§324. Workforce training and education pilot initiative; creation; functions

A. A workforce training and education pilot initiative is hereby created within SNAP for the purpose of improving employment opportunities for nonworking SNAP recipients and enhancing workforce readiness. The department shall administer the pilot initiative in accordance with the provisions of this Subpart.

B. The department shall establish the pilot initiative in a parish with a population of more than one hundred thousand and less than one hundred fifty thousand according to the latest federal decennial census and in which is located the main campus of a public four-year college or university.

C. Participants to be served by the pilot initiative shall include, exclusively, all ABAWDs residing in the parish who are not exempted by any federal or state policy, other than through a waiver of such a policy, from the limitation on SNAP benefits established pursuant to 7 CFR 273.24.

D.(1) As a necessary precondition for implementing the pilot initiative, the department shall ensure that the limitation on duration of SNAP benefit recipience by nonexempt ABAWDs provided in 7 CFR 273.24 is effective in the parish in which the pilot initiative is established.

(2) If nonexempt ABAWDs in the parish in which the pilot initiative is established are not subject to any limitation on duration of eligibility for receipt of SNAP benefits as a result of a waiver granted to the state by FNS, then the department shall cause such waiver to be rescinded, cancelled, or otherwise rendered null and without effect for that parish.

(3) Nothing in this Subsection shall be construed to require or prohibit the continuation or cancellation of any waiver granted to the state by FNS in any parish other than the parish in which the pilot initiative is established.

E. As its essential function, the pilot initiative shall provide to each participant, at the time of benefits eligibility redetermination, a six-month extension of SNAP benefits conditioned upon submission of sufficient documentation, as determined by the department, of one or more of the following:

(1) The participant meets one or more of the following criteria relative to educational advancement:

(a) In the previous six months, the participant satisfied requirements established by the department in rule relative to enrollment in an accredited postsecondary educational institution that grants associate or baccalaureate degrees.

(b) In the previous six months, the participant satisfied requirements established by the department in rule relative to enrollment in a program designed to lead to a high school diploma.

(c) In the previous six months, the participant satisfied requirements established by the department in rules relative to enrollment in a general education development test preparation course.

(d) The participant earned a high school diploma or a general education development certificate.

(2) The participant meets criteria relative to workforce readiness as required by the department in rule. Such criteria may include but shall not be limited to the following:

(a) Participating for a specified minimum number of hours in an approved job-training program.

(b) Applying for a specified minimum number of jobs.

Acts 2014, No. 622, §1.