Food stamps: eligibility: drug felonies.

Existing law provides for the Food Stamp program, under which food stamps allocated to the state by the federal government under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, are distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Existing law provides that a person convicted of a drug-related felony, with certain exceptions, is eligible for aid under the Food Stamp program, if specified requirements are met. This bill would, instead, provide that a person convicted of any drug felony shall be eligible for aid under the Food Stamp program, and would eliminate the above-referenced eligibility requirements. By changing the eligibility standards under the Food Stamp program, this bill would increase the responsibilities of counties in the administration of the program, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.