Bill To Lift Ban On Drug Offenders Receiving SNAP Moves To Senate

The Senate Committee on Family and Children Services approved a bill to lift a lifetime ban on federally-funded food assistance for certain drug offenders. Indiana is one of four states still blocking that federal assistance.

Senate Bill 11 would open SNAP benefits to drug offenders, as long as they complete their parole and probation requirements as specified by the court.

The ban includes any conviction of Schedule 1 drug offense, for example: cocaine, marijuana, opioids, and LSD.

RecycleForce President Gregg Keesling says his company doubles as one of the largest prison re-entry programs in the state and he supports this bill.

“Food security would increase public safety. I’ve been doing this for 1,600 people, and there’s no doubt in my mind,” Keesling says.

Read more: https://indianapublicradio.org/news/2018/01/bill-to-lift-ban-on-drug-offenders-receiving-snap-moves-to-senate/