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SLS 26RS-236 RE-REENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 52
BY SENATOR CATHEY
CHILDREN/FAMILY SERVICES DEPT. Provides relative to public assistance benefits for
children. (8/1/26)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 24:525(C)(14) and R.S. 46:109, relative to public assistance benefits; to
3 provide for the duties of the Department of Children and Family Services and the
4 Louisiana Department of Health; to provide for reporting; to provide for the
5 adjustment of benefits under certain circumstances; to provide for the duties of the
6 state child ombudsman; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 24:525(C)(14) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 §525. State child ombudsman; duties
10 * * *
11 C. The state child ombudsman shall have all of the following duties and
12 responsibilities:
13 * * *
14 (14) Conduct an annual review of the implementation of R.S. 46:109 by
15 the Department of Children and Family Services and the Louisiana Department
16 of Health, including the timely compliance with reporting requirements and a
17 review of department procedures.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
SB NO. 52
SLS 26RS-236 RE-REENGROSSED
1 * * *
2 Section 2. R.S. 46:109 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
3 §109. Public assistance benefits; change in household; reporting; fraud
4 A. For the purpose of assisting the Louisiana Department of Health in
5 identifying changes in household circumstances for benefit allotments, the
6 Department of Children and Family Services shall report identifying
7 information to the Louisiana Department of Health within seventy-two hours
8 following a hearing held pursuant to Children's Code Article 624. The
9 Louisiana Department of Health shall determine the required information
10 necessary to identify the child and the child's household.
11 B. Upon receipt of a report from the Department of Children and Family
12 Services pursuant to this Section, the Louisiana Department of Health shall
13 immediately:
14 (1) Review whether either of the child's parents is receiving any public
15 assistance benefits as a result of the child being included in the parent's
16 household.
17 (2) Adjust any Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Special
18 Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or Family
19 Independence Temporary Assistance Program benefits for the parent's
20 household to reflect the change in circumstance.
21 (3) If the child is enrolled in Medicaid, issue a new Medicaid managed
22 care insurance card for the child at the child's new residence.
23 C. If the child has not reached the age of eighteen at the time the child
24 is returned to the custody of the child's parent, the Department of Children and
25 Family Services shall report to the Louisiana Department of Health when the
26 child is returned to the custody of the child's parent.
27 D. If the Louisiana Department of Health receives an application for a
28 public assistance benefit for a child that is included in another household that
29 receives benefits, the department shall conduct an assessment to determine
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
SB NO. 52
SLS 26RS-236 RE-REENGROSSED
1 where the child is currently residing and adjust the benefit allotment
2 accordingly.
3 E. If the Louisiana Department of Health determines that an individual
4 failed to report a change in household circumstances and is receiving public
5 assistance benefits for a child that is no longer living in the household, the
6 department shall report the individual to the fraud detection unit of the
7 department for investigation and recovery of ineligible benefits.
8 F. Upon request of the state child ombudsman, the Department of
9 Children and Family Services and the Louisiana Department of Health shall
10 provide access to any records identifying changes in household circumstances
11 or related to the adjustment of public assistance benefits as required by this
12 Section.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Senate Legislative Services.
The keyword, summary, 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)]
DIGEST
SB 52 Re-Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Cathey
Proposed law requires the Dept. of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to report
identifying information to the La. Dept. of Health (LDH) within 72 hours following a
hearing held pursuant to present law for the purpose of identifying changes in household
circumstances for benefit allotments.
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.
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 that is included in another household that receives benefits.
Proposed law requires LDH to report any individual that failed to report a change in
household circumstances and is receiving public assistance benefits for a child that is no
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
SB NO. 52
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longer living in the household to the department's fraud unit.
Present law provides for a state child ombudsman appointed by the legislative auditor to
monitor and evaluate public and private agencies involved in the protection and delivery of
services to children and provides for the duties and responsibilities of the state child
ombudsman.
Proposed law retains present law and further requires the state child ombudsman to conduct
an annual review of the implementation of proposed law by DCFS and LDH, including the
timely compliance with reporting requirements and a review of department procedures.
Proposed law requires DCFS and LDH to provide access to any records identifying changes
in household circumstances or related to the adjustment of public assistance benefits at the
request of the state child ombudsman.
Effective August 1, 2026.
(Adds R.S. 24:525(C)(14) and R.S. 46:109)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Finance to the
engrossed bill
1. Requires DCFS to report identifying information to LDH within 72 hours
following a hearing held pursuant to present law.
2. Makes technical changes.
Senate Floor Amendments to reengrossed bill
1. Requires the state child ombudsman to conduct an annual review of the
implementation of proposed law by DCFS and LDH.
2. Requires DCFS and LDH to provide access to certain records at the request
of the state child ombudsman.
3. Makes technical changes.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.