Signed by Governor Jeff Landry

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that requires state-funded non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to confirm citizenship status of benefit applicants in Louisiana.

Highlights:

• Requires entities administering federal, state, or local public benefits to verify that applicants are U.S. citizens (Sec. 1).

• Exempts the following from the requirement for citizenship verification (Sec. 1):

• The distribution of food or incentives for food by organizations, farmers’ markets, farm stands, or nonprofit organizations;

• Entities providing services for domestic abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, human trafficking, homelessness, disaster response, or pregnancy assistance; and

• Healthcare providers who provide services to Medicaid recipients.

• Specifies that entities are not required to report any individual to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) solely based on an inability to verify citizenship (Sec. 1).

• Requires relevant, non-exempted entities to do the following (Sec. 1):

• Request proof of citizenship or qualified immigration;

• Maintain a record indicating whether proof of citizenship or qualified immigration was provided;

• Maintain a record indicating whether services or benefits were continued or discontinued based on proof of citizenship or qualified immigration; and

• Maintain any other data points required by rule or necessary for audit by the legislative auditor.

• Requires an entity to provide information regarding an individual who failed to provide proof of citizenship or qualified immigration status to ICE upon request (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that requires state-funded non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to confirm citizenship status of benefit applicants in Louisiana.

Highlights:

• Requires entities administering federal, state, or local public benefits to verify that applicants are U.S. citizens (Sec. 1).

• Exempts the following from the requirement for citizenship verification (Sec. 1):

• The distribution of food or incentives for food by organizations, farmers’ markets, farm stands, or nonprofit organizations;

• Entities providing services for domestic abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, human trafficking, homelessness, disaster response, or pregnancy assistance; and

• Healthcare providers who provide services to Medicaid recipients.

• Specifies that entities are not required to report any individual to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) solely based on an inability to verify citizenship (Sec. 1).

• Requires relevant, non-exempted entities to do the following (Sec. 1):

• Request proof of citizenship or qualified immigration;

• Maintain a record indicating whether proof of citizenship or qualified immigration was provided;

• Maintain a record indicating whether services or benefits were continued or discontinued based on proof of citizenship or qualified immigration; and

• Maintain any other data points required by rule or necessary for audit by the legislative auditor.

• Requires an entity to provide information regarding an individual who failed to provide proof of citizenship or qualified immigration status to ICE upon request (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text