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 hereafter as “SNAP”, provides crucial support to needy households and to persons making the transition from welfare to work.

(3)  Pursuant to the federal Food Security Act of 1985, states are required to provide employment and job training services to SNAP recipients who are not exempt from the mandatory work registration requirements of the program.

(4)  Federal regulations (7 C.F.R. § 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 provided that 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 recipients 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.

Acts 2014, No. 622, §1.