Job Training Required For Thousands Of Food Stamp Recipients In La.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Gov. John Bel Edwards will require thousands of non-working, childless adults who receive food stamps to participate in job search and skills training programs to continue getting the assistance.

The Democratic governor's executive order, issued Thursday, starts the requirement July 1. It comes as Republican lawmakers have pushed for work requirements, which have bumped thousands off food stamps in other states.

For 19 years, Louisiana has had a federal waiver of requirements that childless adults ages 18 to 49 have a job or be enrolled in job training programs to receive food stamps.

Edwards got federal approval this year to keep the waiver — but said he would couple that with bolstered job training and placement efforts.

About 47,000 food stamp recipients are estimated to be affected by Thursday's order.