§ 46:321 — Findings

§321. Findings
The legislature hereby finds and declares the following:
(1) It is the policy of the state to encourage self-sufficiency so that Louisianians may
reduce dependence on public benefits to meet basic needs and become economically self-reliant.
(2) The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as "food
stamps" and referred to in this Subpart as "SNAP", provides crucial support to needy
households and to persons making the transition from public assistance to work.
(3) Pursuant to the federal Food Security Act of 1985, states are required to provide
employment and job training services to SNAP customers who are not exempt from the
mandatory work registration requirements of the program.
(4) Federal regulations, 7 CFR 273.24, limit the duration of receipt of SNAP benefits
by nonworking, able-bodied adults without dependents who do not qualify for certain
exemptions to a total of three months in any three-year period. However, states may submit
to the federal government applications, commonly known as "waivers", to have this three-month limit waived. If approved, such waivers allow able-bodied, nonworking, nonexempt
adults to receive SNAP benefits for an unlimited duration if those persons meet other
eligibility standards of the program. Nationally, waivers of this type have become the
standard in SNAP rather than the exception, as forty states and territories, including
Louisiana, had a statewide or territory-wide waiver in effect and six other states and
territories had a partial-state or partial-territory waiver in effect as of January 1, 2014.
(5) When coordinated and delivered in an effective manner, workforce training
services for public assistance customers can be of great value to persons who desire to
become self-sufficient and to businesses that strive for greater competitiveness through
employing an improved workforce.

Legislative History

Acts 2014, No. 622, §1; Acts 2025, No. 478, §12, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.