Provides for eligibility requirements for companies applying for the High Impact Jobs Program (OR INCREASE GF EX See Note)

House Bill 381 adds a new ineligibility criterion to the High Impact Jobs Program by enacting Louisiana Revised Statute 51:2771(C)(3). The bill establishes that any company with twenty percent or more of its Louisiana employees who qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program shall be ineligible for participation in the program. Additionally, the legislation requires the Louisiana Economic Development office to coordinate with the Louisiana Department of Health to obtain the necessary employee qualification data required to implement and enforce this new eligibility threshold.

Companies seeking participation in the High Impact Jobs Program will be directly affected by this new requirement, as they must now ensure their workforce does not include twenty percent or more of employees qualifying for SNAP benefits or face disqualification from program participation. The Louisiana Economic Development office and the Louisiana Department of Health will be responsible for establishing data-sharing protocols and verification procedures to assess SNAP eligibility of company employees. Prospective applicants will need to understand and comply with this metric when determining whether they qualify for the economic incentives and tax benefits historically available through the High Impact Jobs Program.

The High Impact Jobs Program operates as part of Louisiana's broader economic development incentive structure under Title 51 of Louisiana Revised Statutes. The program provides tax credits, property tax abatements, and other benefits to companies meeting specified criteria that contribute to job creation and economic growth in the state. This bill adds to the existing eligibility requirements already codified in R.S. 51:2771(C) by creating an additional disqualifying condition based on employee workforce composition. The coordination requirement between LED and the Department of Health necessitates compliance with Louisiana's data privacy and access statutes governing the sharing of SNAP enrollment information between state agencies.