HB 116: MILITARY AFFAIRS: Provides relative to the Louisiana Military Family Assistance Fund (EN SEE FISC NOTE SD EX) - Louisiana

HB116 Original → HB116 Act 241 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the Louisiana Military Family Assistance Fund to explicitly include funding for indigent veteran burials and indigent student benefits. It also establishes a new program for annual grants to non-profit organizations that support veterans' education, mental health, and housing needs. The law sets specific limits on grant amounts and requires grantees to submit detailed reports and maintain financial records for four years.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the fund from primarily covering family assistance and student benefits to also cover burial costs for indigent veterans and to provide direct grants to non-profit organizations for veteran support services.

ELIGIBILITY

Added explicit authorization for the fund to pay burial fees and costs for deceased indigent veterans or their spouses.

Added authorization for the fund to pay expenses for eligible beneficiaries under the GI Bill (R.S. 29:288).

FISCAL

Created a new authority for the Board to issue annual grants to tax-exempt organizations for veteran education, mental health, or housing needs.

Set a maximum grant amount of $10,000 per organization and a cumulative annual cap of $100,000 for all grants.

DEFINITION

Defined 'indigent' as an individual receiving public assistance or earning less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Guideline prior to death.

REQUIREMENT

Required grantees to submit specific project proposals, final expenditure reports, and retain financial records for four years.

ENFORCEMENT

Mandated that unused grant funds be repaid within 30 days of the final report and established audit rights for the Board and Legislative Auditor.

HB116 Enrolled → HB116 Original · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends the Louisiana Military Family Assistance Fund to expand its purpose beyond helping active military families. The primary change allows the fund to pay for burial costs for indigent veterans and retirees, as well as provide benefits to eligible students. Additionally, the bill removes the requirement that grant recipients must be 501(c)(3) organizations established for at least three years, broadening the pool of potential applicants.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the fund to include deceased veterans and retirees, and removes restrictions on the type and age of organizations eligible to receive grants.

ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility for burial fees and costs for deceased indigent veterans or retirees.

Added eligibility for indigent student benefits under R.S. 29:288.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement that grant recipients must be 501(c)(3) organizations established for at least three years.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'indigent' to include retirees alongside veterans.

HB116 Reengrossed → HB116 Enrolled · 3 edits · Jun 11, 2025

MINOR

The bill transitioned from a 'Reengrossed' draft to its final 'Enrolled' version, removing administrative headers and the legislative digest while keeping the core legal text intact. No substantive policy changes were made to the law itself; the text regarding grant amounts, eligibility, and reporting requirements remains identical between the two versions.

TECHNICAL

Removed the 'Prefiled pursuant to...' constitutional citation and the 'MILITARY AFFAIRS' subject header.

Deleted the 'Digest' section, which is a non-binding summary of the bill's purpose and history.

Changed the document title from 'REENGROSSED' to 'ENROLLED' and adjusted page numbering to reflect the final version.

HB116 Engrossed → HB116 Reengrossed · 6 edits · Jun 8, 2025

MODERATE

This bill was reengrossed to add a new section (C) that authorizes the Louisiana Military Family Assistance Board to issue annual grants to qualified non-profit organizations. The new grants are limited to $10,000 per organization per year and must be used for specific projects improving veterans' education, mental health, or housing. The bill also establishes strict rules requiring grantees to submit proposals, provide final reports, repay unused funds within 30 days, and undergo audits.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from solely covering direct payments for indigent veteran burials to also include a program for funding non-profit organizations that support veterans and their families.

FISCAL

New authority was added for the board to issue annual grants to tax-exempt organizations that have existed for at least three years.

A funding cap was established, limiting each one-time grant to $10,000 and the total annual grant authority to $100,000.

ELIGIBILITY

Grants are restricted to organizations seeking to improve veterans' education, mental health, or housing needs.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements mandate that applicants submit specific project proposals and that grantees retain financial records for four years.

ENFORCEMENT

Grantees must repay any unused funds within 30 days of submitting their final report and are subject to audits by the board and the legislative auditor.

TECHNICAL

The bill's title and sponsor list were updated to reflect additional co-sponsors and the reengrossed status.

MILITARY AFFAIRS: Provides relative to the Louisiana Military Family Assistance Fund (EN SEE FISC NOTE SD EX)

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