Food stamps; eligibility to receive benefits if convicted of drug-related felonies. (SB830)

Introduced By

Sen. Barbara Favola (D-Arlington)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Food stamp eligibility; drug-related felonies. Provides that a person who is otherwise eligible to receive food stamp benefits shall not be denied such assistance solely because he has been convicted of a first-time felony offense of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance in violation of 18.2-248, provided that he complies with all obligations imposed by the criminal court and the Department of Social Services, is actively engaged in or has completed substance abuse treatment, and participates in drug screenings. Current law prohibits denial of such benefits only if such persons have been convicted of felony possession of a controlled substance. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
11/11/2016Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17101064D
11/11/2016Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services
01/13/2017Passed by indefinitely in Rehabilitation and Social Services (8-Y 7-N) (see vote tally)

Comments

Mary D. Devoy writes:

This Bill removes the ban for drug convictions for SNAP benefits, I agree with this proposal 100%.

To penalize the children, the spouse and/or the immediate family of a person with a past conviction is cruel especially when we are talking about the ability to put food on their table or go hungry.

Back in 2014 Congress goo.gl/xpdrAD banned Registered Sex Offenders (RSO) from receiving SNAP benefits too. This was in addition to the existing Federal bans for RSO’s from HUD housing, Small Business Loans and earned Veterans benefits.

No American should be forbidden from receiving Federal or State benefits after they have paid their court-order debt to society and are released.

We are a society of forgiveness and second chances and we should NOT accept such barriers hinged on a past conviction 2, 5, 10 or even 15 years later. Once released back into society we should all be treated equally instead of being forced into homelessness and hunger because today that conviction is allowed to be an excuse. By landlords to deny us housing,by employers to deny us employment and by the Fed government to deny us food.

Senator Favola, I’ve asked you to add an amendment to this Bill to include those with sexual convictions who are prohibited from applying for SNAP benefits, I hope you will NOT exclude one group of former-offenders while assisting another group of former-offenders.

We have so many current punitive restrictions against those listed on the Virginia State Police Sex Offender Registry that don’t just affect them but their family members creating collateral damage…………..the SNAP restriction needs to be eliminated by a State Legislator and you have the Bill for 2017 that could do it.

Please do the right thing and add RSO’s to your Bill!