Louisiana DCFS to submit notice of intent to participate in Summer EBT program

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services will submit a notice of intent to the USDA to participate in the Summer EBT program.

DCFS confirmed the move on Wednesday, May 1, and said additional information will be shared later.

In February, it was announced that Louisiana would not participate in the Summer EBT program this year. However, the state would continue to provide existing feeding programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The Summer EBT program offers grocery-buying benefits to low-income families with school-aged children when schools are closed for the summer, according to the USDA.

Gov. Jeff Landry's administration cited cost as the main reason to skip offering the EBT program to Louisiana children.

Elected officials across the state pushed back on the Landry administration's decision to turn down around $71 million in support that would benefit more than 594,000 children.

The issue was discussed at a DCFS budget presentation regarding House Bill 1, the state budget for fiscal year 2024-25.

"I found it quite disturbing myself Rep. Freeman that we have state agencies come up here and stand here and tell them that the will of this legislature is to appropriate $3.6 million for a program that they've operated for two years and now be told well we can't do it this summer we got to have this, we got to have that. Well, you didn't have to have the last two years," said State Rep. Jack McFarland, R-Jonesboro, in front of the Louisiana House Chamber on Thursday, April 25.

McFarland said this in response to Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley and DCFS saying they would not be able to get the EBT cards out until December.

“Without this Summer EBT Program, Louisiana will serve over 1 million more meals in the summer of 2024 than in the summer of 2023. Louisiana will also serve 3 million more meals this summer than pre-pandemic summers. However, if the legislature through the budget process decides they want to prioritize the Summer EBT Program, then we certainly can respect their wishes,” Kate Kelly, Landry's director of communications, said Wednesday.

The program is expected to begin in the summer of 2024, and families will get $40 per eligible child, per month, according to the USDA.

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