicaid, issue a new Medicaid managed care insurance
card for the child at the child's new residence.
Proposed law requires DCFS to report to LDH if a child under the age of 18 is returned to
the custody of the child's parent.
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HB NO. 689
Proposed law requires LDH to conduct an assessment to determine where a child is residing
and adjust the benefits allotment accordingly if LDH receives an application for benefits for
a child who is included in another household that receives benefits.
Proposed law requires LDH to report any individual who failed to report a change in
household circumstances and is receiving public assistance benefits for a child who is no
longer living in the household to the department's fraud unit.
(Adds R.S. 46:109)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to
the original bill:
1. Clarify when DCFS must report to LDH a change in a child's household
circumstances.
2. Change the amount of time DCFS has to report a change in a child's household
circumstances from 72 hours to three business days.
3. Remove provisions of proposed law requiring LDH to report an individual to the
fraud detection unit for failure to report a change in household circumstances.
4. Make a technical correction.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Require DCFS to report a child's change in household circumstances within three
business days after the hearing required by present law.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.