Louisiana Revised Statutes Tit. 46, § 450.1. Electronic authorization and distribution of public assistance benefits and services

(1) An electronic reporting and inventory system that complies with federal and state reporting requirements.

(2) Plastic cards for program clients.

(3) Training of department personnel.

(4) Instructions for recipients on how to use the system.

(5) Instructions for retailers and other participants in the program on how to use the system.

(6) Provision, installation, and maintenance of automated teller machines, point of sale terminals, printers, and personal identification number “PIN” pads in the parish offices, in retail establishments which accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, and in other appropriate locations of participants in the program.

(1) Provide merchants the option to utilize commercial point of sale terminals provided by a third-party processor to interface with the electronic benefits transfer (EBT) provider selected by the department.

(2) Provide for reimbursement by the EBT provider selected by the department of any and all costs incurred by the merchant in the processing of benefits under the electronic issuance system for public assistance programs for telephone monthly service charges and supplies for retailers utilizing the state-provided EBT equipment.

(3) Provide that the cash back provisions of the electronic issuance system shall allow the merchant to charge the recipient reasonable and customary charges for the provision of cash back services.

D. (1) The program shall provide for and shall maximize participation of the federal government and of the private sector, particularly merchants and financial institutions who may provide access to the program, in the funding and implementation of the program.

(2) The program shall further provide for increased controls to reduce or prevent the fraudulent obtaining of public assistance benefits and services.