House Bill No. by Representative Amedee aims to enhance the management of public assistance benefits for children by establishing specific reporting and adjustment protocols between the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH). The bill mandates that the DCFS report to the LDH within 72 hours when a child is placed in its custody, allowing the LDH to review any public assistance benefits that the child's parents may be receiving. Additionally, the LDH is required to adjust benefits such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), or Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP) to reflect changes in household circumstances, and issue new Medicaid cards if applicable.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that if a child under 18 is returned to their parent's custody, the DCFS must notify the LDH. In cases where the LDH receives applications for benefits for a child residing in a different household that is already receiving benefits, an assessment will be conducted to adjust the benefit allotment accordingly. The bill also includes provisions for reporting individuals who fail to report changes in household circumstances, leading to potential fraud investigations by the department's fraud detection unit.

Statutes affected:
HB689 Original: