Senate Bill No. 52, introduced by Senator Cathey, aims to enhance the coordination between the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) regarding public assistance benefits for children. The bill mandates that DCFS report to LDH within 72 hours when a child is placed in its custody. Upon receiving this report, LDH is required to review the public assistance benefits of the child's parents, adjust benefits such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), or Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP) accordingly, and issue a new Medicaid card if the child is enrolled in Medicaid.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that DCFS must inform LDH when a child under 18 is returned to their parent's custody. If LDH receives an application for public assistance benefits for a child residing in a different household that is already receiving benefits, it must assess the child's current living situation and adjust the benefits accordingly. Furthermore, if LDH finds that an individual has failed to report a change in household circumstances and is receiving benefits for a child no longer living in their household, that individual will be reported to the fraud detection unit for investigation and recovery of ineligible benefits. The provisions of this bill will take effect on August 1, 2026.