House Bill No. [insert bill number] enacts R.S. 46:233.4, which establishes new requirements for verifying the citizenship status of applicants for public assistance programs in Louisiana. The bill mandates that state agencies or political subdivisions must confirm that applicants are either U.S. citizens or possess satisfactory immigration status as defined by federal law. It requires agencies to make reasonable efforts to verify this status and outlines procedures for handling cases where applicants cannot be verified as eligible. Specifically, if an applicant is found to lack satisfactory immigration status, their information must be referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and any public benefits they receive must be terminated.

Additionally, the bill imposes reporting obligations on state agencies, requiring them to compile and submit monthly reports on individuals with unsatisfactory immigration status to the secretary of state for voter list maintenance. At the end of each fiscal year, agencies must report to key state officials on the outcomes of the citizenship verification process, including the number of individuals reported to immigration authorities and those who had their public assistance terminated. The definition of public benefits is broadened to include various forms of assistance, such as welfare, health, and food assistance, ensuring comprehensive coverage under the new verification requirements.