Florida Senate - 2022                                     SB 762
       
       
        
       By Senator Rodriguez
       
       
       
       
       
       39-00964-22                                            2022762__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to eligibility for assistance
    3         programs; amending s. 414.095, F.S.; removing
    4         provisions authorizing certain benefits to be denied
    5         to individuals based solely on certain felony drug
    6         trafficking convictions; removing a limitation on the
    7         state’s opting out of certain federal provisions
    8         relating to such benefit eligibility; providing an
    9         effective date.
   10          
   11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   12  
   13         Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 414.095, Florida
   14  Statutes, is amended to read:
   15         414.095 Determining eligibility for temporary cash
   16  assistance.—
   17         (1) ELIGIBILITY.—An applicant must meet eligibility
   18  requirements of this section before receiving services or
   19  temporary cash assistance under this chapter, except that an
   20  applicant shall be required to register for work and engage in
   21  work activities in accordance with s. 445.024, as designated by
   22  the local workforce development board, and may receive support
   23  services or child care assistance in conjunction with such
   24  requirement. The department shall make a determination of
   25  eligibility based on the criteria listed in this chapter. The
   26  department shall monitor continued eligibility for temporary
   27  cash assistance through periodic reviews consistent with the
   28  food assistance eligibility process. Benefits may not be denied
   29  to an individual solely based on a felony drug conviction,
   30  unless the conviction is for trafficking pursuant to s. 893.135.
   31  To be eligible under this section, an individual convicted of a
   32  drug felony must be satisfactorily meeting the requirements of
   33  the temporary cash assistance program, including all substance
   34  abuse treatment requirements. Within the limits specified in
   35  this chapter, The state opts out of the provision of Pub. L. No.
   36  104-193, s. 115, which that eliminates eligibility for temporary
   37  cash assistance and food assistance for any individual convicted
   38  of a controlled substance felony.
   39         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.