ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
welfare benefits;
program eligibility
Restores temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) and food stamp benefits two years from the date of conviction of a class four, five or six drug felony or upon conviction if the person is in a drug treatment, aftercare or similar program.
Chapter 34 of the Criminal Code covers drug offenses such as possession, use, production, sale or transport of regulated chemicals. Upon conviction under this chapter, current law allows the court to render a person ineligible to receive any public benefits and to set the length of time the person is ineligible for benefits.
The federal law establishing TANF denies TANF and food stamp benefits for felony drug-related convictions with no time limit on the denial unless a state enacts specific conditions to exempt individuals from this denial. Approximately half of the states entirely deny TANF benefits for conviction of drug offenses, eight states do not deny benefits at all and 18 states had modified exemptions for individuals convicted of drug felonies.
This bill likely has a fiscal impact, but it is not determinable.
1. Restores temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) and food stamp benefits two years from the date of conviction of a class four, five or six drug felony or upon conviction if the person is in a drug treatment, aftercare or similar program.
2. Allows eligibility for TANF and food stamp benefits if a person convicted of a class four, five or six felony drug offense is in a drug treatment program, aftercare program or other similar program.
3. Requires DES to promulgate rules defining programs a person may attend to qualify for eligibility earlier than two years from the date of conviction.
4. Requires DES to amend the TANF state plan to allow exemption of drug felons from denial of benefits under specified conditions.
5. Provides for a general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Staff
January 28, 2002